Transogram

Around the turn of the 20th century, Charles Raizen took a summer job with a manufacturer of embroidery patterns. Years later, he found a method of transferring images using friction, and circa 1915, the company became the Friction Transfer Pattern Company,{{cite book|quote=Transogram Toys Pre-1915 Began as Friction Transfer Pattern.|title=Made in the Twentieth Century: A Guide to Contemporary Collectibles|first=Larry R.|last=Paul|page=230|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year= 2005|isbn=978-0810845633}} first located on 2nd Street, between Avenues C and D, in Manhattan,{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/officialcatalog08unkngoog |quote=Friction Transfer Pattern Company. | page=[https://archive.org/details/officialcatalog08unkngoog/page/n37 29] | chapter=Department of Manufacturers and Varied Industries > Group 75| title= Official Catalogue of Exhibitors|publisher=Panama-Pacific International Exhibition|location= San Francisco, California|year=1915}} then at 113-115 University Place.{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmVYAAAAYAAJ&q=Friction+Transfer+Pattern+Company&pg=RA10-PA11| title=New York Trade Notes|date=March 11, 1916|work=The American Stationer|page=11}}{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S6hRAAAAYAAJ&q=Friction+Transfer+Pattern+Company&pg=PA138| chapter=Decalomania|title=The Reference Register|page=138|publisher=White, Orr & Company|location=New York City|year=1918}} It quickly found that children enjoyed transferring the friction patterns, and the company shifted toward children's products such as Art-Toy Transfer Pictures. In 1917, Raizen bought the company and renamed it Transogram, but using 1915 as the founding date in its company logo (see above). Moving to 200 Fifth Avenue,{{cite news|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/07/24/86653613.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=LedeAsset®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=28|title=Plastic Modeling Intrigues Children|date=July 24, 1956|page=28|work=The New York Times|accessdate= December 16, 2017}} (abstract; full article requires subscription) the company developed the Toy Research Institute in order to test toys with input by a child psychologist, leading to the 1920s tagline that its toys were "Kid Tested".{{cite web|url= http://thebiggamehunter.com/company-histories/transogram/| title=Transogram|first=Bruce |last=Whitehill|publisher=TheBigGameHunter.com|accessdate=December 16, 2017|archive-date=May 4, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504164019/https://thebiggamehunter.com/company-histories/transogram/|url-status=live}} The company also began licensing media properties, manufacturing the likes of a Little Orphan Annie set of clothes pins.

After producing toys, play sets and activity items, the company in 1929 produced its first game-like product, Orje, The Mystic Prophet, which one historian calls "a solitaire fortunetelling pastime".

In early 1939, the company announced that its new game Movie Millions would have a marketing push, headed by advertising manager Lee Sheldon, in magazines, trade magazines, newspapers and radio.{{cite news|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/02/03/94674799.html?pageNumber=34|title=News and Notes of the Advertising Field|work=The New York Times| date=February 3, 1939|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 34}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

In 1955, Transogram introduced its first TV-series licensed board game, Dragnet.

In 1960, Transogram was one of seven toy-makers, including Ideal and Parker Brothers, that the Federal Trade Commission accused of violating antitrust law by allegedly soliciting discriminatory advertising allowances from suppliers.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1960/07/05/archives/toy-makers-accused.html|title=Toy Makers Accused|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press| date=July 4, 1960|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 44}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

Transogram advertised on television in 1968 for the first time in six years, with a million-dollar campaign centered on Green Ghost and Hocus Pocus, its two glow-in-the-dark games; Ka-Bala, a future-telling game; and the printing kit Inkless Printing. The TV commercials were produced by the advertising agency Smith / Greenland.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1968/08/23/archives/advertising-holiday-gets-a-new-publisher.html|title=Advertising: Holiday Gets a New Publisher > Transogram on TV|work=The New York Times| first=William D. |last=Smith|date=August 23, 1968|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 56}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

Following a previous incorporation in New York, the Transogram Company incorporated in Pennsylvania on September 4, 1959. In May 1962, Transogram made an initial public offering of 196,000 shares of common stock from Charles Raizen's private account. It sold for US$10 a share. Raizen retained control with 61.4 percent of outstanding stock.Note: It was not listed a recent issue in The New York Times until August. {{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1962/08/29/archives/recent-issues.html|title=Recent Issues|date=August 29, 1962|page=56|work=The New York Times|accessdate= December 16, 2017}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

In 1966, Transogram's total sales were $18,665,631.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/09/15/archives/market-place-transogram-in-big-play.html|title=Market Place:; Transogram In Big Play|date=September 15, 1967|page=75| first=Robert|last=Metz|work=The New York Times|accessdate= December 16, 2017}} (abstract; full article requires subscription) In the first six months of 1967, the company posted a loss of $1,191,000 on sales of $4,713,000, down from $6,169,000 in sales during the same period the year before. For the first nine months of 1970, Transogram reported a loss of $2,328,000 on sales of $21,642,000, compared to a loss of $293,000 on sales of $17,938,000 during the same period in 1969.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/19/archives/continental-telephone-raises-profits.html|title=Continental Telephone Raises Profits|work=The New York Times| date=November 19, 1970|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 88}} Transogram announced in August 1969 that it had agreed to acquire 81 percent of the stock in Mountain Savings and Loan of Boulder, Colorado, in exchange for an unspecified number of shares of Transogram stock.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1969/08/02/archives/travelers-seeks-randolph-computer.html|title=Travelers Seeks Randolph Computer|work=The New York Times| first=Alexander R. |last=Hammer|date=August 2, 1969|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 40}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

The financial holding company Winthrop Lawrence, controlled by du Pont heir Lammot du Pont Copeland Jr. and Thomas A. Sheehan, bought controlling interest in Transogram in 1969 and installed Joseph Bruna as chief executive officer. On February 26, 1971, Transogram declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, listing liabilities of $12,067,307 and assets of $3,009,072. Trading on the American Stock Exchange had been suspended the week prior.{{cite news|url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E00E5DF113BE73ABC4F51DFB466838A669EDE|title=Bankruptcy Filed by Transogram |first= Michael C.|last=Jensen|work=The New York Times| date=February 27, 1971|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 34}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

The Transogram trademark and assets were liquidated in 1971, with the marks and toy molds purchased by Jay Horowitz of American Plastic Equipment, who later transferred all rights to American Plastic Equipment's subsidiary, American Classic Toys.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} In 2019, American Classic Toys entered into an exclusive license agreement with [https://www.thejunagroup.com/ The Juna Group] to represent the Transogram brands in all categories, worldwide.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} In 2023, the Transogram exclusive license agreement was acquired from The Juna Group by CSN Press LLC., publishers of the weekly newspaper, Comic Shop News.

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• Big Business (1935)
• Game of India (1938) a.k.a. Pa-Chiz-Si: The Game of India
• Wink Tennis
• Tiddledy Winks (1938)
• Ring the Schnozzle
• Movie Millions
• Happy Landing
• Steps 'n' Slides
• Betsy Ross Flag
• Disneyland
• Score a Word{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29412235/|title= [Advertisement: 'Transogram Score a Word']|date= December 3, 1954|work=The Pocono Record|location= Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania|page=28|accessdate= December 17, 2017}}
• Screwball: A Mad Mad Game
• Jamoose
• Superman
• Green Ghost (1965){{cite book|title=From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|first=David |last=Mansour|year=2005|isbn=9780740793073|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7GN0E_diWbAC&q=%22Green+Ghost%22+board+game+ideal&pg=PA48}}
• Hocus Pocus
• Kabala or Ka-Bala

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• Michigan Rummy & Ace-Hi Horse Race (2-in-1)

Source unless otherwise noted:

• Arrest and Trial
• Around the World in 80 Days
• Dragnet
• Hogan's Heroes
• Snagglepuss Fun at the Picnic
• Johnny Ringo
• The Monkees
• Outlaws
• Space Angel Game (1965)
• Overland Trail
• Perry Mason
• Stoney Burke
• Tic-Tac-Dough
• The Virginian
• Wyatt Earp

New Twists To Cords and Knots (1938)

• Inkless Printing
• The Little Country Doctor and Nurse Kit.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170412160809/http://www.toyassociation.org/TIA/Events/HOF/Inductees/Events2/Hall_of_Fame/Hall_of_Fame_Inductees.aspx#.WjaEurSpnVo Charles Raizen entry] at the Toy Industry Association's Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Archived from [http://www.toyassociation.org/TIA/Events/HOF/Inductees/Events2/Hall_of_Fame/Hall_of_Fame_Inductees.aspx#.WjaEurSpnVo the original] on April 12, 2017.
• Paint by Number Mosaic Art Pictures{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/12/archives/paintbynumber-sets-appear-in-new-version.html?_r=0|title='Paint-by-Number' Sets Appear in New Version|work=The New York Times| date=February 12, 1959|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 31}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)
• Photomate (1967)
• Pyrocon plastic modeling products
• Swing Wing (c. 1965){{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/22162/7-dangerous-toys-kids-today-are-missing-out| title=7 Dangerous Toys Kids Today Are Missing Out On|publisher=MentalFloss.com (Dennis Publishing) |first=Kara|last=Kovalchik|date=July 6, 2009|accessdate=December 19, 2017|archivedate=June 16, 2017|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20170616200659/http://mentalfloss.com/article/22162/7-dangerous-toys-kids-today-are-missing-out |url-status=live}}

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Source unless otherwise noted:{{cite web|url= https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/company.html?company=transogram_company_inc| title= Transogram Company, Inc.|publisher=Harvard Business School, Lehmann Brothers Collection — Contemporary Business Archives|accessdate =December 14, 2017}}

• Anchor Toy Corporation
• Graphic Products, Inc.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/20/archives/myrna-margulies-planning-nuptials.html|title=Myrna Margulies Planning Nuptials|work=The New York Times| date=January 20, 1970|accessdate= December 16, 2017| page= 33}}
• National Assembly CompanyBy 1936, the Transogram subsidiary the National Assembly Company moved to the Karpen Building at 37-08 Northern Boulevard in the Long Island City neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens, per {{cite news|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/08/20/87982426.html?pageNumber=35|title=Canadian Agency Moving| work=The New York Times| date=August 20, 1936|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 35}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)
• Playwood Plastics Company
• Toy Research Institute, Inc.
• Toy Scouts of America
• Transco Adult Games
• Transogram Midwest, Inc.

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• Tag, Inc., maker of jigsaw puzzles{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/18/archives/retail-buyers-look-at-op-and-pop-art.html |title=Retail Buyers Look at Op and Pop Art |work=The New York Times| date=May 18, 1965|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 53}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

• Sturgis, MichiganIn October 1962, Transogram announced that it in order to better integrate its Playwood Plastics Company subsidiary, the company had added 90,000 square feet to its toy and juvenile-furniture manufacturing facility in Sturgis, Michigan, per {{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1962/10/14/archives/expansion-of-a-toy-plant-completed-by-transogram.html|title=Expansion of a Toy Plant Completed by Transogram|work=The New York Times| date=October 14, 1962|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 160}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)
• Easton, Pennsylvania
• Sikeston, Missouri
• Canada.

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Al Capp, prior to his success as the cartoonist creator of the comic strip Li'l Abner, was a graphic designer for Transogram.

By mid-1948, Harold Ross, formerly of Kermin, Thall and Lavelle, had joined as advertising art director.{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/08/13/96596981.html?pageNumber=24 |title=Advertising News and Notes|work=The New York Times| date=August 13, 1948|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 24}} (abstract; full article requires subscription) In 1956, Jack Arnold, former advertising manager of Saxon Paper Corp., joined Transogram as advertising manager.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/08/10/archives/advertising-marketing-125000000-the-canadian-tax-accounts-people.html|title=Advertising & Marketing|work=The New York Times| date=August 10, 1956|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 28}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

Leroy Fadem became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in the late 1950s and served in this position until 1971.

By 1968, Jerry Tolk was executive vice president of Transogram.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/03/03/archives/ellen-tolk-fiancee-of-joseph-i-burke.html |title=Ellen Tolk Fiancee Of Joseph I. Burke|work=The New York Times| date=March 3, 1968|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 35}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

File:Charles Raizen.jpg

Company founder Charles S. Raizen (1892-1967) and his wife Patricia Tolk were living in New Rochelle, New York, in 1958 when their son Roy R. Raizen became engaged. A graduate of the Salisbury School in Connecticut and of Lafayette College, and a U.S. Army first lieutenant who had been stationed in Europe, Roy Raizen was a vice president of Transogram at the time.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/03/16/archives/nancy-f-barovick-prospective-bride.html?login=email&auth=login-email|title=Nancy F. Barovick Prospective Bride|work=The New York Times| date=March 16, 1958|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 100}} (abstract; full article requires subscription) In 1964, he was elevated from executive vice president in charge of operations to president. succeeding his father, who became chairman.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/27/transogram-elects-president.html?_r=5|title=Transogram Elects President|work=The New York Times| date=June 27, 1964|accessdate= December 16, 2017}} The couple additionally had a daughter Edna Mae.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/05/15/archives/charles-raizen-of-toy-company-manufacturer-a-leader-in-jewish.html|title=Charles Raizen of Toy Company |work=The New York Times| date=May 15, 1967|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 43}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)

Charles Raizen, who served a stint as president of the Toy Manufacturers of the US, was residing at 309 Beechmont Drive in New Rochelle when he died on May 13, 1967, age 74, at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan while attending a charity dinner. He was elected posthumously to the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 1986.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170412160809/http://www.toyassociation.org/TIA/Events/HOF/Inductees/Events2/Hall_of_Fame/Hall_of_Fame_Inductees.aspx#.WjaEurSpnVo Toy Industry Hall of Fame] at the Toy Industry Association. Archived from [http://www.toyassociation.org/TIA/Events/HOF/Inductees/Events2/Hall_of_Fame/Hall_of_Fame_Inductees.aspx#.WjaEurSpnVo the original] on April 12, 2017.

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.magazine-advertisements.com/transogram-company.html Transogram Company print advertising] at Magazine-Advertisements.com. Retrieved on December 17, 2017.
• Charles Raizen interview on his views on toy industry, in {{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1953/07/05/92726556.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=ArticleEndCTA®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=88| title=Big Year Forecast for Toy Industry |first=George|last=Auerbach|date=July 5, 1953|work=The New York Times|accessdate= December 16, 2017|page= 88}} (abstract; full article requires subscription)
• {{cite web |url=https://www.americanplasticequipmentinc.com/ampcat/games/index.html |title=Molds: Games |website=American Plastic Equipment, Inc. |date=11 March 2010}}

Category:Toy brands

Category:Toy companies of the United States

Category:American companies established in 1915

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1915

Category:Companies formerly listed on NYSE American

Category:Companies based in New York City