Speaking of tinkering, while we were culling photos from Artists’ Handmade Houses
We realized we’ve been taking Tinkertoys for granted all these years, and hadn’t even considered the possibilities for making cool, usable modernist housewares with them. Our minds began to race with ideas.
We’ve always thought Tinkertoys came only in primary colors: red, yellow, blue, green.
But have discovered vintage sets on Ebay of plain, unpainted wood…
It looks like Nivola made one of his lamps out of black Tinkertoys. We’re wondering how they’d be sprayed white..or black…chrome yellow…or stained dark….
We like this kid’s creation in neutrals: white centers with wood dowels…
You can buy Tinkertoys new, or hunt down vintage sets on Ebay...
What would you make?
Related posts: constantino nivola’s yellow tractor paint floor
more from ‘artists handmade houses’ (our great book giveaway)
task lights suspended from the ceiling
are you a secret lighting designer?
great clip-on lamp shade (+ the search for glass fiber paper)
Tinkertoys were one of my favorites as a kid. So many possibilities!
A little while ago, I made a couple of Tinkertoy tillandsia trellises to go in my windowsills. Picked up two old wooden sets off of Ebay for the project for about $45 total. The weird thing was that, while I could have picked up some colored ones for much cheaper and then painted them, I wanted ones that I could play with over and over again. You can’t have too many toys that double as decoration, in my opinion.
Dying to see these. Got any photos?
Sure thing. Here are a couple of Tinkertoy trellis photos, if you’re still interested. Obviously, I’m no master of the Tinkertoy (or the photographic, for that matter) medium. And truth be told, I pretty much lack artistic ability, in general. However, one of the great things about Tinkertoys is that, even despite a complete lack of talent, you can at least count on being able to create something with some structural integrity. And with the size and overall shape you’re looking for. So, that’s good.
Your Tinkertoy trellis photos are absolutely FAB. Perfect sculptures. Thank you so much!!!
Hello, I have a huge collection of Tinkertoys in their original containters from 1916, and bags of original spools and sticks, etc. without containers. So if anyone is seriously interested in using the extra tinkertoys for lighting and such, email me.
Thanks, Joe
GOOD to know. Thanks. May take you up onthat one day.