{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1224833"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1224833/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1224833","accessionNumber":"B.662-2010","objectType":"Toy iron","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This plastic toy iron can be taken apart in six pieces, by unscrewing the dial in the iron's centre. It combines children's interest in imitating the domestic chores of adults with the intrigue of a puzzle. It was given to Caroline Egan in 1965 as a Christmas present from her parents.\r\n\r\nManufactured by the British toy producer, J & L Randall, it was one of the general toys that they marketed under the Merit line. The company flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, also making technical toys such as steam engines and microscopes, under the SEL brand. They were taken over by Letraset in the late 1970s, but the brand has since disappeared: many of their products have since become collector's items.","physicalDescription":"Plastic toy iron made in England by Merit, 1965, consisting of six parts that can be taken apart, in yellow, red, pale blue, light green and pink, with a yellow screw holding the parts together.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"J. & L. Randall Ltd","id":"A4570"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded plastic.","categories":[{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"},{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Christmas presents","id":"THES271501"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR054","id":"THES342084"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"irons","id":"AAT185311"}],[{"text":"toys (recreational artifacts)","id":"AAT211037"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Potters Bar","id":"x47979"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1965","earliest":"1965-01-01","latest":"1965-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Caroline Egan","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"8.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'PLASTIC / MERIT / TOY'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Moulded into the red part of the iron"},{"content":"'J & L R LTD / MADE IN ENGLAND'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Moulded around the edge of the yellow screw"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Toy iron, plastic, made by Merit (J & L Randall Ltd.), England, 1965.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.662-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"662","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-16","recordCreationDate":"2011-07-07","availableToBook":false}}