History's Best Selling Toys of 1931

Revisiting 1931 presents a grand parade of toys history, marked by swell Yankee ingenuity and home-front craftsmanship and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Finger Paint, Battleship, and essential classics took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Ruth Faison Shaw and Starex led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that swept main street from coast to coast as genuine top-flight hits. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Finger Paint

   Released in 1931 by Ruth Faison Shaw

   On September 2, 1931, American educator Ruth Faison Shaw filed a patent application for a novel artistic medium she called 'Finger Paint.' This date marks the official beginning of a creative revolution in early childhood education. Shaw had developed the non-toxic, colorful paste while running her own school in Rome, Italy, seeking a therapeutic tool for her students to express themselves without the inhibition of brushes or other implements. The patent filing was a crucial step in transforming her educational method into a universally accessible product, laying the groundwork for a partnership with Binney & Smith (the makers of Crayola) that would place this unique sensory experience into the hands of millions of children across the globe.

2. Battleship

   Released in 1931 by Starex

   The year 1931 marked a significant turning point for a popular WWI-era paper-and-pencil game, as the Starex company officially launched 'Salvo,' the first commercial board game version of what we now know as Battleship. This groundbreaking release brought the thrill of naval combat strategy from handwritten grids to a mass-produced format, making strategic warfare accessible to families. Its intuitive yet challenging gameplay, requiring both logic and a bit of luck, quickly captivated players. The game's novelty, combining a simple premise with engaging competition, made it an instant hit and paved the way for its eventual global phenomenon status, solidifying its place in toy history long before its most famous plastic iteration.