Toys of Yesteryear Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jack

The first mention of the toy called a jack-in-the-box is in the sixteenth century and the first versions were quite scary. If you're afraid of clowns, they could be described as scary now, I suppose. There is a handle on the outside of the box which is turned to play a tune, with the lid suddenly open to reveal the 'jack' at the end of the song.

Answer: Ludo

The very earliest versions of the game were played in India as long ago as the sixth century. It came to England in the latter years of the nineteenth century, and a patent was granted to the name of Ludo, which is how it is still known. Each player has a different colour for his or her playing pieces, and the number of moves allowed is determined by rolling a die.

Answer: Rocking horse

Although you can't really see them in the picture, the toy horse is attached to rockers, which move the horse back and forth, as if you are riding a real horse. The colour shown was particularly popular in Victorian times, with the dappled grey effect being described as a favourite of Queen Victoria herself.

The hobby horse is a much simpler toy, consisting of a piece of wood with a wooden horse head attached. Miniature horses are usually real animals and 'My Little Pony' is a much more recent toy.

Answer: Spinning top

Spinning tops are referred to in Homer's poem 'The Iliad', written around the eight century BC, while one was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. The ones in the picture have a handle which 'winds up' the top, which keeps spinning until friction slows it down so much that it falls over.

A spinning wheel is used to turn fibres, like wool, into yarn while a spinning jenny is a machine designed to carry out the same process. A spinning reel is used in angling.

Answer: Tin

The Germans were the first to make tin soldiers in large quantities, with figures dating from the eighteenth century. Although they are called 'tin soldiers', they are usually made from an alloy - a mixture of lead and tin. Other metals used include pewter and they often come with no decoration, so you can paint them yourself.

They look much nicer than the green plastic ones you usually see, but the plastic toys don't cost so much, of course.

Answer: Marbles

Marbles are another toy which dates back to ancient times, when they were made from clay or stone, or people even used nuts in their shells for games. The modern glass marbles date from the nineteenth century and the game can be taken quite seriously. There is even a World Championship, which has been held in England since 1932.

Answer: Noah

The toy is a version of the Bible story of Noah's Ark, which tells of the time when the Earth was flooded. God had warned Noah and told him to build the ark, a large boat, so that Noah, his wife and family could be saved. Noah also took various animals with him, so that they could repopulate the world once the flood was over.

Answer: China

A Chinese legend says that the idea for kites came from a Chinese farmer, who tied string to his hat to stop it blowing away in the wind. Whether or not this is true, China did have bamboo to make the frames and paper and silk to cover them with long before the western world did. Modern kites come in all shapes and forms, but the kite in the picture is the traditional design.

Answer: Nineteenth

The first steam trains weren't made until the very early years of the eighteenth century, so toy versions couldn't have been made before then. The earliest toy trains were made from lead and had to be pushed along, but by the end of the nineteenth century they were powered by clockwork or even electricity.

Answer: Penny

The penny whistle is called by other names, such as the tin whistle or English flageolet and is one of the oldest types of musical instrument created. The penny whistle of the type in the picture was first made in England, in the mid 1800s in Manchester. The whistle has six holes, for creating different notes, and it cost a penny to buy, originally, which gave it its common name.