Oranges and perhaps other produce came to the stores in wooden boxes which we called orange crates. They were about 24" X 12" X 12" with 2 cubic sections. They were made of three solid or plywood squares 12" X 12"X 1/2" held together by six boards, two each on three sides that measured about 4" 0r 5" X 24" X 1/4." The crates were used for almost anything you could imagine. A coat of enamel paint could turn one or several crates into shelving. A bit of sanding and a decorative cloth would render and end table or bedside table. If you were careful you could take the crate apart and use the lumber for anything you could think up. The 1/4" boards split easily so it took some skill to get the nails out.
We made boats by sawing the boards to make a point on one end of a rectangle shape and a notch on the other end. A quarter inch cut of a bicycle tire inner tube (It looked like a fat rubber band.) stretched across the notch with a small "paddle"(half of a popsicle stick) that we twisted tightly, set in the water and let go of the paddle. The paddle would propel the boat through the water. We made "cars" by adding wheels from broken baby or doll buggies. Adding additional solid wood pieces to the bottom side made the car sturdy enough for someone to ride in it. We made doll houses by adding wallpaper from discarded wallpaper sample books, and cardboard for the floors. It was probably healthier for us to be poor and have to make our own furniture and toys, etc. I wonder how many kids went on to be engineers, architects, etc.
2 comments:
Very creative!
Ingenuity isn't bound by time - only circumstances. How many times have I seen the ebb and flow of such creativity at my house. It's always the best when what I call "screen time" is minimal and engagement in some other interesting thing has occurred. It's one time when you get to "watch" thinking happen. Good stuff!
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