102-year-old toy catalog shows what rich children did for fun

FAO Schwarz was founded in 1862, making it the oldest toy retailer in the US. Now, thanks to the Internet Archive, a brochure published in 1911 by the company's New York store — the inspiration for Home Alone 2's Duncan's Toy Chest — has been digitized. It shows toy tastes from a century ago with line drawings and early photographs. Prices range from 25 cents for glass beads, to a staggering $50 (upwards of $1,170 today) for a "handsomely painted" toy car. Some entries, such as those found on the page devoted to hammocks, or the polished hardwood hoop designed to be beaten down a street with a stick, would be difficult sells to modern kids. But browse further and you'll realize that many of the catalog's other offerings — dolls, strollers, wagons, and kites — can still be found in modern toy stores.