Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAcross a century of American childhood, toys moved from wireless signals to television games and talking electronic devices, while building, pretending, and learning through play persisted. Museum collections show how toys reflected new technologies and changing ideas about childhood; they do not establish what every child owned or a definitive ranking of each decade’s favorites.
What toys reveal about a century of American childhood
Toys are more than playthings: they can preserve evidence of what a society considered new technology, useful skills, and suitable play for children. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History traces that shift through a circa-1920 A.C. Gilbert wireless telegraph, the 1972 Magnavox Odyssey video-game system, and Texas Instruments’ 1978 Speak & Spell.
The examples also show why a century of toys is not a simple march from old to new. A device could introduce a striking technology, while a construction toy or pretend-play object carried familiar kinds of play into another generation. And an object in a museum collection is evidence that a toy existed and mattered enough to preserve—not proof that it was in every home.
Before the century: how toys became part of family life
The story begins before the 1920s. The National Museum of American History’s “Toys from the Attic” exhibit covered 1825–1939 and described changes in ideas about childhood and schooling alongside growing demand for manufactured toys. In its account of American middle-class childhood, mass production made toys more sophisticated and more affordable, while wish lists, catalogs, and department stores helped bring them into family life.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Objects in the exhibit included an 1890s swimming doll, an early-20th-century tricycle, a 1908 children’s carpet sweeper, alphabet blocks, and children’s sewing machines. These toys suggest that play could imitate adult work, encourage movement, or support learning. They are examples from a particular historical exhibit, not a universal account of childhood or a complete list of what children played with.
How toys changed across generations
The examples below follow a consistent set of questions: what technology or material was involved, what kind of play it invited, what skills it might engage, and what the object says about production or marketing. The collection examples illustrate changes; they should not be read as proof that each toy was typical of its entire decade.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| Period and example | Technology or material | Play and skills | Production, marketing, and legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circa 1920: A.C. Gilbert wireless telegraph | Wireless telegraph equipment used to send Morse code. | Children could experiment with communication technology and practice signaling. | A Smithsonian collection example of a toy that brought a new technology into play; evidence does not establish how widely it was owned. |
| 1960s: Spirograph, dated around 1967 | A drawing toy using shaped components to create patterned designs. | Encouraged making and experimenting with visual patterns. | Held in Smithsonian collection material; its presence there does not establish its popularity across all households. |
| 1963: Easy-Bake Oven | A toy oven launched in 1963. | Invited pretend cooking and a child-sized version of food preparation. | Smithsonian Magazine reports that curator Debbie Schaefer-Jacobs put first-year sales at around 500,000. That is an attributed estimate, not a precise audited total. |
| Late 1960s: Fisher-Price Little People Play Family House, made around 1969 | A house playset with figures. | Supported pretend domestic and family scenarios. | A Smithsonian collection object, useful for documenting a form of play without implying that all children had one. |
| 1972: Magnavox Odyssey | A video-game system that brought games to television. | Introduced a new kind of screen-based play in the home. | The Smithsonian describes it as the first commercially released console video-game system. Its account reports 100,000 units sold in its first year and about 350,000 overall. |
| 1978: Texas Instruments Speak & Spell | Solid-state memory, an LED display, removable cartridges, and synthesized speech. | Combined electronic interaction with spoken words and learning-oriented play. | A Smithsonian example of consumer electronics entering children’s play; the cited account does not provide sales figures. |
| Later 20th century: Game Boy | A handheld video-game device. | Made electronic play portable rather than tied to a television set. | Included in Smithsonian collection material. The cited collection overview does not establish a particular household’s ownership or a sales total. |
What grandparents, parents, and children could share
Not every toy had to be replaced by the next technological novelty. The Strong National Museum of Play identifies Tinkertoys as an example of a toy enduring across generations. Its account follows the toy from its more-than-century-old beginnings and describes a gift of more than 130 examples, from the early 1920s to the present. The museum says, “The company sold nearly a million sets in its first year of national distribution.” The figure belongs to Tinkertoy and to the Strong Museum’s account; the page metadata retrieved for that account does not establish a publication year.
Construction play helps explain the appeal of a toy that can outlast a particular device: the basic activity—joining pieces to make something—can remain engaging even as materials, packaging, and versions change. The historical continuity does not mean that a current Tinkertoy construction set is identical to an early set. Smithsonian collection examples such as a house playset and drawing toys likewise show that pretend play and making remained part of the toy landscape alongside electronics.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
In the Smithsonian feature on toys and technological change, National Museum of American History associate curator Hal Wallace puts generational shifts in perspective: “Toys help demonstrate the real phenomenon of technological change within living memory—a process that continues today at breakneck speed.” Wallace also recalls: “Growing up in the 1960s, we had TV, but my grandparents grew up with radio. My niece and nephew grew up with the Internet.” The contrast is about the technologies surrounding successive generations, not a claim that every child experienced them in the same way.
Why the history is not a list of universal favorites
The Smithsonian’s material is especially useful for connecting toys to American technology, manufacturing, retail, and ideas about childhood. Its overview of cast-iron and tinplate toys, for example, spans the 1870s to the 1950s and uses vehicles and other playthings to illuminate changing American childhood and home life. Collection histories offer concrete objects and contexts, but they are not a representative survey of all children, families, regions, or communities.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
- A documented object shows that a toy existed; it does not by itself establish how common it was.
- A sales figure for one product cannot stand in for sales across the toy industry.
- A U.S.-centered museum record cannot serve as a complete history of toys around the world.
- Technological change did not erase older forms of play: building, drawing, role-play, and learning-oriented activities continued alongside electronic toys.
Choosing a toy today: U.S. safety guidance
For a present-day purchase in the United States, historical interest should be separate from safety checks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises caregivers to follow age guidance and safety information on packaging, remove packaging after opening, keep small parts and small balls away from children younger than three, and use appropriate safety gear with riding toys.
The CPSC says toys intended for children 12 and under must be third-party tested and certified to applicable children’s product safety rules. Its FAQ identifies ASTM F963-23 as the toy-safety standard incorporated by 16 C.F.R. part 1250 and gives April 20, 2024, as that version’s effective date. Requirements and standards can change, so check current CPSC guidance when making a purchase.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
The CPSC’s 2024 holiday release summarized its report on toy-related deaths and injuries in 2022: 11 deaths and an estimated 145,500 emergency-department-treated injuries associated with toys for children 12 years and younger. These are reported counts for that year and age group, not a measure of use or risk per toy.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
