Spirograph

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

21276

Title

Spirograph

Description

A Spirograph set with original box. Inside the box lid is illustrations in black and white of 36 different designs. The Box contents are as follows: A5 booklet, paper folder with the lettering 'You're drawing paper and base board for Spriograph. Two pieces of blank paper, two pieces of brown cardboard with pin holes and a blue plastic container to hold Spirograph wheels. There are twenty two clear Spirograph wheels and shapes with a round plastic pin container with twelve red headed pins and one blue headed pin. The set also has four coloured pens.
The box of the game is red, with three photo images of hands using the set. The text on the box is in white lettering and reads 'Draw with Spirograph'.

Artist / maker

Hasbro

Date

1965

Type

Toy

Location

Museum of Childhood

Accession number

MC165.2001

The Spirograph was invented by Denys Fisher an engineer who supplied precision components to NATO in the early sixties. Fisher's Spirograph creation stemmed from A Victorian design for creating patterns with cogs and wheels. Denys Fisher's original intention was to market Spirograph as draftsman's tool, but he later decided it would sell better as a toy.
Spirograph first went on sale in 1965. Its geometric and swirling patterns chimed perfectly with the Op Art and geometric designs that were popular in the 60s. Spirograph was featured on the BBC children's programme, Blue Peter, and very soon was selling in large numbers. In the first four years Spirograph took the turnover of Denys Fisher's company from £30,000 to £3 million.
Spirograph won the Educational Toy of the Year three years running from 1965 to 1967 and became Toy of the Year in 1967.
Denys Fisher sold his company in 1970. It was eventually bought by Hasbro. Spirograph is now manufactured by MB Games for the UK market and Hasbro for the US market.

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