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Tootsietoy ship, similar to early diecast toys made as Monopoly game pieces.

Tootsietoy is a manufacturer of die cast toy cars and other toy vehicles which was originally based in Chicago, Illinois. Though the Tootsietoy name has been used since the 1920s, the company's origins date from about 1890. An enduring marque, toys with the Tootsietoy name were consistently popular from the 1930s through the 1990s.

Diecasting origins

Tootsietoy had its beginnings in the two diecasting companies of the Dowst and the Shure Brothers who were established near the same time in the 1890s.[1] The Dowst brothers originally established a trade paper called the National Laundry Journal and later purchased a linotype machine to cast metal buttons and cuff links related to the laundry business.[1]

Meanwhile, the Tootsietoy brand also had origins in a range of miniature cars in the form of charms, pins, cuff links and the like, introduced circa 1901 by the Chicago based Cosmo Company owned by the Shure Bros. which bought Dowst in 1926. The name, however, remained Dowst Manufacturing Co.[2] The first actual model car from the company was produced between 1909 and 1911. One was a closed limousine which was followed by a 1915 Ford Model T open tourer.

Pre-War toys

By the early 1920s the name 'tootsie' was being used as a brand name and "Tootsietoy" was registered as a trade mark in 1924. The 'Tootsie' moniker apparently came from one of the Dowst Brothers' granddaughters, whose name was "Toots"[3][page needed]. Tootsietoy made metal prizes for Cracker Jack boxes,[4] and this success in the 1930s may also have led to Dowst providing cast pieces for the game Monopoly.[1] The company also produced a large assortment of die-cast dollhouse furniture.[5]

In the 1920s trains, cars, trucks, military vehicles, aircraft, pistols and a variety of other toys were manufactured by Dowst. Vehicles often had white rubber tires which over time become brittle and often have not survived play-wear and time. One of the unique offerings were a set of 1932 Graham diecast cars - Tootsietoy offered a Graham sedan, town car, coupe, roadster, dual cowl convertible, delivery panel truck and tow truck.[6] A marque not often seen in miniature since, Graham was a household name at Tootsietoy. The Tootsietoy Grahams were available in boxes with "Graham" on the sides - indicating that they may have been used as promotional models for the Graham company. If so, these would have been just about the earliest promotional automobile toys seen anywhere.[6]

One car that definitely was a promotional model was the 1935 Lasalle made for General Motors that came in sedan and coupe versions packaged in a special smallish blue and dark rose box. Another interesting model was the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr which was available in a gift set with a 'Roamer' camper trailer.[7] World War II work later had the Dowst Co. making detonators for grenades and mines as well as belt and parachute buckles. As would be expected, little toy production was seen during wartime production, though some paper toys were made.[1]

Toy construction

Whether small or large, metal or plastic, Tootsietoys were usually simply made - often with only seven parts: a single diecast metal body, two axles, and four wheels. Arms protruding from the underside of the body were pinched around the axles after the wheels were added, which held wheels and axles in place. Many Tootsietoy cars are still made in this basic manner, though in the 1970s and 1980s, plastic interiors and other parts were also added.[citation needed]

late 70's 3.5" Tootsietoy

One exception to this simplistic construction was the 1955 Pontiac Safari two-door station wagon which was heavily diecast in about 1:28 scale, larger than much of the Tootsietoy fare. On this model, the diecast body was not as simple as on most of the companies offerings but also had diecast seats, an accurately shaped dashboard and a plastic steering wheel. The rear tailgate opened and the car also had a heavy separately diecast chassis. The usual fare in the 1960s were American offerings like a 1959 Oldsmobile convertible, a 1959 Ford Wagon, or a 1960 Chrysler convertible. Vehicles were made in many sizes but 5", 3.5" and even smaller were all produced. As time passed the larger sizes generally faded, but in the 1970s the 1 dollar, 10 car "JamPac" of tiny, simple diecast cars about 2 inches long became known as the world's best child "shutter-upper".[1] A couple of these smaller cars are still in demand, like a replica of the Chevy Corvette powered Cheetah (competition in the real world for Shelby's Cobra). This car, though simple and tiny, was not commonly seen in miniature elsewhere.[citation needed]

Later business

In 1961, Strombeck-Becker, later abbreviated to 'Strombecker' was a hobby company purchased by Dowst / Tootsietoy.[1] Strombecker had previously made popular plastic models mainly for slot-car racing — and continued to do so, but by the end of the 1960s the slot-car niche had largely run its course.[1] Later, plastic as well as die-cast toys were identified with both names as "Tootsietoy-Strombecker". The name Tootsietoy was often applied to larger, but fairly realistic plastic cars and trucks through the 1990s, but some die-cast were also still made like the Hardbody series in Matchbox size and slightly larger than 1:43 scale.

By the late 1960s, Tootsietoys were made in both the United States and Hong Kong. Though most Tootsie toys are produced in Asia today, they were traditionally produced in Chicago, and were also made in a few other American factories such as Rockford, Illinois. Tootsietoy, however, should not be confused with the similar brand Midgetoy, which was also based in Rockford.

Tootsietoy, which is now owned by J. Lloyd International, Inc., is still based in Chicago and makes about 40 million cars per year.

References

Richardson, Mike and Sue. 1998. Wheels: Christie's Presents the Magical World of Automotive Toys. San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-2320-2

Rogers, W. Sherman (2009). The African American Entrepreneur: Then and Now. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313351129.

Scott, Sharon M. (2010). Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0313347993.

Seeley, Clint (1971). Newson, Robert (ed.). "A History of Pre-War Automotive Tootsietoys". tootsietoys.info.

Seeley, Clint. No Date b. 1933-1941 Tootsietoy Models. Found on Toy Museum at Home. Website of the De Lespinay Collection. 1933 to 1941 Tootsietoy models With history extracts from the late Dr

"Strombecker Corporation History". fundinguniverse. 2004. Source: International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 60. St. James Press. 2004.

Waggoner, Susan (2007). Under the Tree: the Toys and Treats That Made Christmas Special, 1930-1970. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. ISBN 9781584796411.

Footnotes

Strombecker (2004).

See brochure in Seeley (1971), a.

Waggoner (2007).

Rogers (2009), p. 65.

Scott (2010).

Seeley (1971), a.

Seeley (1971), b.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Lasso (disambiguation).

"Lariat" and "Reata" redirect here. For other uses, see Lariat (disambiguation) and Reata (disambiguation).

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Riders carrying modern lassos for competition in team roping.

A loose bull is lassoed by a pickup rider during a rodeo

Charro with lariat at a horse show in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

Lassoing on the prairie (from the book Prairie Experiences in Handling Cattle and Sheep, by Major W. Shepherd, 1884)

A lasso (/ˈlæsoʊ/ or /læˈsuː/), also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish and Mexican cowboy, then adopted by the cowboys of the United States. The word is also a verb; to lasso is to throw the loop of rope around something.

Overview

A lasso is made from stiff rope so that the noose stays open when the lasso is thrown. It also allows the cowboy to easily open up the noose from horseback to release the cattle because the rope is stiff enough to be pushed a little. A high quality lasso is weighted for better handling. The lariat has a small reinforced loop at one end, called a honda or hondo, through which the rope passes to form a loop. The honda can be formed by a honda knot (or another loop knot), an eye splice, a seizing, rawhide, or a metal ring. The other end is sometimes tied simply in a small, tight, overhand knot to prevent fraying. Most modern lariats are made of stiff nylon or polyester rope, usually about 5/16 or 3/8 in (8 or 9.5 mm) diameter and in lengths of 28, 30, or 35 ft (8.5, 9 or 11 m) for arena-style roping and anywhere from 45 to 70 ft (14 to 21 m) for Californio-style roping. The reata is made of braided (or less commonly, twisted) rawhide and is made in lengths from 50 ft (15 m) to over 100 ft (30 m). Mexican maguey (agave) and cotton ropes are also used in the longer lengths.

The lasso is used today in rodeos as part of the competitive events, such as calf roping and team roping. It is also still used on working ranches to capture cattle or other livestock when necessary. After catching the cattle, the lasso can be tied or wrapped (dallied) around the horn, a typical feature on the front of a western saddle. With the lasso around the horn, the cowboy can use his horse analogously to a tow truck with a winch.

Part of the historical culture of both the vaqueros of Mexico and the cowboys of the Western United States is a related skill now called "trick roping", a performance of assorted lasso spinning tricks. The Hollywood film star Will Rogers was a well-known practitioner of trick roping and the natural horsemanship practitioner Buck Brannaman also got his start as a trick roper when he was a child.

Etymology

The word lasso seems to have begun to be used as an English word in the early nineteenth century. It may have originated from the Castilian word lazo, which is first attested in the thirteenth century in the sense 'noose, snare', and derives in turn from classical Latin laqueus ('noose, snare, trap, bond, tie').[1]

The rope or lasso used to restrain cattle is also called a Reata or La Reata in Mexico, which was Anglicized to “Lariat” or “Riata” in the United States.[2][3][4][5][6][7] In Spain, the word reata has four definitions: 1) the rope that ties one horse or mule to another to make them go in a straight line; 2) the leading mule of three that draw a cart; 3) a rope used for binding masts and spars (woolding); and 4) figuratively, it means the submission to the opinion of others.[8][9][10]

In Spain “Reata” means: group of donkeys, mules, or horses tied together

Other names are used in various countries where the Lasso is used. In Argentina, Chile and Venezuela is simply called “El Lazo” or “El Lazo Criollo”.[11] In Colombia the equipment is called “Rejo”,[12][13] in Costa Rica “Coyunda”,[14] in Ecuador “Beta”, and Peru “Guasca”.[15][16] Meanwhile in Colombia, the term Reata or Riata means: hardened, firm, rigid, severe; it also refers to a belt for pants.[17]

History

Pharaoh ready to rope the sacred bull. A carving at the temple of Seti I, Abydos, Egypt.

"Rustam Lassoes the Khaqan of China from His White Elephant", Persian miniature from Shahnama

Lassos are not only part of North American culture; relief carvings at the ancient Egyptian temple of Pharaoh Seti I at Abydos, built c.1280 BC, show the pharaoh holding a lasso, then holding onto a bull roped around the horns. Huns are recorded as using lassos in battle to ensnare opponents prepared to defend themselves in hand-to-hand combat around AD 370.[18] They were also used by Tatars and are still used by the Sami people and Finns in reindeer herding. In Mongolia, a variant of the lasso called an uurga (Mongolian: уурга) is used, consisting of a rope loop at the end of a long pole.

Lassoes are also mentioned in the Greek Histories of Herodotus; seventh book. Polymnia 7.85 records: "The wandering tribe known by the name of Sagartians – a people Persian in language, and in dress half Persian, half Pactyan, who furnished the army as many as eight thousand horse. It is not the wont of this people to carry arms, either of bronze or steel, except only a dirk; but they use lassoes made of thongs plaited together, and trust to these whenever they go to the wars. Now the manner in which they fight is the following: when they meet their enemy, straightway they discharge their lassoes, which end in a noose; then, whatever the noose encircles, be it man or be it horse, they drag towards them; and the foe, entangled in the toils, is forthwith slain. Such is the manner in which this people fight; and now their horsemen were drawn up with the Persians".

Lasso is mentioned by some sources as one of the pieces of equipment of the Aswaran, the cavalry force of the Sasanian Empire.[19]

On the American continent, the method of roping cattle developed in Mexico as a way of managing and controlling individual animals (lassoing). The tool that was used was called a lariat. Furthermore, in order for this tool to be more productive, the Spanish war saddle evolved into the working saddle of the 19th century. Although a simple tool, many decades if not a century had to pass for this system to be perfected in Mexico. Before the lasso or lariat were successfully implemented in the Mexican style of work, the use of a hocking knife (crescent-shaped blade on a pole that was used to cut the ligaments in a cow's hocks) was used to stop and control the cattle. The hocking knife was similar to the Spanish spear (lanza) that was used to manipulate cattle as well as for combat.