Who manufactured these backyard wooden climbing frames in the 1970s?
April 10, 2022 6:39 AM Subscribe
I am trying to locate an old catalog or at least some online photos of the type of wooden backyard playset we had around 1976 in upstate NY. My dad ordered it from a catalog and it came as a kit. It was a frame about 8-10 feet tall made of smooth green painted two by fours for the vertical parts. There were yellow wooden dowels (1.5 inch diameter or so) like rungs in between the verticals.
It had movable horizontal platforms and a slide. It had a monkey bar side extension with 3-4 swing options. You could swap out a trapeze or gymnast rings or swings, and there was a sit-down glider as well. I think the company name was something simple like "Children's Playthings".
It had movable horizontal platforms and a slide. It had a monkey bar side extension with 3-4 swing options. You could swap out a trapeze or gymnast rings or swings, and there was a sit-down glider as well. I think the company name was something simple like "Children's Playthings".
That sounds like the brand of swing set my family had, bought in 1980. My mom says, "Think the manufacturer was in the northeast, like Boston. A bit pricey and 'Wood' may have been in the name."
Unfortunately, my dad, who would have been most likely to remember the brand name, as he chose it and assembled it, died last summer, but after he passed my stepmom gave my brother all our family photos, and I know there was at least one of me and a friend on the set. If he can find one or more photos at least we would know we were thinking of the same thing. He said he can take a look this week.
posted by jocelmeow at 9:42 AM on April 10, 2022
Unfortunately, my dad, who would have been most likely to remember the brand name, as he chose it and assembled it, died last summer, but after he passed my stepmom gave my brother all our family photos, and I know there was at least one of me and a friend on the set. If he can find one or more photos at least we would know we were thinking of the same thing. He said he can take a look this week.
posted by jocelmeow at 9:42 AM on April 10, 2022
Best answer: I think it's Creative Playthings, if you look on the page linked there is a picture of one of there play sets.
posted by momochan at 10:05 AM on April 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by momochan at 10:05 AM on April 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
We had one of these in the late 70s/early 80s in Virginia. One of the things that we learned is that the termites in VA are apparently much hungrier and more common than in New England, where the set was built.
posted by toxic at 11:16 AM on April 10, 2022
posted by toxic at 11:16 AM on April 10, 2022
We had a set from them, but slightly different- no slide. I hadn't thought about it in years, so thanks for this Ask!
posted by oneirodynia at 6:23 PM on April 10, 2022
posted by oneirodynia at 6:23 PM on April 10, 2022
Best answer: I agree with mamochan: I am in New England, and staring out the window at our Creative Playthings set (which we purchased 20 years ago, and moved from our previous house!). We bought it direct from them; the company is maybe an hour from here in Massachusetts, up Route 495, I think.
They were pretty nice folks when we dealt with them -- maybe just ask!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:55 AM on April 11, 2022
They were pretty nice folks when we dealt with them -- maybe just ask!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:55 AM on April 11, 2022
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posted by jennstra at 7:22 AM on April 10, 2022