A perhaps forgotten brand of toys but you’d be surprised at what they made, particularly their TV tie-ins.
Summary
Denys Fisher Toys was the company founded by English engineer Denys Fisher who invented the spirograph toy.
Fisher left Leeds University to join the family firm, Kingfisher (Lubrication) Ltd.
In 1960 he left the firm and set up his own company, Denys Fisher Engineering, in Leeds. a year later in 1961 the company won a contract with NATO to supply springs and precision components for its 20 mm cannon.
However it was between 1962 and 1964 when he developed various drawing machines from pieces of Meccano eventually producing a prototype for what would become the Spirograph.
Patented in 16 countries, Spirograph went on sale in Schofields Department Store, Leeds in 1965.
A year later, Fisher licensed Spirograph to Kenner Products in the USA. In 1967 Spirograph was chosen as the UK Toy of the Year.
Denys Fisher Toys, went on to produce a huge range of toys and board games, including many TV tie-ins. board Games included Are You Being Served, On The buses, Thomas Cook-Snap Happy, Dad’s Army. Toys included: Stickle Bricks, Doctor Who, Tom Baker and Leela Doll). Nookie Bear (ventriloquist bear).
Where Did They Go?
Denys Fisher Toys was sold to rival Palitoy (who made Action Man) in 1970. Palitoy was subsequently bought by Hasbro. Denys Fisher continued to work with Hasbro in developing new toys and refining Spirograph. Fisher died in 2002.
Many of those toys are now highly collectible.
Commercial Break