Jesse Armour Crandall

Lore & Background

Jesse Armour Crandall was born on October 20, 1835, into a family of toy-makers. His father, Benjamin Potter Crandall, had begun selling baby carriages in the 1830s, billed as the first such carriages manufactured in America. At age eleven, Jesse designed a tool to drill ten evenly spaced holes in carriage wheels simultaneously. He later patented numerous improvements to carriages, including a brake, a folding model, an oscillating axle, and designs for parasols and an umbrella hanger. An 1867 doll carriage with a leather hood was once displayed at the Museum of the City of New York and remained in its collection as of October 2010.

Crandall patented a hobby horse in 1859 (not specifically the 'Shoo-fly' design) and patented a spring-loaded rocking horse in 1861. The popularity of these large toy horses influenced adults as well; author Nathaniel P. Willis wrote about it in Health and Happiness on Horseback, and actor Joseph Jefferson rode a Crandall-designed horse across the stage of what became the Winter Garden theatre. Jesse also patented a hobby horse in 1859, though his brother Benjamin P. Jr. was described as the 'self-styled inventor of the hobby horse' and patented an improved combined rocking horse and swing in 1873.

In building blocks, the Crandall family—including Jesse, his father, brothers, and cousin Charles Martin Crandall—produced notable designs. Charles M. Crandall's tongue-and-groove interlocking blocks were used to build a palace at the 1876 International Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. In 1880, the family exhibited an Egyptian obelisk weighing over 200 tons in New York's Central Park. Jesse patented nesting blocks in June 1881, which allowed convenient storage and remain popular. Other inventions included improvements to velocipedes (one earning a gold medal at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition), a Sandometer ('The beach brought to your home') in 1879, an artificial arm in 1915 (unpatented), an invalid chair used by President Grover Cleveland's daughter, and a puzzle inspired by entangled painter's hooks.

Reader's Guide

Jesse Armour Crandall's significance lies in his prolific output and the breadth of his contributions to children's toys and mobility devices. With over 150 patents over 75 years, he was a central figure in the American toy industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. His innovations in baby carriages—such as brakes, folding mechanisms, and oscillating axles—improved safety and convenience for families. The Shoo-fly rocking horse and spring-loaded rocking horse represented a departure from traditional bow rockers and were widely popular until the 1880 Marqua safety stand. His nesting blocks, patented in 1881, introduced a practical storage solution that remains a staple in children's play. Crandall's work also extended to non-toy inventions like an invalid chair and an artificial arm, reflecting a philanthropic streak. The nickname 'The Child's Benefactor,' possibly from Henry Ward Beecher, underscores his perceived impact on childhood. His legacy is preserved in museum collections and in the enduring popularity of his toy designs.

Did You Know?

• His 1867 doll carriage with a leather hood was still in the Museum of the City of New York's collection as of October 2010.
• Crandall invented a puzzle after getting two painter's hooks entangled, which remained popular into the 1960s.