'Pageant of Victory' scroll toy

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

36503

Title

'Pageant of Victory' scroll toy

Description

Metal tube with winding handle from which extends a paper reel featuring military and civilian contributors to the war effort. Participants in the 'pageant' include the Cavalry of the Allies, the Boy Scouts, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women's Forestry Corps.

Date

1916

Type

Toy

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

5146

The scroll toy was produced by J.W. Lawrence of London. The handle on the metal tube allows the reel of paper to be drawn back in, while a metal bar clamped over the end of the reel enables it to be pulled out easily. The metal bar also stops the reel from being drawn in too far.

World War I provided inspiration to toy manufacturers large and small. The difficulty of getting imports safely to Britain, together with shortages of labour and materials, meant that British toy companies had to be inventive. They used simple materials and processes to produce toys for children whose lives were steeped in daring tales of wartime adventure.

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Related subjects

Events > Wars > War toys

Events > Wars > World wars

Places > United Kingdom

Toys > Indoor games > Picture games