Toys in the sixties were at the forefront of a sea change which affected the industry forever. With technology benefitting from developments in the space race and an overarching zeitgeist with its gaze firmly fastened on the future, kids found themselves unwitting guinea pigs in a challenge to marry these elements in a new type of plaything. Complex, fussy and breakable toys were left behind in favour of simpler, more elegant designs, which were easy to produce and appealled to child psychologists ideals of suitable playthings. Lego and Playplax appeared as construction toys and many items made of wood, such as marble runs or push along trains. Colour and shape were at the forefront of the new design aesthetic, rather than realism.
One of the most popular toys was a simple figural toy, called variously 'Acrobates', 'Funny Men' or 'Whipper Snappers'. The idea originated with french artist Rene Ach (see links at the end) and was quickly snapped up by several British and European companies, such as Raphael Lipkin, Pedigree and Combex.
At its most basic, it is composed of a simple figure, almost robotic in its stance, which is made in such a way that the arms and legs can connect to the head and body of another figure. Later sets added accessories such as horses and ladders in the Circus set and firemens helmets in a fire engine set.
Scaled down from the standard 4" figure to about an inch, they were released as Whipper Snappers or Mini Boys in sets with vehicles and animals. The basic proportions are always the same, irrespective of size.
I have always liked these simple, almost abstract sculptural toys, so I was very excited when I discovered another variation on the figure by Combex.
The Wacky Walking Men took the idea of the 'ramp walker' toy and applied it to Funny Men. Curved feet enable the figures to waddle, rocking gently from side to side on a slight incline, lifting alternate feet off the ground, giving the impression of walking.
They work much better on a slope with gravity than my gentle persuasion, but you can see the idea! Like Funny Men, the three figures are detachable and can be rearranged, but lack the connectivity on the legs.
A great find that Wote, what a beautiful boxed toy. Almost an ornament or art object!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant stuff, Wote!
ReplyDeleteBut one minor point. Raphael Lipkin, Pedigree and Combex were all British companies, where Lipkin introduced the Funny Men to the British market before handing over to fellow Lines Group company Pedigree. Which was one of the companies taken over by Combex-Marx after Triang went under. Exin in Spain was part of the Lines empire and also made these figures. Whipper Snappers are by Berwick from Britain but bought in from Simex in Germany. And Delacoste in France were the original manufacturers. To be complete these figures were also available in Japan and the US as well as South America apparently.
Best -- Paul V
These figures remind me of modern designs like Alessi. Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post! Another lost memory reactivated!
ReplyDelete