Who owns ohio art

William bought the Winzeler family's controlling interest in the Ohio Art Company in , after which he became board chairman and Bill became president and chief executive officer. They were joined by another of William's sons, Martin Larry Killgallon. At this point the company continued to license popular Disney characters as well as the animated figures of the Smurfs and Pac-Man.

They also introduced the Lil' Sport line of kid-sized basketball, baseball, and soccer toys. The s brought Etch A Sketch spin offs, including the Etch A Sketch Animator , which was an electronic version that played back sketches to simulate animation. These spin offs continued in the s with the color Etch A Sketch models in and the jewel toned pocket models in Designed for kids aged four and up, these tall, thin dolls had interchangeable limbs, accessories, and spaghetti-like hair.

With some financial difficulties in , the Ohio Art Company secured new financing in to remain a viable company. One of the changes made during this time was moving the production of the marginally profitable Etch A Sketch to China. Then, on more secure financial footing, in , they introduced the A.

More recently, the Ohio Art Company entered the construction toy field with nanoblock, one of the smallest building block systems in the industry, and a single block construction system for preschoolers called the CLICS.

The K's Kids educational products were developed by a team of parents, childhood development professionals, and psychologists. This award winning line of baby and toddler toys utilizes the Learning Triangle, which emphasizes first the child's physical development, then their mental and cognitive development , and finally the social aspects of children's emotional development.

Ohio Art also expanded through acquisition during this period. The purchase of Chicago's Holabird Manufacturing Company broadened the product line to include glass-framed calendars featuring popular Ohio Art prints.

The onset of World War I in interrupted toy imports from Germany and afforded domestic toymakers the opportunity to fill the void. In Ohio Art acquired both the C.

During this period, Ohio Art began making the lithographed metal windmills, sand pails, toy cars, wagons, circus trains, spinning tops, and drum sets that would be mainstays throughout the 20th century. The company honed its lithography skills with the production of metal tea sets that featured detailed depictions of nursery rhymes, alphabets, animals, and children's stories. In H. Winzeler retired from Ohio Art to concentrate on his West Coast businesses.

Although Winzeler continued to own the company, Lachlan M. About 20 percent of the company's equity was sold to the public at that time, but the Winzelers retained a controlling stake.

Fifteen-year-old son Howard W. Ohio Art maintained its fiscal strength throughout the Great Depression and was even able to acquire several other companies hobbled by the crisis.

In alone the company bought out four firms: Mutual Novelty Manufacturing Company in Chicago, a producer of artificial icicles for decorating Christmas trees; Veelo Manufacturing Company, maker of dolls and stuffed animals; Delta Products, a manufacturer of electric appliances and car parts; and Household Appliance Manufacturing Company, a maker of clothes dryers.

Craftsman Studios, a manufacturer of brass and copper tableware, was acquired in Two printing companies, Kenyon Company, Inc. When H. Winzeler died in Howie was appointed to fill the vacant seat on the board of directors.

By the end of the year, he had also advanced to vice-president. During World War II, when virtually all domestic production was harnessed for the war effort, even toymakers like Ohio Art were called upon to manufacture strategic products.

The tiny northwest Ohio firm made parts for rockets, bombs, and aircraft throughout the war, and its contributions earned an "Excellence" award at war's end.

When Ohio Art resumed toymaking in the postwar era, it began using new plastics to make its traditional toys. Metal dollhouses featured plastic furniture, and tea sets, sand pails, and farm sets reappeared in plastic. Winzeler, who advanced to Ohio Art's presidency in , encountered what would become the company's flagship product at a European toy fair in Winzeler was reluctant to pay the apparently steep price Granjean demanded to license the product but bought the rights after a second presentation later that year.

Renamed the Etch A Sketch, the toy featured a glass "window" enclosed in a red plastic frame. Metal picture frames were being turned out at 20, per day.

More than 50 million sets adorned the walls of American homes in the first half of the 20th century. New items began to appear; advertising signs, scale dials and a few small wagons, representing the beginning of a long and successful run in the toy business. When WW1 halted the flow of German toys to this country, American manufacturers had a tremendous opportunity to surge forward. Quick to realize this, Dr. Winzeler increased his line of toys and toy parts and business boomed.

A quality and very popular tea set line was introduced, and in , sand pails appeared.