In the modern days of Thomas the Train, when hundreds of train cars are available in wood, metal and plastics, it's hard to believe how simple toys could be and were. What you are seeing are Walt's toys from his childhood...the "war years" when metals were available only for the war effort and plastic wasn't a factor yet. Here shine the glass replicas of the vehicles of the day.
Originally, these beauties came filled with tiny, BB-like candies. Eat the candy, then a child is left with the toy. These are the only toys Walt remembers playing with. He played with them inside the house and outside in the dirt. Most are in perfect shape, but there is a wheel missing here and there. He must have been very careful with them and protected them to still have them more that 60 years later. Compare this number of toys and the present condition with a six-year-old boy of today.
We decided to display them for the first time in our antique cabinet in the great room. My attention was drawn to them today because the sun from the new upper window spotlighted them amazingly. Also shown for the first time is our collection of mustache cups that were the pride and joy of Walt's dad. The sunlight hadn't yet reached them, or had already been and moved on from that shelf when I walked by. Guess I'll have a new picture to look forward to.
