Rich Manufacturing Company
A.K.A Rich-Made Toys
Rich Illinois Manufacturing Company
Rich Toys, Incorporated
Sterling and Morrison, Illinois and Clinton, Iowa
1915 – 1941
E. M. and M. E. Rich founded Rich Manufacturing Company in 1915 to produce wood bows for the “open” cars of that time. In mid 1920’s, with the popularity of closed cars, Rich Manufacturing Company had to find another woodworking focus creating Rich-Made Toys. In 1927, their wood toy production became so large that they moved to a new plant in Morrison, IL. In 1930, after a major fire in November, 1929, Rich merged with Illinois Refrigerator Company, changing the company named to Rich Illinois Manufacturing Company branching out to also include newly discovered electric refrigerators. In 1934 they out grew their present location and moved operation to a larger plant in Clinton, Iowa. At the same time, the name was changed to Rich Toys, Incorporated.
Rich toys produced prior to 1931 were horse-drawn, wagon pull toys with no motion, after 1931, motion was giving to the legs of the horses. A toy that has a Clinton, Iowa logo was made after 1934. Over the years, Rich Manufacturing Company has produced a wide range of products from automobile parts to refrigerator items to toys to water skies and much more. In 1953, the company moved to Tupelo, Mississippi and in 1962 a flood put Rich Toys out of business.
For further information on Rich Toys, visit Old Wood Toys website at: http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/rich_toys1.htm.
