On this day: September 7, 1914
British toy manufacturers are keenly alive to the opportunity given by the war to attack their German competitors.
Already they have begun to make china dolls, which hitherto have been imported undressed from Germany and clothed in this country.
The German monopoly in cheap mechanical tin toys — dancing figures, crawling beetles and so on — is also to be attacked, though the installation of the necessary machinery for manufacturing these toys will take some time.
The “Noah’s Ark”, so familiar to every child, is a German product. British manufacturers have in the past been unable to compete with the German in this article, for the reason that the wooden occupants of the ark were made by German cottagers in their homes, and heavy outlay for buildings and machinery, with all the attendant charges, were thus avoided.
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It is suggested that if an organisation were formed to supply samples and materials to English cottagers and to collect and distribute to retailers the finished articles, a useful rural industry might be established in this country.
In addition to Noah’s Ark animals, it is stated there are many simple toys which could be made by home-workers in our villages, who would, no doubt, be glad to spend their spare time profitably.
GENERAL SAMSONOFF’S BRAVERY
Petrograd, Sept 5. General Samsonoff, who was killed in East Prussia after five days’ fighting, met with a heroic end. Being warned that he was in a too exposed position, the General replied: “My place is with my men.” Shortly afterwards a shell exploded, killing him and most of his staff.
ZEPPELIN BROUGHT DOWN
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Petrograd, Sept 6. The Russians fired on and captured near Seradz, a Zeppelin airship and 30 occupants, including two staff officers and two gunners, together with explosives, plans and photographs. They also brought down an aeroplane in which was an Austrian colonel.