Vintage “Tinker Toy Junior” container – paper:
115 ppm lead. Tested with an XRF instrument.
The amount of lead considered toxic in a modern/ newly manufactured toy made for children is anything 90 ppm lead or higher. This toy would be considered just marginally outside of the #LeadSafe range (there are many other vintage toys with much much higher lead levels! – click here for examples).
Here’s a link to at similar modern lead-free version of the toy Amazon*!
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My daughter has a splinter pretty deep into her thumb from a Tinker Toy set from the 1970s. Do you think this would be in the dangerous era?
thank you!
I’m sorry – I couldn’t say.
Tamara
Have you tested the toys themselves? Or simply the packaging? We love tinker toys and have a very old set, but I threw out the packaging as soon as we got it. Wondering if I need to be concerned about the toys, as my toddler still puts everything in his mouth! Thanks!
Hi Laura,
Yes – I have, but I don’t have any up on the blog. Many are positive for lead at levels above what is considered safe today. I don’t have a date range of concern for these specific toys though. In general – be suspect of all toys pre-2011.
Tamara
Would you please share the numerical levels of lead in the paint on the individual sticks? I imagine most people looking up whether or not Tinker Toys contain lead are wondering if the pieces, not the packaging, are leaded. Thanks!
Hi. Someone would have to send me some to test. Please look in the header menu here on the site under the participate tab for details on sending something in for testing.
I would be happy to send more if you need them, though in the message I replied to you seemed to be saying you had already tested some, but not shared the results on the blog.