Morton E. Converse Co.
47 years in operation (1887–1934)
About Morton E. Converse Co.
Converse was a major Massachusetts wooden toy maker from Winchendon, known as 'Toy Town USA.' They produced dollhouses, toy furniture, rocking horses, drums, and hobby horses. Their wooden dollhouses are charming Victorian-era collectibles.
Founding
Morton E. Converse, whose Winchendon, Massachusetts works became large enough that the town was known as "Toy Town".
History of Morton E. Converse Co.
Converse was the largest wooden-toy manufacturer in America, and Winchendon's identity was built around it. The output was hardwood and softwood in volume: dollhouses, toy furniture, rocking and hobby horses, drums, blocks, pull toys and games, sold nationally through catalogues and department stores.
The dollhouses are the pieces collectors want. Converse built lithographed-paper-on-wood houses — the paper printed with brick, clapboard, windows and shutters and applied to a wooden shell — in a range of sizes, and the printing carries the architectural detail. Its toy furniture was made to match, which means a complete Converse house with its original furniture is a documented period interior in miniature.
The rocking horses and drums were staples for decades. Converse ended in 1934, a casualty of the Depression and of the shift toward pressed steel and, shortly after, plastic. Winchendon still calls itself Toy Town.
Timeline
- 1878Morton E. Converse begins manufacturing wooden toys in Winchendon, Massachusetts
- 1887The company is established under the Morton E. Converse name
- 1900Lithographed-paper-on-wood dollhouses and matching furniture are flagship products
- 1910Converse is the largest wooden-toy manufacturer in America
- 1934The company closes
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Converse wooden dollhouses
- Converse toy drums
- Converse rocking horses
- Converse toy furniture sets
- Converse hobby horses
Identifying & Dating Morton E. Converse Co. Toys
- Look for a "Converse" or "Morton E. Converse & Son" paper label or stencil on the base or back of a toy; labels are frequently lost.
- Lithographed paper over wood, with printed brickwork or clapboard, is characteristic of Converse dollhouses, though Bliss used a similar technique — Bliss printing is generally more elaborate.
- Drums and hobby horses carry printed or stencilled marks that survive better than paper labels.
Collector's Notes
- Dollhouses are valued on the survival of the lithographed paper. Lifting, tearing, damp staining and overpainting are the usual faults and are heavily discounted.
- Original matching furniture transforms a house's value, and complete original sets are rare.
- Distinguishing Converse from Bliss and from Whitney Reed matters commercially, and unlabelled houses are frequently misattributed. Compare printing style against documented examples.
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Categories
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Morton E. Converse Co. founded?
Morton E. Converse Co. was founded in 1887, based in Winchendon, MA.
Is Morton E. Converse Co. still in business?
No. Morton E. Converse Co. ceased operations in 1934, after 47 years in business.
What is Morton E. Converse Co. best known for?
Morton E. Converse Co. is best known for Converse wooden dollhouses, Converse toy drums, Converse rocking horses, among other toys.
Where was Morton E. Converse Co. located?
Morton E. Converse Co. was based in Winchendon, MA.
What kinds of toys did Morton E. Converse Co. make?
Morton E. Converse Co. is categorized under wooden toys, dollhouses.
Who founded Morton E. Converse Co.?
Morton E. Converse, whose Winchendon, Massachusetts works became large enough that the town was known as "Toy Town".
How can you identify genuine Morton E. Converse Co. toys?
Look for a "Converse" or "Morton E. Converse & Son" paper label or stencil on the base or back of a toy; labels are frequently lost. Lithographed paper over wood, with printed brickwork or clapboard, is characteristic of Converse dollhouses, though Bliss used a similar technique — Bliss printing is generally more elaborate. Drums and hobby horses carry printed or stencilled marks that survive better than paper labels.
Are Morton E. Converse Co. toys valuable?
Dollhouses are valued on the survival of the lithographed paper. Lifting, tearing, damp staining and overpainting are the usual faults and are heavily discounted. Original matching furniture transforms a house's value, and complete original sets are rare. Distinguishing Converse from Bliss and from Whitney Reed matters commercially, and unlabelled houses are frequently misattributed. Compare printing style against documented examples.