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Moving Parts

Contents

Introduction

First & Familiar Favorites

Little Hands

Moving Parts

Trivia & General Knowledge

Additional Resources

For many, gameplay dynamics are the defining feature of an exciting game. Play can start as early as game setup. Magnetic Fish Pond’s instructions begin with how to build the pond. Similarly, those looking to play Connette had to first construct the game’s box-net. Other games and toys had open-ended play. Hill’s Kindergarten Building and Spelling Blocks let the player choose whatever approach they liked: spelling, building, and even demolition! Fortune Teller used a simple spinner and relied on chance for the game’s outcome, ensuring no two plays were alike.
Magnetic fishing pond with an underwater scene depicted on the sides of the box.

Magnetic fish pond. New York: McLoughlin Bros. 1891.

Cover of "Kindergarten Building Blocks." Illustration of four children playing with blocks.
Wooden box filled with wooden blocks. Blocks vary in size and shape, with some being rectangular and others being cubic. On the blocks are simple images and upper and lowercase letters.

Hill’s Kindergarten Building and Spelling Blocks. Williamsburg, New York: S.L. Hill. Circa 1890.

The game "The Fortune Teller" with the tagline "A Novel and Exciting Game." Illustrated woman sitting by a tree pointing to a wheel that spins behind her with a variety of playing cards.

Fortune Teller: a Novel and Exciting Game. Springfield, MA: Milton Bradley Co. 1905.

The game "Conette." Cover shows two women and a man playing the game. Square box with strings forming a grid that small paper cones can be placed into to score points shown along the bottom. Two wooden playing paddles.

Connette. Springfield: Milton Bradley Co. Circa 1898.

Little Hands
Trivia & General Knowledge