Coming Soon !! – Astro Boy Wind-Up Tin Toy

GOOD NEWS! We are happy to announce to every Astro Boy Fans that we are lucky to get the Astro Boy license this year and produce the Astro Boy (Movie version http://www.astroboy-themovie.com) Tin Toy. It should be out by November and hope the Astro Boy Fans will like it. The price is not fixed yet but is affordable, so not to worry. In Singapore, this toy will be on sale at TANG’S STUDIO (VIVO CITY only) and Museum of Shanghai Toys, Singapore. For other countries and cities like Europe, Australia, USA, Hong Kong, Japan..etc, we are still under discussing and will inform soon.

According to this new Astro Boy movie, we create 2 versions for this toy. One with jacket and one without jacket. Do let us know which version you like. 🙂

Visiting a Ping Pong Factory – August 2009

This is my first time visiting a Ping Pong Ball Factory and it is a amazing journey. As we know, ping pong ball is made of celluloid and celluloid was invented around 1850s, is one of the main material for toy making in pre war period. Although we have more than 100 types of China made celluloid toys in our museum collection, but never have any chance to visit celluloid factory. So for this time, I am just like a kid to walk around…

Celluloid sheets.

As I have an idea to reproduce vintage celluloid mickey mouse toys again, so I find a chance to speak to the owner of the factory this morning about my thoughts. But he said it’s quite difficult and almost not possible to produce a celluloid toy today. First of all, is because of the mouldings, secondly is because of the technique, thirdly…. is….quantity. He is asking me what is the quantity I am going to order….10,000 or 20,000 pieces…WOW!! 😦

CCTV Interview on History of China Made Toys / 10 June 2009

CCTV will be launching a new programme about Transport in the past, Lifestyle in the past, Childhood in the past…etc to celebrate the 1st Oct, The China National Day this year. And I am one the interviewees who talked about the past and the history of Chinese toys. The morning interview took about 4 hours, after interviewing me in my Shanghai office, I brought them to my tin toy factory and continuing the interview until 5pm.

Western Toys in Shanghai in 1930s

Have bought few nice pictures recently. Three pictures show Chinese kids carried Teddy Bear and another large picture ( about A2 size ) shows a lady carried an American Doll. These three pictures help me to understand what kind of western toys exported to Shanghai during 1930s to 40s.

My Toy Factory – New Project 2009

SPACE PATROL CAR was manufactured by NOMURA in Japan during the 60s in the last century. We have received an order to make this fantastic battery operated toy car and Mr Wang is working on this project now.

Anyone can tell me which one is the original, and which one is the prototype?

I think Mr Wang also confused which one is the original… haha! 🙂

Toy Exhibition at Shanghai / Nov 2008 – Day 35 Interview by AsiaTV News

HK Asia TV is here today to interview me. They are surprised that my museum is in Singapore as when they are in Singapore last year, STB (Singapore Tourist Promotion Board) never introduced our museum to them. But the crew and the reporter said they will visit Museum of Shanghai Toys in their next trip to Singapore. Wow…… 🙂

Toy Exhibition at Shanghai / Nov 2008 – Day 6 Toy Designers Gathering

Mr Wang, the toy engineer who worked in Shanghai No.2 Toy factory in the past and now is our staff who help us to make prototype. It’s his first time to see some of his works after 30 over years and the exhibition recall back some of his memories.

Mr Zheng and Mr Wang are colleaques when they both worked in Shanghai No.2 Factory. Mr Zheng is specialised in large battery operated tin toy, rather than small wind-up tin toy.

Toy Exhibition at Shanghai / Nov 2008 – Day 5 Opening Day

Today, 25 Oct 2008, is the 1st day of the exhibition. Although the visitors are not as many as last year when I had my exhibition in HK in the 1st day, but I am still really happy and excited.

Outside the exhibition hall, there is a small toy shop which allows visitors to purchase their childhood memories – TIN TOY. 🙂

In fact, the most interesting part for this exhibition is not our museum collection, it should be our punching machine :-). In order to attract the eyeballs from our visitors, either adults or kids, we bring along our small punching machine from my toy factory to the exhibition and demonstrate how toy workers assemble tin toys. Many kids would like to find out what’s that and they even have a chance to use their small legs to press the punching machine. Haha!

School Excursion: TAMASEK PRIMARY SCHOOL / 27-5-08

School Excursion: BETHESDA (Pasir Ris) Kindergarten / 26-5-08

After the excursion, teachers bring all the kids to the park which just in front of MoST. 🙂