Jesse Armour Crandall
Encyclopedia
Jesse Armour Crandall was an American
inventor and toy-maker. He had taken out over 150 patents on toys in his 75 years of inventing. Crandall's father, Benjamin Potter Crandall, was also a toy-maker as well as three of Jesse's brothers (Benjamin, Charles Thompson and William Edwin). Unlike his brothers who remained primarily associated with their father's toy business in New York City
, Jesse started his own company in Brooklyn
. It was a friend, perhaps Henry Ward Beecher
, who named him "The Child's Benefactor". This became his trademark and slogan.
. As of October 2010, it was still in the Museum's collection.
in 1859 and in 1861 he was issued a patent for a spring-loaded rocking horse. Both designs differed from the traditional bow rocker and were quite popular until the 1880 Marqua safety stand. Maqua's design was seen with disdain by purists. As a young man, after making a hobby horse
nearly the size of a pony, he gave it to a boy who was to later become King Edward VII. The popularity of these larger toy horses affected adults also as author Nathaniel P. Willis wrote about it in Health and Happiness on Horseback. Actor Joseph Jefferson
rode across the stage of what became the Winter Garden
theatre on a Crandall designed horse. Benjamin P. Jr. was described as the "self-styled 'inventor of the hobby horse'" and was issued a patent for an improved model of combined rocking horse and swing in 1873.
However, Jesse had patented what he called a hobby horse as shown in his 1859 patent application illustration.
. Also, Benjamin P. Crandall Sr.'s brother, Nathan T. Crandall, was listed as a toy-maker in 1840's business directories sharing the same address. Among the toys designed were children's building blocks
with unique features. Charles M. Crandall's design of tongue and groove interlocking blocks was used to construct an enormous palace exhibited in the 1876 International Centennial Exposition
held in Philadelphia. In 1880 the Crandall family provided an exhibit of an Egyptian obelisk
weighing over 200 tons in New York's Central Park
which was widely popular. That was followed by Jesse's design of nested blocks, which was patented in June 1881. These "nesting blocks" allowed for convenient storage and remain popular today. William Edwin Crandall was awarded a patent for a toy obelisk in September 1882.
's daughter was reported to use, One puzzle was a result of getting two painter's hooks entangled and the difficulty in getting them separated. This type of puzzle was still popular in the 1960s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor and toy-maker. He had taken out over 150 patents on toys in his 75 years of inventing. Crandall's father, Benjamin Potter Crandall, was also a toy-maker as well as three of Jesse's brothers (Benjamin, Charles Thompson and William Edwin). Unlike his brothers who remained primarily associated with their father's toy business in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Jesse started his own company in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. It was a friend, perhaps Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
, who named him "The Child's Benefactor". This became his trademark and slogan.
Baby and Doll Carriages
Crandall's father had begun selling baby carriages in the 1830s which were billed as "the first baby carriages manufactured in America." Jesse designed a tool to drill the ten evenly spaced holes in carriage wheels at the same time when he was only eleven years old. Crandall was issued a number of patents for improvements and additions to the standard models. These included adding a brake to carriages, a model which folded, an oscillating axle, and designs for parasols and an umbrella hanger. An 1867 Crandall doll carriage model with a leather hood was once on display at the Museum of the City of New YorkMuseum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
. As of October 2010, it was still in the Museum's collection.
Toy Horses
Crandall is credited for inventing the Shoo-fly design of the rocking horseRocking horse
A rocking horse is a child's toy, usually shaped like a horse and mounted on rockers similar to a rocking chair.Predecessors of the rocking horse may be seen in the rocking cradle, the tilting seats used during the Middle Ages for jousting practice as well as the wheeled hobby horse...
in 1859 and in 1861 he was issued a patent for a spring-loaded rocking horse. Both designs differed from the traditional bow rocker and were quite popular until the 1880 Marqua safety stand. Maqua's design was seen with disdain by purists. As a young man, after making a hobby horse
Hobby horse (toy)
A hobby horse is a child's toy horse, particularly popular during the days before cars. Children played at riding a wooden hobby horse made of a straight stick with a small horse's head , and perhaps reins, attached to one end. The bottom end of the stick sometimes had a small wheel or wheels...
nearly the size of a pony, he gave it to a boy who was to later become King Edward VII. The popularity of these larger toy horses affected adults also as author Nathaniel P. Willis wrote about it in Health and Happiness on Horseback. Actor Joseph Jefferson
Joseph Jefferson
Joseph Jefferson, commonly known as Joe Jefferson , was an American actor. He was the third actor of this name in a family of actors and managers, and one of the most famous of all American comedians....
rode across the stage of what became the Winter Garden
Winter Garden
Winter Garden may refer to:* A winter garden, winter-hardy plants grown for winter interest and decoration, or to be harvested for food between winter and early spring.-Places:* Winter Garden, California, former community in Kern County...
theatre on a Crandall designed horse. Benjamin P. Jr. was described as the "self-styled 'inventor of the hobby horse'" and was issued a patent for an improved model of combined rocking horse and swing in 1873.
However, Jesse had patented what he called a hobby horse as shown in his 1859 patent application illustration.
Building Blocks
The Crandall toy-makers including Jesse, his father and brothers and Jesse's cousin, once removed, Charles Martin CrandallCharles Martin Crandall
Charles Martin Crandall was an American inventor and toy-maker. He was best known for various toy blocks, "Crandall's Acrobats", "Noah's Dominoes", "Illuminated Pictorial Alphabet", "District School", "Menagerie", "Pigs in Clover" game and numerous other games and wooden toys such as wooden trains...
. Also, Benjamin P. Crandall Sr.'s brother, Nathan T. Crandall, was listed as a toy-maker in 1840's business directories sharing the same address. Among the toys designed were children's building blocks
Toy block
Toy blocks , are wooden, plastic or foam pieces of various shapes and colors that are used as building toys...
with unique features. Charles M. Crandall's design of tongue and groove interlocking blocks was used to construct an enormous palace exhibited in the 1876 International Centennial Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
held in Philadelphia. In 1880 the Crandall family provided an exhibit of an Egyptian obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
weighing over 200 tons in New York's Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
which was widely popular. That was followed by Jesse's design of nested blocks, which was patented in June 1881. These "nesting blocks" allowed for convenient storage and remain popular today. William Edwin Crandall was awarded a patent for a toy obelisk in September 1882.
Other Inventions
Other inventions by Jesse included toys and non-toys. Various improvements on velocopedes came both from Jesse and his father. One of Jesse's involved use of a newly designed treadle and earned a gold medal at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition; Crandall's Sandometer or "The beach brought to your home" in 1879 was a rather novel idea. An artificial arm was invented in 1915; however, Jesse did not attempt to patent it - probably from a combination of the money and effort spent on defending earlier patents and a philanthropic viewpoint. He also invented an invalid chair, which President Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
's daughter was reported to use, One puzzle was a result of getting two painter's hooks entangled and the difficulty in getting them separated. This type of puzzle was still popular in the 1960s.
Additional Reading
- Provenzo, Eugene F.; Brett, Arlene: The Complete Block Book, NY: Syracuse University Press 1983. ISBN 0815623003
- Freeman, Ruth Sunderlin; Freeman, Larry: Cavalcade of Toys, Century House, Watkins Glen, New York, 1942
- McClintock, Inez Bertail; McClintock, Marshall: Toys in America, Public Affairs Press, Washington, 1961
See also
Charles Martin CrandallCharles Martin Crandall
Charles Martin Crandall was an American inventor and toy-maker. He was best known for various toy blocks, "Crandall's Acrobats", "Noah's Dominoes", "Illuminated Pictorial Alphabet", "District School", "Menagerie", "Pigs in Clover" game and numerous other games and wooden toys such as wooden trains...