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Show ) of Toymaking Behind the child's delight over a toy lies the agony of a creator, the judgments of a psychologist and the million-dollgamble of the manufacturer ar ler, president of Mattel, Inc., the largest of the toy manufacturers. Ber husband is its chairman, 1 One of the great moral crises has occurred in recent years in the toy industry. So much antiwar and antigun sentiment has jwept the country, that .one major house took all the guns out of its toy catalog. Even some of the manufacturers are backing off Voluntarily, stopping the promotion f weapons of war or changing them to something else. Hasbro Industries ad one of the most successful prodh ucts in its G.I. Joe series of gures dressed in fatigues and acc ompanied by an assortment of field quipment, including machine guns. .1. Joe was given an honorable dis charge and has since become an pceanograpner ana a space explorer. If the toy weapon has historic however, it seems to hang on. flevell, one of the large model makers, laims its World War II models of fiail-ord- er foot-hig- st, airplanes are outselling modern airliners and with all the cowboys and shows on television, most manufacturers can't see how they can eliminate the demand for guns for good. If s the new idea for the new market that gives most manufacturers the real ulcers, however. It's a considerable expense to go into new research and new tooling for an altogether new product, and they want some assurance they can have an exclusive market for their investment. So, during new-to- y time, the toy factories become something like a munitions plant in wartime. Everyone not directly involved in the product is simply not told about it, and everyone who is, is sworn to secrecy. Guards are stationed at the doors of the design and engineering rooms, and no one can enter or leave without being closely scrutinized. The hardware is put in plain boxes and given code names, and nothing -l, rs Marvin Glass, a renowned designer, and one of his millions of "subjects." is announced until it is unveiled at the Toy Fair. routine This reaches classic proportions at Revell, where the president of the company, who handles all its outside activities, is never let in on the inside secrets and keeps trying to break the code. who handles all The cloak-and-dagg- er vice-preside- the internal research and development, explains wistfully, "He's a sweet person, but he's too enthusiastic. He wants to tell everything." What makes this case so unusual is that the vice president is Mrs. Royle Glaser, and the president is her husband Lewis. Imagine the conversations they must have ! None of this, however, concerns the real customer the American child nor should it. Some toys can divert him momentarily, some can educate him permanently, but most will just reflect the world he lives in and his ardent interest in it. And that's a healthy sign. More Ideas for Toys and Games Want hundreds of ideas for simple-to-matoys and games? Mail $3.95 for a copy of "838 Ways to Amuse a Child" ideal for keeping children 6 to tt entertained! Send check or money order to "838 Ways" 50802, Dept. 2006, 1500 N.W. 135th St., Miami, Fla. ke The smokeless tobaccos. They aren't lit, puffed or inhaled. They're too good to smoke. Put a pinch between gum and cheek, and enjoy it. u ft O Without even chewing. The smokeless tobaccos are too good to smoke. You get all the satisfaction of prime aged tobaccos. They cost less, too. Sure beats smoking! f J; For information on how to use smokeless tobaccos, please write: United States Tobacco Company, Dept.FW,630 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. S 10020. Straight Raspberry |