Summary

Used and owned by Bill Boyd in the 1950s.

The William Boyd Childhood Collection includes most of the childhood possessions of William (Bill) Boyd, who was born in 1947 and raised in the Victorian town of Maryborough. Kept by Lillian Boyd (Bill's mother) for decades, upon her death the Collection was donated by Bill to the former Museum of Childhood at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. When the Museum of Childhood closed it was transferred to Museum Victoria.

Physical Description

Red cardboard cylinder containing plastic construction set. Pieces comprised in set comprise yellow, red and green plastic wheels, adaptors and rods of various lengths.

Significance

Encompassing toys, books, clothing and other items, the William Boyd Childhood Collection is rare in its comprehensiveness: even ephemera such as the back of a Cornflakes box are included. The Collection demonstrates a range of prominent themes in the lives of postwar Victorian children, such as the ability to 'make do' under austere circumstances; the shift in toy manufacture towards plastic materials and mass production; the continuing cultural influence of Britain; the increasing embrace of American popular culture; the prominence of gender roles; and the popularity of transport and war themed toys for boys.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    William Boyd Childhood Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Childhood

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Museum of Childhood, Edith Cowan University, Warren Snell - Edith Cowan University, Western Australian Museum (WAM), 13 Feb 2008

  • Manufacturer

    L. & I. Glen, 1950-1959

  • Inscriptions

    BUILDS AN INFINITE VARIETY OF TOYS / AND WORKING MODELS / GLENNS' / BILDIT / 126 PIECES / BUILDING TOY / MANUFACTURED & DISTRBUTED BY L.&I. GLENN PTY. LTD. 463 AUBURN RD. HAWTHORN EAST, VIC CAT. No. 3/42 / PATENTS NOS. 165604 AUSTRALASIA; 2722722 U.S.A.; 739535 U.K.; OTHER PATENTS PENDING 18/6 / THIS SET CONTAINS / 36 Adaptors (Wheels) / 24 Rectangular Sticks 6" Long / 24 " " 4" " /24 " " 2" " / 12 " " 1" " / 6 Tubular Sleeves / Attached to Wheels

  • Classification

    Games & toys, Construction, Construction kits

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    254 mm (Height), 72 mm (Outside Diameter)