CHAPTER VMATCH-BOX TOYS

Fig. 53

A Well and Bucket.The well is made from an oblong about 2½ inches by 10 inches. Fold down one side of the oblong, about ½ inch; make cuts along this fold as in Fig. 54. When the paper is bent round to form the well, these cut pieces form the edge of the well (Fig. 53).A Bis a piece of cardboard or stiff paper bent, as shown in the diagram, and gummed to the sides of the well. Two holes must first be made inAandB. Then through these holes a piece of caneCis passed.DandEare pieces of cardboard of equal size; holes are madein each end and the strips are glued to each end of the piece of cane. Into the other holes are glued two smaller pieces of cane or two matches,FandG, for handles. The well should be coloured red before being fastened together.

Fig. 54

Fig. 55

Fig. 56

The bucket (Fig. 55) is made from a small oblong. Fold and cut off the shaded parts as in Fig. 56. When the bucket is fastened together stand on a piece of paper and draw round it to get the measurement for a circular disc for the bottom. Cut this out and gum it to the bent edges 1, 2, 3, 4. A handle can be made of string or paper.

Fig. 57

A Mug(Fig. 57). This is made like the bucket. The handle is made of a strip of paper fastened to the mug by paper-clips. A band of coloured paper is gummed round the mug; the handle can be made of the same coloured paper as the band.

Fig. 58

Motor-car.Begin with a square (8-inch side). Halve it. Fold each half into thirty-two parts. Cut one half as in diagram 58. GumAtoBandDtoC,EtoFandHtoH. This forms the body of the car. The doors must be cut in squaresK,M,L,N. From the second half (folded into thirty-two) pieces can be cut to cover exactly the front of the car, and to form seatsOandRand backs and sides,ST. See Fig. 59. The wheels are drawn on stiffpaper or cardboard by means of halfpennies, cut out and gummed on to the sides. The children of six who made this car enjoyed adding, according to their own ideas, steps, steering-wheel, and other details. The car looks more attractive if coloured and if the seats are covered with red paper.

Fig. 59

Fig. 60

From a similar square (8-inch side), divided into two (each half divided into thirty-two parts), aBook-casecan be made (see Fig. 60). One half gummed together as for the motor forms the case; the other half forms the shelves and the ornament on top. A door can easily be added, or two doors, one on each side.

Fig. 61

A Wigwam.Begin with half a square (Fig. 61). Fold into thirty-two parts. Draw a curved line fromAthroughBandCtoD, and fromAthroughEandFtoG. Cut along these lines. JoinKwithHby a curved line andHwithL. Cut along this line. GumL NtoK M. Fold back the cornersGandDfor the door. Strips of paper can be cut out and gummed inside the wigwam for poles. Designs can be drawn on wigwam as in Fig. 62. MarksfromKtoKshow where it is laced up. The wigwam should be coloured brown, the circles on it red and white or yellow. This model will be found useful when illustrating scenes fromHiawatha. Other simple models to go with this are—a bow, arrows, quiver, canoe. The bow can be made from a piece of cane, the arrows cut out of paper.

Fig. 62

Fig. 63

Fig. 64

A Quiver.Fold square into sixteen parts (Fig. 63). JoinAtoC,CtoD,DtoBby curved line; cut along it. JoinEwithGand bend along it;GwithFand bend along it. GumB H GtoA K G. Fasten a piece of string as in the drawing (Fig. 64).

Fig. 65

Fig. 66

ForCanoebegin with an oblong 6½ inches long (Fig. 65); width, twice the diameter of a penny. Fold in half alongG H. Make half circlesA B CandF E D, at each end, by means of penny. Cut aroundA B CandD E F. Fold in half alongB E. JoinAby means of curved line withB E, andFwithB E. Cut alongA H K F. Gum the canoe together atA B CandF E D. Cut out three seats to go in the middle; make drawings on the canoe. Paddles must be cut to go with canoe (Fig. 66).

Fig. 67

AnIndian Cradlecan be made in the same way as the quiver, but with the pointGcut off as in Fig. 67, and markings put on the front to look as though the cradle were laced up. String is attached for hanging the cradle to the mother's back or to a tree.

Canoe, quiver and cradle look effective cut out of brown paper and chalked with yellow or red chalks.

Fig. 68

Fig. 69

A Clock Tower(Fig. 69). Begin with an oblong 10 inches by 6 inches. Fold in eight parts, and cut off three. Fold the remaining portionA B C Din half alongE F; foldA Fin half alongG H. Fold alongas in Fig. 68. Draw clock faces in squares 1, 2, 3 and 4, a pattern of some kind in triangles 5 and 6, and mark bricks on the sides 7, 8, 9, 10; side 7 is gummed over 11, which, therefore, is not seen (Fig. 69).

Fig. 70

Fig. 71

Fig. 72

To fasten Tower together.Fold the sides 8 and 10 at right angles to 9; bendJforward and gum to it bothKandL(Fig. 70), and cut off the part ofJthat projects beyondKandL. Now gum the side 7 to 11, bendOtowardJ; gumNtoOandMtoOand cut off the portion ofOthat projects beyondMandN. A piece of paper, painted to represent slates, can be gummed over the roof, so that it projects slightly, as in Fig. 71.

Fig. 73

A simpler way of fastening the tower together is to gumOtoJ,M LandN Kstanding upright as in Fig. 72.

A Windmillcan be made in the same way. The sails are made as described in the match-box windmill (Fig. 97).

A Lighthouse(Fig. 73). Take an oblong piece of paper, about 8½ inches by 6 inches. Fold down each shorter edge for ½ inch and cut the flanges as described in the case of the bucket (Fig. 56). Bend the flanges inward, curve the paper round and gum together to form the body of the lighthouse. Cuttwo squares of paper, one smaller than the other, gum the smaller oneAto the flanges at the top of the cylinder; colourBblue and gum it to the flanges at the bottom. Make a small lantern, as in Fig. 51, to fit the top of the lighthouse. In this case it is better to gum the triangular tops of the lantern together. The door, windows and staircase should be drawn and the lighthouse coloured grey before fastening the cylinder together.

Many simple and effective toys can be made from match-boxes. The great advantage of these toys is that the children can readily supply the materials themselves. In every case the toys explained here have been made by young children, whose ages vary from four to seven. The materials used are match-boxes, matches, paper of different kinds, white, brown, coloured, and cardboard, while in some toys corks and silver paper have been introduced. For sticking paper on to the boxes, gloy or vegetable glue is suitable, but when matches have to be fastened into or on to the boxes it is best to use liquid glue or seccotine. Some of the toys can be made more effective by colouring them with crayons.

Fig. 74

Fig. 75

A Canoe.To make the canoe (Fig. 74) the inside portion of the match-box is gummed to a piece of stiff paper or cardboard pointed at each end. Strips of paper gummed to the sides of the box form the seats. The paddle (Fig. 75) is made of a match, to the ends of which paper discs are gummed. To get these circles the children can use farthings and draw round them. The paddle and the seats can be coloured with brown crayons.

Fig. 76

A Kayak.For the kayak (Fig. 76) a piece of paper is measured to fit over the box; it is doubled in half and a small hole cut in it, then gummed to the sides of the box.

A Motor-car(Fig. 77). The car consists of a match-box without the cover. The seats are of white paper. The followingthem measure and cut a piece of paper,A B C D, that will just cover the box from side to side, making bendsa candb dwhere the edges of the box come. Fold paper into four as in Fig. 78. Cut alonge f, and cut off the shaded portions and fold as in Fig. 79. Gum the partsGandMto the side of the box.

Fig. 77

Fig. 78

Fig. 79

Wheels for all match-box toys are made from stiff paper or cardboard, the circle being drawn from a farthing, or, where larger wheels are necessary, from a halfpenny. The spokes are drawn on the wheels. These can either be gummed to the sides of the match-box, or, if holes are made in the wheels, they can be fastened to each end of a match, which is then glued to the bottom of the box.

Fig. 80

Fig. 81

A House or Barn.From the covers that are left, after making the canoe and the motor-car, a house or barn can be made (Fig. 80). One cover is cut open and the top bent back as in Fig. 81. A portion of the second cover is cut off (Fig. 82).

Fig. 82

SideAis then gummed toB, andC Dis fastened toE Fby means of a piece of folded paper covering the whole of the roof. This paper is double the size ofC D H G(Fig. 82), is coloured grey or blue to represent slates, and folded along the middle.

Fig. 83

A Sentry-box.This is an easy toy to make. The children will notice that one end of a match-box is double—that is, one piece of wood overlaps the other. If they unfasten these and bend them out they form the roof of the sentry box (Fig. 83). A piece of paper can be pasted behind to fill up the hollow. The toy looks more effective if covered entirely with brown paper. A soldier can be cut out of paper, coloured and gummed to the bottom of the box.

Fig. 84

A Castle.A castle can be made from the cover. A piece of paper is cut to fit round it, doors and windows are marked on it with pencil or crayon, and one edge is cut to represent battlements (Fig. 84). The flagstaff is a match glued inside. A larger castle can be made by fastening two or more covers together.

A Jack-in-the-box.These toys are so simple that the diagrams almost explain themselves. In the case of the Jack-in-the-box the children like to decorate the half-opened match-box with coloured paper. The little figure is made of bits of wool, apiece of cotton is tied round the neck and put through a hole in the top, a match is tied to the cotton to prevent it slipping back; another piece of cotton tied to the waist of the doll pulls it down (Fig. 85).

Fig. 85

Fig. 86

A Belfry.In the belfry the back of the box atAhas been cut out, the bell is made of paper or cardboard, covered with silver paper (Fig. 86). A match stick is passed through a hole in the bell, and gummed to each side of the box. Another match is gummed to the bell, and a piece of cotton attached for ringing.

Fig. 87

A Van(Fig. 87). The van is made from the inside of a match-box; the cover is of brown paper gummed inside the sides of the box. The seat is also of brown paper, while one end is bent back for the flap of the waggon. The shafts are made of matches.

Fig. 88

A Milk-cart(Fig. 88). The can is a cork covered with silver paper, which is used to cover chocolates, etc. The paper can be screwed into a little knob at the top. In Fig. 88 the wheels are the same size. Two are fastened to a match for the axle, which is then glued underneath the box; the third wheel is glued between two matches, which are fastened underneath the box. In Fig. 89 the side wheels are larger and a cardboard set of shafts is made for the small front wheel.

Fig. 89

Fig. 90

Fig. 90 shows the shape of these shafts. The shaded portion is bent at right angles to the shaft and glued under the box. The small wheel can be gummed between these shafts, or, if the shafts are fastened on with a space between them, and holes made in each end, a piece of match stick, on which the small wheel is mounted, can be passed through the holes. A match is glued across the back of the box (Fig. 88) to form the bar by means of which the cart is pushed along.

Fig. 91

A Field Gun.Fig. 91 shows how the match-box is cut. The gun is made from a roll of brown paper. A piece 4 or 5 inches square is large enough. Yellow bands can be chalked round the cannon. The wheels are made of circular discs, the size of a penny. Shots can be made from silver paper, or from plasticine.

Fig. 92

A Field Gun and Limber.The gun in Fig. 92 is mounted somewhat differently.Ais one-third of a match-box cover, with one narrow side cut away, covered with dark grey paper; two holes are made in it opposite each other; the gun has a match or piece of cane passed through it, and the ends of the match or cane pass through the holes inA.

Bis a piece of cardboard or stiff paper shaped as in diagram: the shaded portion is gummed underneathA.

Fig. 93

The Limber(Fig. 93). This is made from a match-box (C), covered with dark grey paper and fitted with a cardboard coverE, similarly coloured. Match sticks, coloured black, form the shots. The handle consists of two match sticks, or two strips of cardboard, glued together. The wheels must be the same size as those for the gun.

Fig. 94

A Porter's Truck.This is made from a box of which three sides have been cut away (Fig. 94). It can be covered with brown paper, and matches can be glued across it. The handles are ofmatches, the legs of stiff paper fastened to the bottom. The children can make little paper parcels and boxes to put on the truck.

Fig. 95

A Sweep's Barrow.The figure (95) shows how the match-box is used. A bundle of matches tied together represents part of the sweep's outfit. The broom is made from a roll of paper, the ends of which have been cut into a fringe. The broom and matches can be darkened with crayons or ink.

Fig. 96

Fig. 97

A Windmill(Fig. 96). Prepare the inside of a match-box as described in the case of the sentry-box, and place it inside its cover, securing it with a little gum. Paste a piece of paper in front to hide the hollow. The sails of the windmill are made of brown paper, cut as in Fig. 97, and gummed to strips of cardboard which form the framework of the sails. The whole can then be fastened to the box by a paper-clip.

Fig. 98

To make the Sails turn.Bore two holes through the windmill; round a match stick by rubbing it with sand-paper; glue the sails to one end of it, pass it through the holes and glue a circle of cardboard to the other end to prevent it slipping back. Fig. 98 shows a more complicated but veryeffective way of making the sails. The paper is cut along the dark lines and bent back along the dotted lines.

Fig. 99

A Tram-car(Fig. 99). For this toy two insides of match-boxes are needed. The children could cut and gum to one box a piece of cardboardA B. Then into this box are gummed six matches of the same length. While these are drying the wheels can be made and the top prepared. The top is a box turned over with a piece of paper gummed round the edge. The paper should be coloured yellow. The projecting paper forms the rail round the top of the car. When the matches are quite firm the inverted box is placed over them.

Fig. 100

A Church(Fig. 100). This is made from a combination of the barn or house and the castle. A strip of paper can be gummed along both sides to keep the two parts together.

A Match-box Train(Fig. 101). The engine is a match-box turned upside down, to which is gummed a cork covered with red or green paper. The broad end of the cork has been sand-papered to make it more equal to the other end. The funnel is a piece of cardboard blackened and inserted into a slit in the cork. Half a match-box glued to the cork forms the cab. The coal tender is a match-box on wheels; a piece of brown paper can be pastedround one end to form the back and the sides. The simplest way of making a carriage is to fold a piece of paper into three, mark on it the door and the windows and gum it to the inside of the box. For this piece of paper the children can get the measurements from the match-box.

Fig. 101

In order to make a long carriage like a real train a child suggested gumming two match-boxes together, end to end.

When a long train was complete the children at once wanted to make a station (Fig. 102).

Fig. 102

For this purpose two or three match-box covers can be fastened together by covering them with white paper (marked to represent the boards of a platform) and gumming them to a piece of cardboard,A B C D. The paper must be left long enough at each end to be gummed to the cardboard and form the slopes of the platform. The waiting-room or shelter is a match-box gummed to platform as in diagram, with a triangular piece of paper pasted behind to form a roof. A seat can be pasted inside. The name of the station, signals, and a signal-box (a half-opened match-box standing on end) can be added.

Fig. 103

Fig. 104

Fig. 105

Fig. 106

A Railway Bridge.Gum two sets of four match-box covers together asAandBin Fig. 103. Next, take a half-opened match-box (Cin Fig. 104), gum cover securely to box, turn it upside down and to it gum coverD, and to this, half a coverE. Fasten this toAby strips of paper gummed on each side (see shaded part in Fig. 105).Bhas a similar arrangement fastened to it. These portions form the two sides of the bridge, but the steps so obtained are too high and extra paper steps must be made. For each of these take a piece of stiff paperL M N O(Fig. 106).L Mequals width of match-box;M Oequals three times thickness of box. Fold in three alongT UandR S; foldL UandT Sin halves and bend paper to form steps.L Qis gummed toAandR OtoE. Repeat for each intermediate step.

Fig. 107

Next cut a piece of cardboard the width of the match-box and long enough to leave a suitable distance between the two ends of the bridge to allow the match-box train to pass through, or two trains to pass each other. Gum this to the top ofAandB(Fig. 107).

Fig. 108

Next cut a piece of paperF G H Jto fit across both parts of the bridge and to project to form railings or a wall, cut out the archway, colour to represent stones or bricks, and gum to bridge; cut and colour a similar piece for the other side (Fig. 108).

Fig. 109

Fig. 110

Fig. 111

A Paddle-wheel Steamer(Fig. 109). The cover of a match-box,A B C D, is covered on top and bottom with two pieces of stiff paper or cardboard pointed at both ends (Fig. 110). A long strip of paper is cut,E F G, etc., and fastened round the cover and projecting cardboard. The box is gummed on toA B C D. The funnel is made of a roll of red paper (Fig. 111). The mast is a roll or strip of paper gummed to inside of box.

The wheels are strips of paper held together by a paper-fastener,the paper being bent sideways. The paper-fastener clips the wheel to the side of the box. A piece of cotton-wool can be put into the funnel for smoke.

Fig. 112

A Castle and Drawbridge(Fig. 112).AandBare match-boxes, with the shorter sides cut off, gummed to a square piece of cardboard (4-inch side). Along the bottom of these a piece of blue paper is gummed to represent the water in the moat.C D F Eis a piece of paper with archway cut out, gummed to sides of boxesAandB, and behind this are gummed match-box coversGandH. The drawbridge is a piece of stiff paper hinged toC D, and has match sticks gummed across it. Holes are made in the bridge and wall through which pieces of thread are passed; the ends behind the drawbridge are fastened to a match.

Fig. 113

Kis a box turned upside down and gummed toG, H.LandMare covers forming a passage from drawbridge. The castle can be enlarged by adding more boxes.

A Lighthouse(Fig. 113). This toy is made from two corks gummed together and fastened to the cover of a match-box which is gummed to a square of cardboard covered with blue paper. Round the box, paper, cut and coloured to represent rocks, is pastedand paper steps are fastened to one edge. Into the top cork four pieces of matches are inserted and between them is placed a small roll of red paper. A small piece of paper with four holes in it is placed on top of the matches. The corks can be coloured grey, and windows and doors painted on them. The top cork must be filed to fit the lower one, and its upper end filed to make it narrower.

Fig. 114

An Airship(Fig. 114). The airship is made from three corks glued together, the thickest cork being in the middle. Matches are inserted at each end. Four matches are inserted into the corks and their other ends glued into a match-box. A piece of black thread is fastened to the matches as shown in the diagram. Matches and corks can be coloured dark grey.

Fig. 115

A Bristol Biplane(Fig. 115).A B, C Dare two strips of paper, in length about four times the length of a match-box, in width nearly three-quarters the length of a match-box. These are fastened together by match sticks, as shown in the diagram.

Fig. 116

E Fis cut from a piece of paper as long asA Band about the width of a match-box. This paper is doubled alongE Fand marked and cut out as in diagram (Fig. 116); then unfolded and pasted on the bottom of a match-box (G), to which four small cardboard wheels are pasted.A B C Dis then gummed along the back of the boxGat right angles toE F.

Fig. 117

Fig. 118

A Bird-cage(Fig. 117). This is made of two small squares of cartridge paper fastened together by matches, as shown. When making the holes the two pieces of paper should be placed together. A piece of cotton is fastened to the matches so that the cage may be hung up. A bird for the cage is made from a small cork, as in Fig. 118. The legs are two halves of a match; the tail must touch the ground in order that the bird may stand.

Fig. 119

A Travelling Menagerie(Fig. 119). Cages are made from match-boxes. The box is mounted on wheels, match sticks are glued inside the box, and a piece of paper with holes in it is fitted to the tops of the matches.

Fig. 120

Animals are cut out of paper and coloured. If these animals are cut from a folded piece of paper (Fig. 120) they will stand.

Fig. 121

The various cages can be harnessed to horses. A caravan to accompany the menagerie is shown inFig. 121. A piece of paper folded in three is gummed to the inside of a match-box.

On the sides windows are marked, and a round paper chimney is gummed to the top.

Fig. 122

A Fire-escape(Fig. 122). The ladder is made from two narrow strips of cardboard; holes are made in these and match sticks inserted. The ends of the matches should be slightly filed or sand-papered.Bis a match-box, one end,C, of which is bent forward. To this end strips of cardboard,C D,E Fare gummed, and across them other strips,F DandG H. Wheels can be gummed on as in the figure.LandMare cardboard strips gummed to box and ladder to help to keep it in position. Thread could be attached as shown in diagram, and an additional ladder made to stand betweenLandM.

Fig. 123

A Mangle.Ais a match-box turned upside down to which are gummed two corks which have been filed to make them perfect cylinders (BandCin Fig. 123).

The two corks are gummed together and a strip of paperEis bent round them, gummed to their flat ends, and also to the sides of the match-box as atF.KandHare pieces of cardboard shaped as in diagram and marked to imitate the iron legs of a mangle. These pieces are gummed to the inner sides of the match-box to form the legs.Gis a circle of cardboard (on which spokes should be marked) fastened as shown in diagram; to this a cardboard or match handle,L, is attached.

Fig. 124

A Submarine(Fig. 124).A,B,Care corks filed to the shapes shown in Fig. 124, and glued together.E Fis a piece of cardboard, narrow and pointed at each end, gummed to the corks. Before fastening it on holes should be made in it round the edge. Through these small pins are put and pushed into the corks to form a railing, and round them a piece of black cotton is tied.Gis a small cork, or a part of a large cork made small by filing, gummed toE F; a match,H, is inserted to represent the periscope. Pins are inserted roundGwith black cotton tied round them. The corks, cardboard and matches should be coloured grey.

Older children can make this submarine so that it will float. The corksA,B,Cmust be fastened together by pieces of wirepassing through them. The deck is made by filing the corks flat along the top,E F, and pins are inserted around it. CorkGis fastened toBby a pin. A narrow strip of lead is cut and pointed at each end, these ends are bent at right angles and are inserted into slits inAandB.

This submarine will float well, and makes a very effective little toy.

It could be painted with grey enamel.

Fig. 125

Fig. 126

Fig. 127

A Barrel Organ.Figs. 125, 126, 127 show how a barrel organ can be made from a cork and match-box cover. A is a match-box cover, a cork;B, is made a perfect cylinder by means of sand-paper, and gummed to side of cover. It is kept in its place by a piece of paper,C D E, which is gummed to cover and also to the cork.WheelsFandGare gummed to the sides or made to revolve on axles as described in Chapter II. The handleKis made of a match stick and bent piece of cardboard. SupportHand handles are made of cardboard.

Note that the piece of paperC D Ereaches nearly to the ground. This prevents the toy from overbalancing. Paper, etc., must be suitably coloured. The match-box cover might have brown paper pasted round it.

For these toys plenty of corks are necessary, and files or sand-paper; also some pointed instrument, a long nail or bradawl, for making holes in the corks. Four of them are shown in Plate III.

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