American manga: I drew Superman in the Great Depression

Chapter 76 Toy Peripherals

[Ability—Heat Vision (Black Iron)]

[Description of ability: Superman can use his eyes to shoot high-temperature beams converted from solar energy stored in the body, which is powerful enough to ignite and melt most items.]

Positive World, New York.

Churchville, Fisher-Price toy manufacturing plant.

"Mr. Colin Looper, are you okay?"

Herman Fisher noticed Colin stopping behind him, and then asked with a concerned look on his face.

"fine."

Shaking his head, Colin released his palm from his eyes and said it was nothing.

Fortunately, his ability in the positive world has always been suppressed.

The unlocked [Heat Vision] only made Colin feel his eyes slightly heated, and then quickly cooled down.

It did not recreate a classic scene of someone massacring civilians.

Hearing Colin's answer, Herman Fisher nodded and did not ask any more questions on this issue. He quickly led Colin to Fisher's toy manufacturing factory.

It is said to be a factory, but in fact it is at most a small workshop.

Fisher-Price Toys at this period was still in its infancy. A few months ago, the three founders of the company took 16 wooden toys to the American International Toy Fair in New York and gained some fame.

At the exhibition, I sold my first toy - Dr. Doodle.

However, under the shadow of the Great Depression.

Industries across the United States have been hit, and Fisher-Price, which was just established, is not immune to the disaster.

The new series of toys they produced did not receive an enthusiastic response from the market.

This put Fisher-Price on the brink of crisis. If the company failed to succeed in the subsequent generation of toys,

Then, the company is likely to go bankrupt.

In the toy workshop, you can see several men and women gathered around the table, having a heated discussion about the toy models in their hands.

Several people are not only Fisher-Price toy workers, but also the founders of the company.

"Guys, we have guests."

Looking at the people arguing, Herman interrupted them and reminded them.

Hearing Herman's voice, the three people in the toy workshop stopped arguing. They looked at each other, looked at Colin who was following their friend, and cast an inquiring look at Herman.

"This is Mr. Colin Looper, owner of The Courier Newspaper and author of Superman."

With everyone watching, Herman introduced Colin behind him.

"The purpose of his visit this time is mainly to discuss the issue of Superman's patent rights."

When talking about patent rights, Herman deliberately emphasized his voice.

"Superman?"

"I don't think..."

Recognizing the meaning of Herman's words, a woman in her thirties and forties wearing glasses in the toy workshop spoke.

"Margaret."

However, before she could say anything, the man on the side stopped her.

Faced with her husband Owen's obstruction, Margaret's brows under her glasses couldn't help but frown, but she still gave up her objection.

"This is Ms. Margaret, who is also Fisher-Price's first design art director. Fisher-Price's previous exhibition works and the first generation of toys came from her design concept."

Following Colin's gaze, Herman made an introduction.

After hearing Herman's explanation, Colin nodded, feeling somewhat clear in his heart.

No wonder, the other party's attitude just now was a bit strange.

"So, Mr. Colin Looper, what kind of toy are you going to have Fisher design for your Superman?"

As Herman's introduction ended, the woman standing on the other side spoke, asking, and at the same time reported her name.

"You can call me Helen."

"Ms. Helen, can you show me the toy you just made?"

Colin did not answer Helen's question directly. Instead, he glanced at the little man on the table in the toy workshop with interest and asked.

"sure."

Faced with Colin's request, Herman nodded. At the same time, Owen, who was standing in the workshop, immediately picked up a rough little toy and handed it to him. At the same time, he did not forget to explain: "These toys are small.

We are still in the design stage, so we just made some models to see how they are used."

"Thanks."

After thanking Owen, Colin reached out and took the villain.

Most of the toys of this period were made of heavy metal parts and Jack pine (yellow pine), and the details and decorations were far less exquisite than those of later generations.

The same goes for the little man in Colin's hand. It is carved from yellow pine wood, and a little detachable movement is added to the toy's limbs to make the little man more mobile.

After taking a look at the little toy in his hand, Colin showed a faint smile on his lips and said sincerely: "It's a very good toy. I believe the children will like it."

Faced with Colin's praise, even Margaret's expression softened a lot.

Putting the toy figures in his hands back on the table, Colin looked at the rough-made figures on the table and finally revealed the purpose of his trip: "From this figure, I have fully seen Fei's work.

Snow’s ability in toy making, so I was happy to have Fisher-Price make the first Superman dolls.”

"I promise, Mr. Colin Looper, you will not be disappointed with this decision."

After hearing what Colin said, the tense expression on Herman's face finally relaxed. He loosened his fists that were clenched due to nervousness, and at the same time assured Colin.

Being able to win the patent manufacturing rights of Superman toys is no less than a life-saving straw for Fisher at the moment.

Colin's method of selling the Superman toy patent.

Thanks also to Walt Disney. After all, if Disney is second when it comes to peripherals, then no one dares to be first.

From toothbrushes to tiny kitchen sinks, Disney can make peripherals for anything you can think of or imagine. Anyway, as long as you dare to give money, Disney dares to grant a patent. As for the final product, anyway, the patent

I have already received the fee, and if the surrounding products become popular later, Disney will still have the money to get it.

Colin was deeply touched by Walt Disney's crazy licensing of peripherals.

Although he couldn't do what Disney did, in 1932 during the Great Depression, he licensed peripheral products with more than 800 companies in just one year.

However, I also got inspiration from it.

I approached Fisher-Price Toy Company, which was still in its early stages at this time, and negotiated the production of Superman toy peripherals.

In the initial toy authorization, Colin only released the peripheral production rights for Superman dolls, which meant that Fisher-Price was not allowed to use Superman's patented image on other toys of his company except for dolls.

This approach not only protects Superman's patent from being abused by the other party, but also incorporates some of Colin's purposes.

Thinking of this, Colin's eyes stopped for a moment on the figurine toys from Fisher-Price Toy Workshop.