Category Archives: Toys

Galt Retro Toys – showcasing our favourites!

Posted on: by Galt Toys

Galt Toys has become a trusted and much-loved brand among parents since opening its doors in Manchester in 1836. James Galt Limited began life as an educational stockist; over the years the company has grown and changed, but it has always kept its educational roots. In 1957 the company moved from Manchester to Cheadle in Cheshire and it wasn’t until 1961 that the Galt Toys division was formed and since then product development has never stopped.

With 177 years experience in toys we have come to know a thing or two about designing toys to encourage children to learn through play…and also have fun! Since launching the Galt Toys website, many of you have got in touch to share some of your old Galt favourites, so we have put together a few ‘favourites’ to take you down memory lane!

Little frying pan – Photo sent in by Anna Hutton, from London. She was given the frying pan about 30 years ago - part of Galt’s Let’s Cook range – apparently it still makes perfect eggs and her Pops is now the caretaker of the pan.

The retro trike – This Photo was sent in by Sian To, from London. Sian inherited the trikefrom her kind neighbour, whose boys used it before passing it on to Sian’s three. Sadly…it now has a poorly wheel, so she stores it away as she doesn’t want it to totally die!

We have recently brought back the classic Tiny Trike, so a whole new generation can explore their surroundings and practise three point turns in style whilst perfecting their broooom noises pedalling away on this ideal first ride-on toy.

Another blast from the Galt Toys’ past is the fab game – Pair It, and we’ve actually still got copy of the catalogue from 1981 showing the product.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also love this 1961 catalogue and the child with the saw! How things have changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any retro Galt Toys lurking under the stairs, in the loft, or still being used, we’d love you to share them with us. Please upload images to our Facebook page or tweet us @GaltToys 

TOY FAIR 2013

Posted on: by Galt Toys

Toy Fair will be taking place at the Grand Hall, Olympia London from January 22nd – 24th 2013 and we are going to be there on stand E9, right by the main entrance – so please come and see us if you are popping along next week.

This is a significant year for Toy Fair, hosted by the British Toy and Hobby Association, as it is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee – ‘Whoop whoop, congratulations Toy Fair!’. With over 200 companies exhibiting it is really something to shout about, especially with the majority of exhibitors launching new toys for 2013 – it is toytastic!

So you are probably wondering what we’re up to…? Sssshhhh, it’s a secret – we can’t tell anyone until Tuesday 22nd Jan when we officially launch our new range. What I can tell you is… we have been working on it for over a year and it has been developed by one of the UK’s leading parenting experts. So we are pretty exhibited – a ‘whoop whoop’ celebration all round.

Added to this, we have masses of new products and art & craft ranges joining our wide selection of toys on the website – make sure you check out the ‘New In’ section in a couple of days. If your children love sequins, robots, Horrible Histories, knitting, science and fashion – we have it all.

In 2011, we had Wills and Kate (lookalikes!) on our stand to celebrate the launch of the Knit a Friend kit…and of course the Royal Wedding. The Woolly Windsors caused quite a stir as you can imagine.... If you still fancy knitting your own Will and Kate, you can! Just download the pattern for FREE from the Activity Zone

In 2012, we launched the Playnest® Car, and commissioned a life-size replica of the fantastic new car for Toy Fair 2012, complete with dashboard and mirrors. The edible car made from vanilla sponge measured 3ft wide x 2ft 6” long and 10” high, and was created by award winning sugar artist Michelle Wibowo of Michelle Sugar Art.

So stay tuned for 2013…..to see what will appear on our stand this year!

Have you made any resolutions for 2013?

Posted on: by Galt Toys

As the two changed to three many of us would have looked back at the past year and celebrated the great memories of all the amazing things that have happened, but it is also a time when many of us will look forward to the year ahead and set personal objectives to be achieve….

According to recent research, most of us will vow to spend more time with the family, or to take regular excise (the latter being one several of us have may stated in the office), so we want to hear from you.  Do you believe in making promises to yourself on New Year’s Day? If so, please send your New Year’s resolution to our Facebook page or tweet us @GaltToys – we’d love to hear them!

And with new resolutions for the New Year come predictions from 2013….. here are our 13 forecasts for the year ahead.

1. A little obvious, but we predict a royal baby for Wills and Kate!
2. Andy Murray will win Wimbledon
3. Manchester United will win the league
4. Snow in February and summer will start in May, but August a washout!
5. The web will go truly mobile as Apple launches the iPhone watch in 2013
6. Technology will continue to reign - a battle between a variety of apps, services and devices
7. Victoria and David Beckham announce they’re expecting baby No. 5
8. The Rolling Stones will headline at Glastonbury
9. The ‘Baby Boomers’ will redefine the concept of ageing – 60 is the new 40
10. The Pussycat Dolls will reform
11. Sadly the economic anxiety will continue
12. Fewer people will marry, as 2013 is considered to be an unlucky number
13. Galt Toys will launch several new toy ranges – hooray! Stay tuned over the coming months to hear more about our exciting new toys

Whatever 2013 brings – we hope you have a happy and prosperous year!