History's Best Selling Toys of 1939

Revisiting 1939 presents a grand parade of toys history, marked by swell Yankee ingenuity and home-front craftsmanship and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including View-Master, Red Ryder BB Gun, and essential classics took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Sawyer's Photo Services / William Gruber and Daisy Outdoor Products led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that swept main street from coast to coast as genuine top-flight hits. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. View-Master

   Released in 1939 by Sawyer's Photo Services / William Gruber

   On November 1, 1939, visitors to the New York World's Fair were introduced to a groundbreaking new device that promised to transport them to faraway lands in stunning 3D. The View-Master, invented by William Gruber and produced by Sawyer's Photo Services, made its public debut. Initially marketed not as a children's toy but as an educational and souvenir item for adults, it offered stereoscopic reels of scenic American attractions like Carlsbad Caverns. This launch date marks the birth of an icon, a moment when the public first glimpsed a future where immersive visual experiences could be held in the palm of their hands, long before virtual reality became a household concept.

2. Red Ryder BB Gun

   Released in 1939 by Daisy Outdoor Products

   On January 1, 1939, a pivotal agreement was signed that would create one of the most iconic toys in American history. On this day, Daisy Manufacturing Company, already a prominent maker of air rifles, finalized a licensing deal with Stephen Slesinger, the savvy New York publisher and rights holder for the popular comic strip cowboy, Red Ryder. This New Year's Day agreement officially granted Daisy the rights to use the character's name and likeness. This wasn't the public launch of the product, but rather the crucial business handshake that set the stage for a legend. The contract transformed what would have been a standard Daisy air rifle into the coveted 'Red Ryder BB Gun,' forever linking the toy to the adventures of America's favorite fictional cowboy and ensuring its place in the heart of millions of children for decades to come.