A “hidden gem” in Roscoe Village is The Toy Cellar, located in the lower level of the Toll House.
The 40 year collection has over 600 vintage toys, many of which are demonstrated on weekends and I was there on a Saturday.
Meet Rick who graciously demonstrated several of the windup and gravity activated toys.
Admission is Free! & Open Saturday and Sunday 1:00 Pm to 3:00Pm…
Rick told me the “most vintage” toy on display was made in the 1860”s. He then showed me the wooden rolling hoop. I can remember my father telling me the rolling hoop was something he played with as a child. In the West, the most common materials for the rolling hoops have been wood and metal. Wooden hoops, driven with a stick about one foot long, are struck with the center or the 2/3 point of the stick in order to ensure good progress.
Most of the toys were made in the good old U.S.A. and many of them were made right here in Ohio, Akron, Barberton, Kenton, Ravenna, Canton and Dayton.
Most of the toys are made of sheet metal, cast iron, tin, wood, pressed steel, rubber and other materials.(not much or any plastic that I saw)
During the world wars many of the toys originally made of metal were made of wood instead.
The collection is on loan to the Roscoe Village Foundation by a private collector.
No batteries in this collection. though Rick did show me an erector set that had a wind-up motor.
One last picture,this one from Wikipedia showing hoop rolling…….
Thanks for stopping by and make sure to keep those hoops a rolling LOL.. Special thanks to Rick for all the information and taking the time to talk with me. HISTORIC ROSCOE VILLAGE
The Toy Cellar in Historic Roscoe Village….OHIO…….