Making Tin Can Toys

audiobook

Making Tin Can Toys

by Edward Thatcher

EN·~3 hours·26 chapters

Chapters

26 total

INTRODUCTION

8:06

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE AUTHOR BY A FORMER PUPIL MRS. CLYDE M. MYERS

3:29

ILLUSTRATIONS

1:04

MAKING TIN CAN TOYS - CHAPTER I Tin Cans

12:06

CHAPTER II Tools and Appliances

21:00

CHAPTER III Making a Biscuit Cutter from a Small Can

10:33

CHAPTER IV Soldering

21:22

CHAPTER V Soldering (Continued)

9:41

CHAPTER VI Cooky Cutters

7:15

CHAPTER VII Trays

8:20

Description

Imagine taking the humble tin cans that litter kitchen cupboards and turning them into robust, moving playthings that delight children and adults alike. This guide shows how a few simple tools—solder, a bit of wire, and a little imagination—are enough to transform everyday metal into locomotives, rollers, lanterns, and more. Each project is explained in clear, step‑by‑step instructions, so even a novice can follow along without feeling overwhelmed.

Beyond the fun of building, the book highlights how making these toys can become a classroom adventure, fostering creativity, problem‑solving, and hands‑on learning for students as young as ten. It also recounts how the same techniques have brought comfort and purpose to wounded soldiers, proving that a modest tin can can spark both play and therapy.

Whether you’re a teacher, a hobbyist, or simply looking for a rewarding way to reuse scrap metal, the methods here offer durable, attractive results that feel far from “tinny.” The emphasis on safe, rounded edges and sturdy construction means the creations are as practical as they are enjoyable.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (214K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2018-04-07

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

ET

Edward Thatcher

A teacher of decorative metalworking at Teachers College, Columbia University, he turned hands-on craft into lively, practical books for makers. His best-known work, Making Tin Can Toys, shows a playful mix of ingenuity, teaching skill, and early 20th-century workshop spirit.

View all books

You may also like