American Bricks
Building Block
1940s to 1950s (manufactured)
1940s to 1950s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
American Bricks were produced in Chicago from the 1940s onwards. They are similar to Lego bricks in that the studs are laid out in a 4 x 2 pattern on a standard brick. As with this example, they were originally produced in wood, but later made in plastic. They came with angled bricks which would allow for gables, and sets would come with green paper roofs and windows which would fit snuggly into the slots in the bricks.
Halsam, the company named after its founders Hal Elliot and Sam Goss, was taken over by Playskool in 1962, and the brick sets moved away from the realistic houses they were originally designed for. Playskool began to aim the sets at smaller children, with more of a creative element to them. The last sets of American Plastic Bricks were made in 1977.
Halsam, the company named after its founders Hal Elliot and Sam Goss, was taken over by Playskool in 1962, and the brick sets moved away from the realistic houses they were originally designed for. Playskool began to aim the sets at smaller children, with more of a creative element to them. The last sets of American Plastic Bricks were made in 1977.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
|
| Title | American Bricks (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted, carved wooden blocks |
| Brief description | Collection of American Bricks, made by Haslam Products Company, Chicago, 1940s-50s. Red: 96 wooden 4x8 rectangular bricks, 42 wooden 4x4 rectangular bricks. Yellow: 23 wooden 4x8 rectangular bricks, 24 sloped wooden 4x4 blocks. All with raised dowels on top and recesses below, designed to interlock |
| Physical description | Set of construction blocks consisting of four different-shaped bricks. 96 small wooden rectangles, with grooved edges, and 2 x 4 dowels coming from the top, with corresponding indents below, painted red. 42 small wooden squares, with grooved edges, and 2 x 2 dowels coming from the top, with corresponding indents below, painted red. 23 small wooden rectangles, with grooved edges, and 2 x 4 dowels coming from the top, with corresponding indents below, painted yellow. 24 small wooden pentahedrons, with grooved edges and 2 x 4 indents on the bottom flat edge. All painted red except the sloped square side. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Given by Rev Richard Tobin |
| Summary | American Bricks were produced in Chicago from the 1940s onwards. They are similar to Lego bricks in that the studs are laid out in a 4 x 2 pattern on a standard brick. As with this example, they were originally produced in wood, but later made in plastic. They came with angled bricks which would allow for gables, and sets would come with green paper roofs and windows which would fit snuggly into the slots in the bricks. Halsam, the company named after its founders Hal Elliot and Sam Goss, was taken over by Playskool in 1962, and the brick sets moved away from the realistic houses they were originally designed for. Playskool began to aim the sets at smaller children, with more of a creative element to them. The last sets of American Plastic Bricks were made in 1977. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.16:1 to 4-2010 |
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| Record created | June 16, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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