Making Tin Can Toys

by Edward Thatcher

"Making Tin Can Toys" by Edward Thatcher is a practical instructional guide written in the early 20th century. This work serves as both a manual for crafting toys and a way to inspire creativity through the use of repurposed materials, specifically tin cans. The book details the process of transforming common, everyday items into imaginative and durable toys, highlighting the joys of tinkering and manual craftsmanship. The opening of the book introduces the concept of creating toys from tin cans, a practice borne out of necessity when seeking a toy locomotive. Thatcher emphasizes the ease with which one can construct these toys using materials readily available and inexpensive, mentioning successful projects done with schoolchildren and even wounded soldiers in hospitals. This portion establishes the foundational principles of tin can toy making, outlining the tools, techniques, and creative potential while setting the stage for specific toy designs and further instructions in subsequent chapters.