In 2025, most of these toys would be flagged as dangerous toys, but in 1946, they were as mainstream as it gets—straight out of the Sears Christmas Catalog, the holy grail of mid-century wish lists. With proper supervision, I reckon most of these could still be a blast. Only one, though, crosses the line into “what were they thinking?” territory. Let’s dive in.

Jousting Set

I imagine a conversation like this taking place at the toy company’s research and development office:

“How about we sell sticks kids can hit each other with?”

“Kids already hit each other with sticks. The gound’s littered with them.”

“Howsabout we sell’m with wobbly thingamajigger to stand on? You know, so it’ll be harder to aim. You know, to make it more exciting?”

“You’re on to something, Lenny! But let’s put some padding on one end of the stick…so moms will think it’s safe.”

“We’re going to be rich, Dorothea. Rich, I tell you!”

You know the dad in the illustration slurped down three martinis at lunch and is likely to cough up a couple olives after the gut blow from Junior.

Not too dangerous, but those sticks could sting, and a misstep on the rocker might cost you a toe.

Steam Engines

This is pretty cool. I’m a 56-year-old kid who would love to mess around with these things. What could go wrong with using electricity to heat water to its boiling point and then fiddling around with miniature woodworking tools? Seriously, this thing would be a great way to bump into STEM topics.

Air Cooled Woodburning

Back at the toy Company R&D Office:

“It’s like drawing, Lenny, but instead of a pencil on paper, the kid uses an electric heat stick to draw on a hunk of wood.”

“Won’t kids burn themselves?”

“Once, maybe twice. Then they’ll learn not to touch the hot part.”

“Let’s say it’s ‘air-cooled’ to cover our butts. That’ll make it sound safe.”

How old is the lad in the illustration? Seven?

The kid in the illustration—seven, maybe? I begged for a woodburning kit at that age and never got one. I probably dodged a scar or two, but missed out on a lot of fun.

Working Sewing Machine

Doug gets a call from his wife on Tuesday, January 7, 1947, his first day back at the office post holidays:

“What is it, Honey? I’ve got to get to the big Finkhammer account meeting. Why’d you call?

“Kimmy stitched her fingers together while making doll clothes…again.”

“Call Dr. Henderson. Then let your mother know we’ll have to preapprove future Christmas gifts. I’ve got to go, love you.”

“There’s blood…so much blood…”

Kimmy probably didn’t stitch her fingers together, the machine was tiny and handcranked. My wife, a child of the 70s, says she had something like this and loved it–and her fingers are still in great shape.

Working Stove

This thing was tiny too. And the two real electric burners were enclosed and isolated so the entire steel structure didn’t heat up. That made burns harder to get, but I bet they happened. I don’t see any tiny pot holders.

Again, this could be a dangerous toy; or a chance to practice being careful.

Real Tools

These are fine; every classroom should have modern versions of all these tools in a woodworking/tinkering/construction area. Using tools is a great way to bump into all types of STEM learning. Here’s an example, it’s heavily edited, but it makes the point that kids can be capable users of tools:

Woodwork classes at a school in China
pic.twitter.com/0UJ3194WNv

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 24, 2025

That little woodworker had lots of adult help we don’t see in the video, but it’s a good example of how kids can be trusted to work with real tools.

Fun With Multen Lead

Yikes! Talk about dangerous toys.

In the 1940s, lead’s dangers were shrugged off—paint, gas, toys, you name it, lead was everywhere. Regulations? Barely. It took until the ‘70s and ‘80s for the U.S. to wake up to the toxicity data. Back then, melting lead to cast soldiers seemed like harmless fun. Today? It’s a nightmare.

Short-term exposure to lead fumes and dust can cause:

• Cognitive impairments (e.g., reduced IQ, learning disabilities)
• Behavioral issues (e.g., attention deficits, aggression)
• Developmental delays
• Seizures, coma, or death

Dangerous Toys From 1946 Wrap-Up

Minus that molten lead insanity, these toys could still deliver fun and a decent chunk of learning with basic adult supervision. Modern versions of most are still kicking around, too. All kidding about dangerous toys aside, I think the big takeaway isn’t how sketchy toys once were; it’s how we’ve bubble-wrapped kids today. Overprotection might be the bigger hazard.

Here are some danger-related posts you may find interesting:

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