POLL-PARROT WOOD SPINNER TOP early 1950s | ||
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Posted 13 years ago
rkmontg342
(11 items)
Poll-Parrot labeled Top. Early 1950s. Family toy. Wood. Hard to find in Wood. Great shape.
LABEL READS:
"POLL-PARROT SHOES
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS"
1-3/4" WIDE X 3-3/4" TALL
Some wear on metal spinner.
Overall good condition for a toy over 50 years old. One of those fun things to rediscover.
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This is a marvel in itself, you just don't see them in this shape and the LABEL. Love to see older toys, thanks for sharing this. And thank you for the complement in your other post.
you are welcome and glad you enjoy seeing Poll-Parrot top.
Poll Parrot was not the name of the top but of a brand of kids shoes, I've found some info from the web on the defunct company.
The other shoe brand you mention, and the third major player in the early-to-midcentury kids' shoe biz, was actually called Poll Parrot – a play on the name of its parent company, Paul Parrot Shoes. Well into the 60s Buster Brown, Red Goose, and Poll Parrot battled for the hearts and minds of American children using giveaway trinkets, comic books, radio shows, and television sponsorships. I can't verify your memories of seeing their commercials on Howdy Doody and Captain Video, but I do find that for a while Red Goose sponsored Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
Buster Brown may have won the war, and Red Goose and Poll Parrot may not have really been competing with each other – having both been swallowed up by International Shoe in the first half of the century – but I always had a soft spot for Red Goose. Why? Because its swag wasn't dispensed from some old shoe box under the cash register but was instead delivered via a golden egg laid by a large red mechanical goose when you pulled down its head. Or at least that's what I heard – since my shoes came from Montgomery Ward or Topps, I never knew for sure.
This top was one of those give a ways to a kid when Mom bought shoes, that makes it even more special... Neat thing.
BTW, the label is on the top of the top. :-)
thanks for info Pop_abides. I seem to recall reading that, too. Have read much online and all is interesting. thanks again for your help.