It is no less a child's nature to want to do that which is most pleasing to him, than an adult's, so why not encourage this wholesome activity of toy-making to which the child takes as readily as a duck takes to water? It trains the mind to think clearly, the hands to work cleverly, replaces destructive thoughts with constructive ideas, and, in making the boy or girl dependent upon himself or herself for toys, is invaluable in developing resourcefulness.
Recognizing how easily the child's interest is attracted and held by anything of a building nature, toy manufacturers have placed scores of so-called "construction sets" upon the market, but, though excellent as these outfits are, the toys they form are merely assembled, not really made by the boy or girl, and much of the value of making is lost. Exactly as good models as those assembled with "construction sets" can be made of pick-up materials, as chapters in this book show. In fact, some of the models in the manufacturers' instruction pamphlets—merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels and swings—are almost identical with home-made models devised long ago by the author for his readers. Furthermore, there are many, very many toys in Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys which are beyond the limited possibilities of "construction sets."
A. N. H.
Oak Park, Illinois,
May 31, 1915.
| PAGE | |
| Chapter I | |
| Home-made Windmills | [1] |
| The Paper Pinwheel—The Pinion-wheel Windmill— To mount the Pinion-wheel—The Four-blade Windmill—To mount the Windmill—The Eight-blade Windmill—The Hub—The Eight Blades—The Shaft—The Tail—To pivot the Windmill—To operate a Toy Jumping-Jack. | |
| Chapter II | |
| Home-made Kites | [9] |
| How to make a Malay—The Sticks—Framing the Sticks—Covering the Framework—Attaching the Bridle—Flying-line—The Box-kite—The Kite Sticks—The Side Frames—Covering for the End Cells—Assembling the Kite—Attaching the Bridle—A Good Hand Kite-reel—A Body Kite-reel. | |
| Chapter III | |
| A Home-made Model Aeroplane | [21] |
| Accuracy in Model Construction—The Most Successful Type of Model—The Fuselage— The Thrust Bearings—The Bow Hooks—The Main Plane—The Elevator—The Fin—The Propellers—How to prepare the Propellers—The Propeller Blank—The Propeller-shafts—The Motors—The Home-made Motor-winder—How the Egg-beater winds the Motors—Care in winding the Motors—Position to take for launching a Model. | |
| Chapter IV | |
| A Home-made Toy Motor-boat | [33] |
| How operated—The Hull Bottom—The Sides—The Deck—The Propeller—The Propeller-shaft— The Bearing Plate—The Thrust Bearing—The Rubber-band Motor—To wind the Motor—How to elaborate upon the Design and Construction. |