Vintage Products Laying Around the House That Are Very Valuable Today

7. Tinkertoys - Estimated Value $50-$100

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The Ohio Art Company chose to present something fresh for the younger generation in the 1960s. Using the many wooden sticks and spools within the packaging, children could construct buildings and things with the Tinkertoys. They proved to be really popular with parents and children alike as the concept was to enable them to utilise their brains and imagination to create something they were proud of. Originally created by Charles Pajeau and Robert Pettit in 1914, tinkertoys really have a far longer history. But as parents looked for toys that would be both entertaining and instructive, they became rather popular again in the 1960s. Even before the word was used, the marketing approach of the Ohio Art Company catered to the expanding awareness on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The traditional Tinkertoy set comprised of flags, sticks of varying lengths, and spools with holes on all sides from various woods. Children's creativity, spatial thinking, and fine motor abilities were developed by using this basic but adaptable framework to produce everything from simple buildings to sophisticated machines. Though these kinds of toys are still sold today, collectors say nothing compares to Tinkertoys. That's most likely the reason some vintage sets are sold online for about $100. For whole sets in their original packaging—especially those from the 1960s—the value can be substantially higher. Tinkertoys are always appealing because of their simplicity and limitless possibilities they present; they are therefore a beloved object for collectors as well as for those trying to re-connect with their early years.