Toy Stories

February 22, 2023 Debbie Reyes-Coloma

The emotional bond between toys and kids cannot be downplayed. They are a source of comfort and security. Toys become the trusted sidekicks they talk to, confide in, laugh and cry with, and punching bags in moments of frustration. They eventually outgrow their play buddies, which end up in stacked boxes buried somewhere in the attic or basement.

Not all toys, however, are stored away to gather dust. Singaporean Chang Yang Fa turned his enormous 50,000+ toy collection into a museum. Nostalgia weighed in on his decision to establish MINT (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys) Museum of Toys in 2007 on Seah Street in Singapore just a few steps away from the historic Raffles Hotel.

Amazing Stories is the pulp magazine that introduced us to Flash Gordon, Zorro, Buck Rogers, John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian, Tarzan. It was a major force in the lowbrow literary scene from the late 1890s to 1950s. (Amazing Stories paperback, 1928, USA)

“There isn’t any toy that I’ll keep away from the museum. I want to share my entire collection with the public, but progressively—there are more than 50,000 toys and childhood memorabilia in it,” the founder said in an interview with Sg Magazine back in 2012. “Putting the museum on the world map as a key tourist attraction like Madame Tussauds and Museum of Modern Art is one of the things on my bucket list.”

Introduced in 1926, Winnie The Pooh has become one of the most popular icons dominating current pop culture.

On display are Mr Chang’s personal collections since he was six years old as well as archival pieces that he meticulously collected and hunted spanning over 30 years. It’s hard not to marvel at the craftsmanship of age-old toys that were hand-made and engineered down to the tiniest detail to stand the test of time.

Toys are not just playthings. Their historic significance cannot be underplayed. They tell stories from the remote past, many playing a vital role in defining an era or a generation.

Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the USA with adult features. Launched in 1959, co-founder Ruth Handler’s philosophy behind Barbie was that through the doll a little girl could be anything she wanted to be and that she has choices. For over 60 years, Barbie has empowered girls to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president.

One of the world’s largest Barbie Doll collectors with over 9,000 dolls to his name, Singaporean Jian Yang put a part of his personal collection up for viewing at the MINT Museum in his first exhibition titled “A Journey of A Toy Collector” in 2019.

For over 60 years, Barbie has empowered girls to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president.

Manga culture can trace its history to Astro Boy, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022. The cult comic series character with his big eyes and convivial personality has a deep influence in the way manga storytelling developed, how Japanese youth recovered and rebuilt in a post-war society, and how manga evolved into anime. With a total of 23 original volumes of manga sold over 100 million copies, and the successful adaptation of television and film animation, the Astro Boy series has been named the best selling manga of all time and recognised as one of the pivotal creations towards the development of the manga and anime industry.

Astro Boy is one of the cult classics originated from Japanese manga. This is a Tada wind-up Astro Boy is one of rarest Astro memorabilia items MINT has from the 1960s.

Batman is the superhero in the crime-fighting Detective Comics (DC) universe. Since its introduction in 1939, he has inspired – and set an example to – millions of impressionable youth worldwide with his moral code of ethics, courage, justice and temperance. Batman’s inner circle has grown to include sidekicks Robin and Batgirl, Catwoman; and foes the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face and the Joker. Likewise, the GI Joe action figures were a pop culture phenomenon, serving as role models for young boys.

Widely believed to have jump-started the action figure craze, fictional GI Joe characters are popular American action figures from the 1980s – 1990s.

Housed in a five-storey building, the MINT Museum of Toys is said to be the largest vintage toy museum in Asia including collectables from over 40 countries ranging from the 1840s to 1980s. These are showcased across four themed floors – Outerspace, Characters, Childhood Favourites, Collectables, Spooky Horror, Bedtime Stories and Beatles Memorabilia. The rooftop has a casual dining and wine bar cum public gallery dedicated to a huge assemblage of enamel signs and biscuit tins.

Time travel made possible with these colourful posters and enamel signs

Chill out spot Vertigoo26 is decked in music memorabilia including a Beatlemania collection

In addition to toys, the museum also showcases a vast memorabilia of vintage posters, confectionery tin boxes, and large-item displays such as Mobo horses, pedal cars as well as original enamel advertising signs. Over the years, these have been incorporated into its seasonal exhibits and programmes to provide visitors insights into the past and present.

MINT also spotlights key collector’s pieces that are hard to pass up including, but not limited to, the only Mekon Mask from Dan Dare in existence, a century-old Steiff Teddy Bear and a ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ doll owned by Alice Liddell, the girl whom was the inspiration for the main character of the famed children’s storybook.

Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon first appeared in January 1929 in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre. (Image: cntraveller.com)

Masks in all shapes are a show-stopper.

Toy connoisseur Mr Chang is greatly inspired and influenced by his passion for design and the arts. He envisioned a purpose-built space entirely devoted to vintage toys and childhood memorabilia that will allow visitors to rediscover the past filled with memorable childhood stories behind each toy.

Founder Mr Chang Yang Fa turned his enormous 50,000+ toy collection into a museum that accrued since he was six years old. “Every piece in my collection is important to me as each acquisition marks a unique experience.”

A trip to MINT Museum of Toys promises time well spent whether you’re six or sixty. Pre-book a guided tour and be regaled with heartwarming toy stories.

Debbie | ws