FAQ
To add a question simply put an entry in our guest book or send an email to service@girderpanel.com .What happened to Peter-Austin Manufacturing of Toronto Canada?
Answered by: Cathy Kelk, doughter of Austin Kelk (the Austin of Peter-Austin Manufacturing)
I received the following email from Cathy Kelk answering this question.From: CLKelk
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 10:04 AM
To: service@girderpanel.com
Subject: Your query about Peter-Austin Manufacturing, TorontoHello!
My name is Cathy Kelk, and I'm the daughter of Austin Kelk (the Austin of Peter-Austin Manufacturing). Out of curiosity today, I called up "Peter-Austin Manufacturing" on the internet, and saw your question about what happened to the company. You're quite right about Etch-A-Sketch being sold to Irwin Toys; in fact, it was sold to them in the early 80s. Peter-Austin also made other well-known products such as Easy Bake Ovens, Stalox building blocks, Play-Doh, Magnajectors, liquid for blowing bubbles (can't remember the exact name) and the girder building sets. At one time, the company also made a skipping rope called the "Barbara-Anne" skipping rope. Barbara and Suzanne were my Dad's sisters. All these items (except for the skipping rope, I believe) have since found new manufacturers. Dad and his brother, Peter (the Peter in Peter-Austin), sold the company in 1984. Sadly, my Dad and his siblings, Peter and Suzanne, have since passed away.
Cathy KelkIs there any relationship or link between any of the companies that made these sets?
(Peter-Austin Manufacturing of Toronto, Kenner Products Cincinnati OH, Irwin Toy of Toronto, Chad Valley UK)
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven, Celina Ilao - Irwin Toy Ltd
YES! - There are several indications that these four companies all had ties to one in another in one way, shape or form:
Peter-Austin MFG tie to Irwin - An "Etch-A-Scetch": I have found a picture of a 1960's "Etch-A-Scetch" that was made by Peter Austin Mfg of Toronto, Irwin Toy now makes this toy and has for as long as they recall.
Peter-Austin MFG tie to Kenner - A 1930's Magnajector Model MJ 100 Projector, manufactured by Peter-Austin MFG: The Magnajector name is molded in the side of the case. In smaller letters below the name you can read the manufacturer, model number, and patent and trademark information. "Rainbow Crafts, Inc., CINTI. 12,0, Model MJ 100. Mfg under US Pats 2,735,336 & D-178719—US TM REG 614,797." In 1965 General Mills purchased Cincinnati-based Rainbow Crafts, In 1967 General Mills purchased Kenner Products, 1970 Rainbow Crafts was merged into Kenner Products.
Kenner Products tie to Chad Valley - In the late 1950s under license of Kenner, Chad Valley in the UK produced some of the first Bridge & Turnpike sets as well as some other Kenner toys for UK distribution. Probably due to cultural reasons the sets were released using the name Bridge & Roadways vice Bridge & Turnpike. When Chad Valley celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 1960, the company had seven factories and had more then a thousand workers. The recession of the seventies led to the shutting down of six of the seven factories. Ironically after having made the Bridge & Turnpike and other Kenner toys in the 1950's Chad Valley was taken over by Palitoy in 1978 , which later was bought by Kenner.
Kenner Products tie to Irwin toy - According to Celina Ilao of Irwin Toy Ltd she was looking at an old Annual Report year ended January 31, 1983 and it says there that: "Irwin Group is made up of Irwin Toy Limited and its two joint venture companies, Ideal Toy Company of Canada Ltd. and Kenner Products" Celina was unsure for who long the "joint venture" lasted or when it started or ended.According to an email I received from Scott Bradley a Star Wars collector, Irwin Toy in Canada had a joint venture with Kenner USA to form Kenner Canada to handle the American Kenner's line of toys in Canada. The joint venture started at least in the 1960's and was dissolved in 1984.
Bridge Street Toys - No relation to other companies who made Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike sets in the past.What is the history of Kenner Toys?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven (using info gathered from www.kennertoys.com )
1947 Kenner Products was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, by the Steiner brothers, Albert, Philip and Joseph. The company was named after its original office location on Kenner Street.
1965 General Mills purchased Cincinnati-based Rainbow Crafts, the Play- Doh manufacturer.
1967 General Mills purchased Kenner Products.
1968 General Mills purchases Parker Brothers.
1970 Rainbow Crafts is merged into Kenner Products and Play- Doh becomes part of the Kenner line.
1976 Kenner Products moves to 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
1985 Kenner Parker Toys Inc., the country’s fourth largest toy company, is spun off from General Mills.
1987 Tonka Corporation acquires Kenner Parker Toys Inc. on October 16.
1988 Tonka Corporation establishes four operating divisions: Kenner Products, Parker Brothers and Tonka Products serving the U.S. and Tonka International.
1991 Hasbro, Inc Purchased Tonka Corporation (including Kenner Products and Parker Brothers.) Kenner becomes a division of the largest toy company in the world. Other divisions at Hasbro, Inc. include Milton Bradley, Playskool, and the Hasbro toy division. With the Hasbro purchase and resulting restructuring, Play- Doh is shifted to the Playskool Division of the company; Parker Brothers’ Nerf and Tonka’s Cupcake doll lines move to Kenner Products.
1992 Kenner moves its headquarters to 615 Elsinore Place, Cincinnati, OH.
1993 Philip Steiner, one of Kenner ’s founders, passed away in November at the age of 82.
1994 Hasbro restructures the corporation into two groups – the Hasbro Toy Group ( Kenner, Tonka and Playskool) and the Hasbro Games Group (Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley), positioning the corporation to enhance responsiveness to consumer demand.
2000 Hasbro announces it will shut its Cincinnati operations, ending 53 years of Kenner history. All Kenner products now carry the Hasbro name vice Kenner.What happened to Chad Valley in the UK?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven
In the late 1950s under license of Kenner, Chad Valley in the UK produced some of the first Bridge & Turnpike sets as well as some other Kenner toys for UK distribution. Probably due to cultural reasons the sets were released using the name Bridge & Roadways vice Bridge & Turnpike. When Chad Valley celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 1960, the company had seven factories and had more then a thousand workers. The recession of the seventies led to the shutting down of six of the seven factories. Ironically after having made the Bridge & Turnpike and other Kenner toys in the 1950's Chad Valley was taken over by Palitoy in 1978 , which later was bought by the American company Kenner Parker.Why did Irwin stop making Girder & Panel Building sets?
Answered by: Janete Da Silva - Irwin Toy Ltd. Consumer Service Representative
Irwin stopped making Girder & Panel sets because we only carry a product for a certain period of time.Does Irwin Toys Ltd. still own the Trademark on Girder & Panel and/or Bridge & Turnpike?
Answered by: Janete Da Silva - Irwin Toy Ltd. Consumer Service Representative
No. Irwin does not own the Trademark on Girder & Panel sets or for Bridge & Turnpike.The trade marks are now property of Bridge Street Toys LTD http://www.bridgestreettoys.com
Any chance that Irwin will start making a new version of Girder & Panel Building sets any time in the future?
Answered by: Janete Da Silva - Irwin Toy Ltd. Consumer Service Representative
We are not considering making Girder & Panel sets at the present time.New Girder & Panel sets are now being manufactured by Bridge Street Toys. Click here to learn more!
How many sets did Irwin Toys Ltd make for Popular Mechanics?
Answered by: Janete Da Silva - Irwin Toy Ltd. Consumer Service Representative
Only two, Set #300 (200+ Pieces) and #301 (300+ Pieces) Popular Mechanics for kids CONSTRUCTION ZONE COMPLETE BUILDING SYSTEM.Are "Kenner Building Blasters" sets part of the Girder & Panel Family?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike HeavenNO, Although Building Blasters sets manufactured by Kenner in 1989 do use Girders and Panels they are much larger and of a different design than the girders and Panels used in the Girder & Panel sets. They should NOT be referred to as a Girder & Panel style set because the parts are NOT interchangeable and do NOT work together as do all the true Girder & Panel set pieces. The value of Building Blasters sets should be assessed only on their worth as a Building Blasters set and NOT as if they were a Girder & Panel set.
Are these toys still being manufactured? If so, who is making them?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven
YES!, New Girder & Panel sets are now being manufactured again! Click here to learn more!You can also look at my Sets For Sale or if you don't see anything that your looking for let me know and I may have it and be willing to sell. Send me and email at service@girderpanel.com or call me @ 407-451-2327 for more information.
Are you a Dealer or Collector of Girder & Panel and/or Bridge and Turnpike sets?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven
YES, I collect these sets as a hobby. I purchase LOTS of these sets, I refurbish as many as I can, I keep some then sell the rest. If your looking for a specific set let me know, I may have one I'd be willing to sell to you or I may be able to find you one. Send me and email at service@girderpanel.com or call me @ 407-451-2327 for more information.You may care to look at my current Sets For Sale or if you don't see anything that your looking for let me know and I may have it and be willing to sell.
Are the girders for the five different brand sets interchangeable?
Answered by: Nick - Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Heaven
SOMEWHAT, Most are but not all. Unfortunately the girders made by Peter Austin MFG are only interchangeable with other Peter Austin MFG sets, girders made by Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys are interchangeable with all Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys sets (from Set #1 all the way through KenStruct Set #72140 and all new Bridge Street Toys sets) The girders made by Irwin Toys are only interchangeable with other Irwin sets (Including the set Irwin made for Popular Mechanics).The difference between Peter Austin MFG and Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys girders is very obvious and can be compared here . The Peter Austin MFG girders can NOT be used in any way with the Kenner or Irwin Toy sets because their design differs greatly and the horizontal girders are actually slightly shorter.
The differences between the Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys and Irwin toy girders are much more subtle, in fact for a long time I just assumed they would work with each other because by looking at them they appear to be the same design and size. However I received an email sometime ago from a gentleman named Steven Palser and he pointed out that they don't work together because the tips on the horizontal girders are larger on the Irwin girders and therefore the opening's on the vertical girders were those tips get inserted are also larger so Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys girders won't stay in place and Irwin Horizontal girders won't fit in Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys vertical girders. In addition the bottom tips on the vertical girders are larger on the Irwin sets so you can not stick them into a Kenner, Chad Valley or Bridge Street Toys vertical Girder.
Can the Kenner, Chad Valley and Bridge Street Toys sets & Irwin sets be used together at all?
YES: The wall and roof panels as well as cross and tie braces should still work interchangeably but NOT the girders or the foundations.
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