'Glo Worm' soft toy by Hasbro Inc
Object No. 2011/67/1
'Glo Worm' is a children's soft toy first made in 1982 with a plush body which contains a battery-operated device which, when squeezed would light up the vinyl head. This inspired design combined a soft toy with the comfort of a night light. Glo Worm was made by the Preschool Division of the American toy company Hasbro. During the 1980s this firm manufactured numerous "must have" toys including My Little Pony and Transformers as well as purchasing the companies which produced Twister, Monopoly and the Pokemon trading cards. The design of Glo Worm was simple and appealing to both adults and children with the sleepy-faced, night-cap-wearing Glo Worm tucked up into its sleeping bag. It appears that Hasbro turned to nature to create a toy which would ease children's fear of the dark. Glow worms are not actually worms but the larvae of insects including flies and beetles. The glow comes from them emitting bioluminescence. In 2005 the softening agent, phthalates, used in the plastic head of Glo Worm was criticised as being unsafe for children if swallowed. Parents now (in 2011) are very conscious of any plastics used in toys which emit a smell and may be dangerous. This was because during the first decade of the 21st century numerous toy recalls were undertaken due to concerns regarding the toxicity of the plastics made by large manufacturing companies in China for American multi-national toy companies. Nevertheless, Glo Worm was a perennial favourite for children who grew up in the 1980s both in Australia and overseas. It is one of the most important toys which marked that decade. Margaret Simpson Curator, Transport & Toys June 2011 http://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-toys.html#gloworm http://www.wellsphere.com/healthy-living-article/get-smart-with-toy-safety/269004 Information provided by Jonathan Fowler
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Summary
Object Statement
Soft toy, 'Glo Worm', spare lightbulb inside, polyester / nylon / plastic / glass / metal / electrical componenets, Hasbro Inc, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States of America, made in China, 1982
Physical Description
Soft toy, 'Glo Worm', mixed materials, made in China for Hasbro Inc, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States of America, 1982 The Glo Worm is a soft plush toy in a bright green colour. The face is plastic and the body, arms and nightcap are green fabric. The nightcap has an orange tassel. Inside the body is a child-proof battery box and wire which activates the light which makes the face glow. When the body is pressed the light is turned on.
DIMENSIONS
Height
550 mm
Width
140 mm
Depth
95 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The Glo Worm was made by Hasbro Inc in China in 1982, while the company was based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in the United States of America. The firm was established in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1923 by Polish immigrants, Henry and Helal Hassenfeld, as a textile remnants company. It went on to produce pencil cases, school supplies and toys. Their first popular toy was Mr Potato Head in 1952 followed by G.I. Joe in 1964. The company was renamed Hasbro Industries in 1968 and Hasbro Inc, in 1985. Throughout the 1980s a range of very successful toys were developed including Glo Worm and My Little Pony from 1982 and Transformers from 1984. Hasbro added board games to their stable of toys after acquiring the Milton Bradley Co. which made games such as Twister and Yahtzee. This was followed in 1991 with the purchase of Parker Bros which added the timeless board game, Monopoly, to their range. After the introduction of the soft toy Glo Worm, came a line of related merchandising items including Glo Worm story books, night lights and videos. In 1985 Glo Worm appeared in an animated television special called "The Glo Friends Save Christmas". This introduced a line of animal friends for Glo Worm which were manufactured in 1986 as soft vinyl glow-in-the-dark toys comprising: Glo Snugbug, Glo Snail, Glo Doodlebug, Glo Bug, Glo Grannybug, Glo Clutterbug, Glo Bashfulbug, Glo Butterfly, Glo Bopbug, Glo Cricket, Glo Skunkbug, Glo Bookbug, Glo Nuttybug, Glo Sniffle Snail, Glo Firefly, Glo Hopper, Glo Spider, Glo Flutterbug and Glo Turtle. Each Glo Friend came with an information card and a mini sleeping bag. Hasbro continued to produce Glo Worm toys well into the 1990s. Other versions were made with a light-up face and a soothing lullaby. A new version of Glo Worm is now on the market (2011) with a much larger head and smaller "child friendly" body.
HISTORY
Notes
This Glo Worm soft toy was owned by David Fowler of Sydney. It was a Christmas gift from an aunt when he was three years old. It served as both a comforter at night and to play games in the dark. David's father made alterations to the power supply for the Glo Worm. The battery box takes two "C"-size batteries which were not rechargeable. No power supply was originally provided. David's father retro-fitted the original lamp with an LED to prevent heat generation. This enabled the lamp to be on for extended periods of time without fear of the plastic deteriorating. The power supply cable is easily removable. After David had outgrown the Glo Worm it was stored in the family attic with other soft toys and forgotten about until the Museum began developing The 80s are back exhibition. A call was made for Museum staff to consider loaning their 80s toys for the exhibition. David's father Jonathan, a Senior Theatre Technician in the Museum, offered the Glo Worm which was displayed in the exhibition between 2010 and 2011. After the exhibition closed the Fowler family agreed to donate the toy to the Museum.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of the Fowler family, 2011
Acquisition Date
25 August 2011
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