Magic of Oldschool Toys

In tune to the winter festive season, the National History Museum of Romania (MNIR) is hosting a special exhibition: ‘Bing. Magic of Toys’, presenting collectible toys from the 1895 – 1930 period, made by German company Gebrüder Bing (afterwards named Bing Werke) of Nuremberg. Collection items pieces belong to the patrimony of the Association of Old Toys Collectors.

Nuremberg toy factory opened a new chapter in the history of all-time toys. Started as a small firm manufacturing kitchenware by the Ignaz and Adolf Bing brothers from Nuremberg in 1863, Gebrüder Bing was going to start its toy production in 1880. The Bing brothers proved that toy production and distribution could be ‘serious’ and profitable business and the ‘Bing style’ turned into an industry standard by 1950, when the newly invented plastic masses used at industrial scale were going to mark a new major turning point in the production techniques and general aspect of toys.

Due to their rarity, beauty, ingenuity and intrinsic value, the toys made by Gebrüder Bing, showcased on the ‘Bing. Magic of Toys’ exhibition, are genuine masterpieces of the industry as well as masterwork of the European technology of the time. Their value is enhanced by the fact that most of the exhibits are still functional, although some of them are over 100 years old and have been through two world wars. Another extraordinary fact about these toys is that they often come with their original packaging as well as sale and price catalogues of the company, published before WW I.

The oldest toy on the exhibition is a magical flashlight with 12 glass transparencies, kept and shown in its 1889 original case. The ‘newest’ toy is a 1930 hydroplane.