Tower Press children's card games
Nostalgia from the 1950s - made in England
The post-war era, when rationing had only just ceased and when people didn't have a lot, was a time when folks made the best of what they had, enjoying the simple things in life. This series of card games for children published by Tower Press during the 1950s and early '60s evokes the optimism, innocence and love of fun which is often missing today. This was the time when the baby boom was in full swing. More people were getting married and having children. Dad brought home the pay, Mum did the cooking and cleaning, and the kids were respectful and well-behaved, perhaps playing card games like the ones shown here...
Fairy Tale Snap, no. 5292
Jack and the Beanstalk • Puss in Boots • Dick Whittington • Red Riding Hood • Sleeping Beauty • Cinderella • Aladdin • Robinson Crusoe • Hansel and Gretel
Above: 'Fairy Tale Snap', Tower Press product no.5292, featuring Dick Whittington on the box. The cards depict traditional fairy tales. (click box to see more)
Funny Face Snap, no. 5369
Leonard the Learned • Madam Screech • Pretty Polly • Aunt Sally • Clara the Cook • Jolly Jimmy • Wicket Willie • Bobby Bingo • Cleo the Clown
Above: Funny Face Snap, Tower Press product no.5369. Note the wide-eyed jolly faces, bright colours, the fun and innocence... The companion game 'Old Maid' was no.5360, 'Happy Families' no.5367 and 'Donkey' no.5370.
Beat your Neighbours, no. 5481
Madge the Music Student • Tilly the Typist • Susan the Shopper • Peter the Postman • Charles the Clerk • George the Guard
Above: Beat your Neighbours, Tower Press product no.5481. 36 cards in box + rules card. The 'Put' cards add an extra element of chance into the game. The object of the game is to win all the cards. (click image to see more)
Beat your Neighbours, no. 5613
Two-Wheeler Winnie • Scooting Sue • Side-Car Sid • Family Joe • Sporting Sally • Sir Percy Highat
Above: Beat your Neighbours, Tower Press product no.5613. 36 cards in box + rules card. This edition of the game has slightly modernised images based around the theme of motoring. The back of the box lists four more games in the series: 'Donkey', 'Happy Families', 'Snap' and 'Old Maid' with the slogan “5 Card Games get them all !”. The companion game 'Animal Snap' was no.5612.
Old Maid, no. 5614
Fishing • Table Tennis • Hurdling • Canoeing • Ice Skating • Running • Net Ball • Cycling • Football • Rugby • Hockey • Tennis • Cricket • Boxing • Tobogganing • Diving • Archery • Old Maid
Above: Old Maid, Tower Press product no.5614. 35 cards in box + rules card. The cards depict young people performing a range of sporting activities, plus one 'Old Maid' card. The back of the box lists four more games in the series: 'Donkey', 'Happy Families', 'Snap' and 'Beat your Neighbours' with the slogan “5 Card Games get them all !”. The companion game 'Animal Snap' was no.5612.
“Old Maid” card games were popular in other countries, re-titled as Black Peter (Schwarzer Peter) in Germany, Zwarte Piet (Netherlands), Svarte Petter (Sweden) and Pekka-Peli (Finland). The main focus of the game is towards the last card, which might be a black cat, an Old Maid, black-faced chimney sweep or black grotesque character. The player who ends up holding this card is the loser in the game. This reflects a time when it was socially acceptable to make fun of people perceived to be of lower status. In the example below some of the ethnic stereotypes might be questioned today.
Old Maid, no. 5732
Old Maid • Cowboy • Eskimo Boy • Welsh Girl • Mexican Boy • Chinese Boy • Swiss Boy • Cossack Boy • Spanish Dancer • Scots Girl • Red-Indian Girl • Hawaiian Girl • Dutch Boy • Swedish Girl • Indian Boy • Irish Boy • Breton Boy • Geisha Girl
Above: Old Maid, Tower Press product no.5732. 34 cards in box + rules card, plus one 'Old Maid' card. The backs of the cards have flip pictures. The illustrations of children from different countries were also the inspiration for a 'Snap' game produced by Hee Trading Co., (Malaysia) in the 1980s. The back of the box lists four more games in the series: 'Donkey', 'Happy Families', 'Playtime Snap' and 'Beat your Neighbours'. (click image to see more)
Old Maid, no. 5862
Old Maid • The Penguin Waiter • Sorry, My Mistake • Fun with Georgie Giraffe • Mrs Fox Washes Up • Tickets Please • Mr Zebra Crossing • The Ice-Cream Man • The Park Keeper • Harry Hare in a Hurry • The Kangaroo's Tea Time • The Deep Sea Diver • I like Nuts • Mr Rhino's Hoop-La • Jumbo the Gardener • Freddie Frog Hurdling • Doorman Doormouse
Above: Old Maid, Tower Press product no.5862. 32 cards in box plus extra card plus one 'Old Maid' card. The illustrations and titles were also the inspiration for an 'Old Maid' game produced by Hee Trading Co., (Malaysia) in the 1980s. The companion packs are: 'Beat your Neighbours' no.5861 & 'Happy Families' no.5864. The back of the box has the rules. (click image to see more)
Happy Families, no. 5864
Bone • Bun • Dose • Fillet • Plod • Weeder • Tack • Stone • Dauber
Above: Happy Families, Tower Press product no.5864. 36 cards in box; lots of smiley, happy faces; the rules are printed on the back of the box.
Other card game titles published by Tower Press include: Ask Pickles No.6258; Donkey No.2061; Happy Families No.5367; Popeye Knock Out No.6586; Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Snap; Huckleberry Hound 'Booby' No.6648; New Money Snap, etc. Tower Press also published Jig-Saw puzzles, Cardboard Stacking Boxes, etc., as well as a child's pack in the 1950s using court cards based on Waddington's designs. Their games and jig-saws were exported to many countries particularly Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands and New Zealand. Tower Press was acquired by Guiterman and became a member of the Guiterman Group in 1961. In 1969 the business was bought by Waddingtons.
Details of Tower Press Jig-Saws can he seen here →