Maker record
Strauss
Ferdinand Strauss was an American toy maker and importer based in New York. The company produced mechanical wind-up toys, including lithographed tin toys. A 1921 example in the Smithsonian collection is a wind-up tin toy made by the Ferdinand Strauss Corporation.
- Founded
- 1914
- Final year
- 1932
- Countries
- United States
- Locations
- New York
- Founders
- Ferdinand Strauss
The story of Strauss
The Strauss Toy Company was created by Reuben Strauss in New York City during the early 191s. The brand quickly garnered attention for its innovative and imaginative mechanical toys, earning a reputation for quality craftsmanship in detail. Strauss was devoted to creating joy in children's lives and was quoted saying, “Making children happy is not a child's play.” One notable 'interesting fact' about Strauss is their pre-automobile era transportation toys have now become collector's items worth thousands of dollars due to their rarity and unique historical context. Their most famous creation is the "Toys by Strauss Mechanical Walking Elephant," a wind-up toy that walks on its own. The company ceased operation in the early 193s due to the economic turmoil of the Great Depression.