Now they DO make toys like they used to! This toy is a combination of two simple toy designs: the train whistle and the toy train. Children can play with train as they would play with any other toy car or truck, rolling it around and such. In addition, channels are cast into the body of the train to allow children to create 4 different pitched whistles.
- Features
- Big Wheels
- 4 Different Whistle Sounds
- Sturdy Construction
- No Small Parts
- Durable
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Underlying Principles: While playing with the Toy Train Whistle, children will learn about what causes the whistle sounds to be produced. They can correlate the different pitches with the different sized notches cut into the channels.
- Construction cost: The cost of manufacturing this toy would be very low. If constructed of wood, all the basic shapes are already in mass production and could be ordered wholesale before assembly. Injection molded plastic is also an option, however I feel this would detract from the "classic" feel of a wooden toy (like the original wooden train whistle).
- Durability: There are no mechanisms to malfunction and no springs to wear out, so this toy could last a lifetime. The wheels will be attached to the body via simple metal hardware and an axle.
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Safety: Granted the toy is not disassembled, there are no small parts that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Apart from physical hazards, however, a downside to wooden construction could be the spread of germs, especially with kids blowing into the mouthpieces on the cow catcher. Wood is a porous material and holds moisture and bacteria well.
Concept Sketches