Buster Brown KrazySkope

Object/Artifact

New Museum Los Gatos

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

NU 2022.305

Description

A cylindrical cardboard kaleidoscope. The exterior of the kaleidoscope is white, and features numerous colorful patterns throughout, with a child looking through a kaleidoscope and a dog towards the bottom. Both ends of the kaleidoscope are flat, and have textured clear plastic around the edges. The viewing end consists of clear plastic, with a very small viewing hole, while the opposite side also has a transparent piece of plastic, which uses the environment to create the patterns.

Collection

History Collection

Cataloged By

[email protected]

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Brown Shoe Company

Date made

circa 1965

Time Period

20th Century

Notes

The Brown Shoe Company, who bought the rights to use Buster Brown as their mascot in 1904, was given out to shoe store customers as a promotional children's toy.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

On cylinder, near the bottom

Transcription

BUSTER BROWN ®️

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Label

Location

On cylinder

Transcription

KrazySkope

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Type

Inscription

Location

Below the other two inscriptions

Transcription

Hold end with small opening to eye. Turn slowly. See 1001 fantastic designs!

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Kaleidoscope

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Toy, Optical

Nomenclature Class

Toys

Nomenclature Category

Category 09: Recreational Objects

Dimensions

Length

6-7/8 in

Diameter

1-1/4 in

Material

Paper, Plastic

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Bequest of Robert Sterling Groh

Owner/Agent

John Nasternak

Role

Executor of the will of Robert Sterling Groh

Acquisition Method

Bequest

Acquisition Date

Nov 23, 1985