Schaper Toys
Encyclopedia
Schaper Toys, or W.H. Schaper Mfg. Co., Inc. as it was originally known, was a game and toy company founded in 1949 by William Herbert Schaper in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. "Herb" Schaper published a variety of games but was best known for having created the children's game, Cootie
. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the company operated as Schaper Toys, a subsidiary of Kusan Inc. In 1986, Schaper Toys was acquired by Tyco Toys
. Cootie was the company's bestseller.
. After whittling a fishing lure in 1948, he molded the object in plastic
, fashioned a game around it, and formed the H. W. Schaper Mfg. Co., Inc. to manufacture and publish the game. In the fall of 1949, the game was launched on the market, and sold through Dayton's
department stores. Schaper sold 5,000 Cootie games by 1950, and over 1.2 million games by 1952.
Schaper Toys manufactured a host other games including the well-known Ants in the Pants
and Don't Break the Ice
. Schaper toys was one of the first toy and game manufacturers to extensively use plastic in its products. While most children's games of the period were made of paper and cardboard, Schaper games were constructed almost solely of plastic. The company introduced Stompers
a battery powered line of toy trucks and other vehicles in 1980.
Schaper Manufacturing operated as the Schaper Toy division of Kusan Inc. in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1986, Schaper Toys was acquired by Tyco Toys
, which is now a division of Mattel Inc.
In the deal, Tyco sold the rights to four Schaper games including Cootie to Hasbro
's Milton Bradley
division. Cootie is manufactured and sold today through Milton Bradley
with legs featuring in-line skates, sneakers, and other fanciful accessories.
and a die. The plastic parts are acquired at the roll of the die beginning with the stool and ending with the cap. The player who completes his figurine first is the loser.
. Components consist of 41 plastic tiles depicting a variety of characters with one tile picturing a skunk. Tiles are paired and discarded until one player loses the game by holding the skunk.
is a race game
for two to four players ages 8 to adult. The object of the game is to move one's five colored marbles from the outer rim of the 'stadium' to a slot in the center of the board. The game was introduced in 1952. In 2004, the game was republished as Roller Bowl by Winning Moves Games USA
. Its original name was restored in 2007.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. "Herb" Schaper published a variety of games but was best known for having created the children's game, Cootie
Cootie (game)
The Game of Cootie is a children's roll-and-move tabletop game for two to four players. The object is to be the first to build a three dimensional bug-like object called a "cootie" from a variety of plastic body parts. Created by William Schaper in 1948, the game was launched in 1949 and sold...
. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the company operated as Schaper Toys, a subsidiary of Kusan Inc. In 1986, Schaper Toys was acquired by Tyco Toys
Tyco Toys
Tyco Toys is an American toy manufacturer. Since 1997 it has been a division of the Mattel toy company.-History:Mantua Metal Products was a Woodbury Heights, New Jersey, metalworks business founded in 1926 by John Tyler and family...
. Cootie was the company's bestseller.
Company history
William Herbert "Herb" Schaper was a Minnesotan postman who created, developed, and manufactured a children's game known as CootieCootie (game)
The Game of Cootie is a children's roll-and-move tabletop game for two to four players. The object is to be the first to build a three dimensional bug-like object called a "cootie" from a variety of plastic body parts. Created by William Schaper in 1948, the game was launched in 1949 and sold...
. After whittling a fishing lure in 1948, he molded the object in plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, fashioned a game around it, and formed the H. W. Schaper Mfg. Co., Inc. to manufacture and publish the game. In the fall of 1949, the game was launched on the market, and sold through Dayton's
Dayton's
Minneapolis-based Dayton's was among the leading department stores in the United States for nearly a century after its founding in 1902 by George Draper Dayton. In 1969, the Detroit-based J.L. Hudson Company merged with the Dayton Corporation to form the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, adding 21...
department stores. Schaper sold 5,000 Cootie games by 1950, and over 1.2 million games by 1952.
Schaper Toys manufactured a host other games including the well-known Ants in the Pants
Ants in the Pants
Ants in the Pants is a children's tabletop game. The object of the game is to spring as many of your 'ants' as possible into the 'pants'. The game shares similarities with Tiddlywinks....
and Don't Break the Ice
Don't Break the Ice
Don't Break the Ice is a children's tabletop game for two to four players ages 3 and up. Originally marketed by Schaper Toys in 1968, the game is presently manufactured by Hasbro subsidiary Milton Bradley....
. Schaper toys was one of the first toy and game manufacturers to extensively use plastic in its products. While most children's games of the period were made of paper and cardboard, Schaper games were constructed almost solely of plastic. The company introduced Stompers
Stompers
Stompers were first created in 1980 by Schaper Toys. These toys were battery-powered vehicles that ran on a single AA battery and featured all-wheel drive. They were driven by a single motor that turned both axles....
a battery powered line of toy trucks and other vehicles in 1980.
Schaper Manufacturing operated as the Schaper Toy division of Kusan Inc. in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1986, Schaper Toys was acquired by Tyco Toys
Tyco Toys
Tyco Toys is an American toy manufacturer. Since 1997 it has been a division of the Mattel toy company.-History:Mantua Metal Products was a Woodbury Heights, New Jersey, metalworks business founded in 1926 by John Tyler and family...
, which is now a division of Mattel Inc.
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
In the deal, Tyco sold the rights to four Schaper games including Cootie to Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
's Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley , an American game pioneer, was credited by many with launching the board game industry in North America with Milton Bradley Company....
division. Cootie is manufactured and sold today through Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley , an American game pioneer, was credited by many with launching the board game industry in North America with Milton Bradley Company....
with legs featuring in-line skates, sneakers, and other fanciful accessories.
Dunce
Dunce (1955) is a game for two to four players. Its object is to avoid being the first player to complete a plastic figurine of a boy wearing a dunce cap. Components consist of a stool, a body, a head, a dunce capDunce cap
A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's cap, or dunce's hat, is a pointed hat. In popular culture, it is typically made of paper and often marked with a D or the word "dunce", and given to schoolchildren to wear as punishment by public humiliation for misbehavior and, as the name...
and a die. The plastic parts are acquired at the roll of the die beginning with the stool and ending with the cap. The player who completes his figurine first is the loser.
Li'l Stinker
Li'l Stinker (1956) is a game for any number of players ages 4 to 8. The game is similar in concept and play to Old MaidOld Maid
Old maid is a Victorian card game for two to eight players probably deriving from an ancient gambling game in which the loser pays for the drinks. It is known in Germany as Schwarzer Peter, in Sweden as Svarte Petter and in Finland as Musta Pekka and in France as le pouilleux or vieux garçon...
. Components consist of 41 plastic tiles depicting a variety of characters with one tile picturing a skunk. Tiles are paired and discarded until one player loses the game by holding the skunk.
Shake
Shake (1950) is a game of chance for two to four players ages 8 to adult. The object of the games is to complete a row of six numbers in the same line; either straight across, up and down, or diagonal from corner to corner. Components consist of a plastic board, chips, and dice.Stadium Checkers
Stadium CheckersStadium Checkers
Stadium Checkers is a tabletop race game for 2 to 4 players ages 8 to adult. The object of the game is to be the first to move one's five colored marbles from the outer rim of the 'stadium' to a slot in the center of the board. The game was introduced in 1952 and originally published by W.H....
is a race game
Race game
Race game is a large category of board games, in which the object is to be the first to move all one's pieces to the end of a track. This is both the earliest type of board game known, with implements and representations dating back to at least the 3rd millennium BC in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran; and...
for two to four players ages 8 to adult. The object of the game is to move one's five colored marbles from the outer rim of the 'stadium' to a slot in the center of the board. The game was introduced in 1952. In 2004, the game was republished as Roller Bowl by Winning Moves Games USA
Winning Moves
Winning Moves Games is a maker of classic card games and board games, puzzles, action games and adult party games.-History:Winning Moves Games was founded in 1995 by four game industry professionals: Tom Kremer , Philip Orbanes , Mike...
. Its original name was restored in 2007.