Toys 113 
As the result of the world war much of the former suprem- 
acy of Germany was taken from her in certain industrial lines, 
such as chemical manufactures. The toy business is another 
instance. America demanded toys, and was cut off from 
the German supply for several years. The result was 
a stimulation of this industry, which may be roughly meas- 
ured by the increase in wood consumed, amounting to nearly 
130 per cent. Our local factories, it will be noted, produce 
articles that are largely made of hardwoods and from raw 
material that comes in the form of lumber or small, sound 
strips. Much of our product may be made from the waste of 
certain larger industries, such as that from furniture factories. 
Some other classes of wood users report the sale of small- 
dimension waste to toy manufacturers, while others utilize 
their own waste by manufacturing toys. Manufacturers of 
piano actions, for example, report the use of a large amount of 
birch and basswood waste for toys and games. Thus, the toy 
industry is a natural by-product of wood-using industries and 
has become of great importance in New York, where wood- 
using industries are prominent and where problems of closer 
utilization are becoming of great interest. With modern ma- 
chinery and raw material in abundance that is now practically 
waste, New York wood-users should make a close study of the 
opportunities afforded jin this large and growing field of 
manufacture. Paris supplies many of the metal toys, Germany 
and other nations do much hand work, but there is an excellent 
field here for profit in closer utilization of wood waste. 
Table 26 lists eleven species, all of which may be obtained 
in abundance in New York, and but one of which was pur- 
chased from outside the State entirely, yellow poplar having 
been shipped in from West Virginia. Hardwood toys have 
gained in importance of late years in response to the demand 
for more durable and substantial playthings. The species used 
must have the general qualities of being easily worked and 
of being tough. Much of the economy of utilization consists of 
preparing the stock in dimensions so that the machines, lathes, 
swing cut-off saws, rip saws, etc., may work on standard lines 
