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130-517: Tootsietoy is a manufacturer of die cast toy cars and other toy vehicles which was originally based in Chicago, Illinois. Though the Tootsietoy name has been used since the 1920s, the company's origins date from about 1890. An enduring marque, toys with the Tootsietoy name were consistently popular from the 1930s through the 1990s. Tootsietoy had its beginnings in the two diecasting companies of

260-617: A Carnegie library in 1902, which became the first building of Rockford's public library system. 1903 saw the dedication of the Winnebago County Veterans Memorial Hall in the presence of sitting President Theodore Roosevelt . Roosevelt returned to Rockford during his campaign in 1912 and again to address the soldiers at Camp Grant , a training site for World War I soldiers. The twentieth century saw demographic changes to Rockford. An influx of Italians, Poles, Lithuanians, and African Americans replaced

390-690: A MRO facility at the Rockford airport with a hangar large enough to fit a Boeing 747-8 . During the 2010s, all three major health care providers in Rockford underwent major expansions of their facilities. SwedishAmerican, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center , opened a $ 39 million Regional Cancer Center in 2013. In 2014, MercyHealth (based in Janesville, Wisconsin ) acquired Rockford Health System,

520-675: A $ 20 million renovation (renamed the BMO Harris Bank Center in 2011). In 2009, the downtown pedestrian mall was removed as part of a street refurbishment project, restoring Main Street (Illinois Route 2) to two-lane traffic for the first time in nearly 45 years. Prior to the onset of the Great Recession , housing in Rockford was affected by catastrophic weather events. In 2006 and 2007, Keith Creek underwent 100-year flooding events , damaging hundreds of older homes on

650-403: A 1959 Ford Wagon, or a 1960 Chrysler convertible. Vehicles were made in many sizes but 5", 3.5" and even smaller were all produced. As time passed the larger sizes generally faded, but in the 1970s the 1 dollar, 10 car "JamPac" of tiny, simple diecast cars about 2 inches long became known as the world's best child "shutter-upper". A couple of these smaller cars are still in demand, like a replica of

780-723: A children's museum featuring over 250 hands-on exhibits including a planetarium. The Burpee Museum and the Discovery Center Museum, along with the Rockford Art Museum and the bases for Northern Public Radio , the Rockford Dance Company, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra make up the downtown Riverfront Museum Park complex. The last museum under the park district's authority is Midway Village and Museum Center ,

910-406: A city border with Cherry Valley. While growth at the eastern end of Rockford undersaw favorable conditions for growth, established neighborhoods began to suffer irrevocable decline. In the 1970s, efforts commenced to revitalize downtown Rockford, once the primary shopping district. In a highly criticized decision, the city reconfigured several blocks of downtown into a pedestrian mall , closing off

1040-492: A decision that continues to affect Rockford to the present day, in 1989, Rockford Public School District 205 closed several schools across the city in a cost-cutting decision. In the aftermath of the decision, the school district was found guilty in federal court of discrimination against minority students. From 1993 to 2001, the school district was under federal oversight to desegregate its schools, costing over $ 250 million. With its economy predominately based on manufacturing,

1170-663: A different vein, Studebaker made a wooden model of a cabriolet over twice the size of the real car. The vehicle was stationary on the company grounds and large enough to hold a whole band that played mostly for photo shoots (Quinn 2004). As time went by, companies in the United States, Europe and Asia made, provided, or sold toys or precision promotional models to attract succeeding generations to their products. More models also displayed advertising on their bodies for non-automotive promotions. The scales of toy and model cars vary according to historical precedent, market demand and

1300-554: A few of its original Jo-Han models in limited quantities. These include the 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car, 1959 Rambler station wagon, and some of its original 1950s Oldsmobiles and Plymouths. However, he has had financial problems from the start, and there are no indications that he will be able to continue to produce the highly desired Johan line of models. With the exception of some firms like Stahlberg which made larger scale plastic promotional models of Swedish Volvos and Saabs in an American style, European promotionals were usually based on

1430-546: A growing modeling community through websites, online forums and bulletin boards, and sites that host photographs, allowing the hobby to expand internationally. Japanese model kit manufacturers – Tamiya, Fujimi, Aoshima, and Hasegawa, among them – also stepped up their presence in the U.S. market during the 1980s and 1990s. Lesser known kit manufacturers, at least in the United States, were Doyusha, Yamada, Nichimo, Otaki, Marui, Rosso, and Arii. Japanese kits are generally known for being ultra detailed and of very high quality. Most of

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1560-785: A higher-price market segment with exclusive 'limited editions' of collectible vehicles. Thus, this smaller movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s gradually gave rise to a huge premium market segment by the early 1990s. The collectors' market also led to licensing aspects not known until the 1980s. In the 1950s and 1960s, models were produced spontaneously without licensing agreements, and real auto manufacturers saw it as free advertising. Today, model companies have licensing arrangements with real car manufacturers to make replicas of their products, whether they be concepts, cars in current production, or models no longer produced. Licenses appear on models where model car manufacturers enter similar licensing agreements. Licenses are expensive, which enhances

1690-959: A line of race and sports cars in 1:18 scale with no opening parts. Also notable is the diffusion of model dies to companies in other countries which could not afford tooling expenses for their own new lines. Traditionally, when European companies have finished marketing their models, newer dies are developed and introduced and older dies are sold off to other companies, often in less developed countries. As early as about 1970, Dinky tooling became 'Nicky' Toys in India, just as older Matchbox models became 'Miltons' or Corgi dies became 'Maxwell'. Many dies previously made by Corgi, Efsi, Tekno, Sablon or Solido, trekked southward in Europe to Spanish or Portuguese companies like MetOsul , Nacoral or Auto Pilen . Politoys became MacGregor in Mexico and also showed up in plastic in

1820-428: A line of severe storms and their associated high winds caused widespread damage on both the east and west sides of Rockford. Approximately 70,000 people were without power, with many on the west side suffering in the heat without electricity for a week. It took months to clear the damage, but because the storm struck so early in the morning there were no injuries or fatalities. However, these sometimes violent storms bring

1950-476: A median income of $ 37,098 versus $ 25,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,781. 14.0% of the population and 10.5% of families were below the poverty line . 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. In the late 1950s, Rockford surpassed Peoria as the second largest city in Illinois by population, holding onto that position into

2080-475: A model company would make a 'guess' at a particular model for a member of the Big 3 for a particular year and thus get details wrong. Commercial versions of the promos were also marketed and sold in retail stores like Zayre and Murphy USA from the early 1960s, up until around 1973. Differences from dealer promos were lack of manufacturer's official paint schemes and often the addition of a friction motor located on

2210-633: A private foundation from its commissioners, it was renovated into a museum in 2014. The Rockford Area has two additional places named by the American Institute of Architects in the 150 Great Places, Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois and Poplar Grove United Methodist Church in Poplar Grove, Illinois. Anderson Japanese Gardens , modeled after the Portland Japanese Garden and landscaped by Hoichi Kurisu ,

2340-691: A recreation of a Victorian-era village. The eastern riverwalk of Rockford is maintained by the park district, featuring the Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens . Located on the bank of the Rock River, the conservatory is the third-largest in the state of Illinois. Just north of the gardens is Symbol , an Alexander Liberman sculpture moved from downtown during the 1980s and now one of Rockford's most recognizable features. In 2021, artist Rafael Blanco painted "Thinking of you Rockford" in Rockford, Illinois. The 22-foot by 77-foot piece featured

2470-446: A single diecast metal body, two axles, and four wheels. Arms protruding from the underside of the body were pinched around the axles after the wheels were added, which held wheels and axles in place. Many Tootsietoy cars are still made in this basic manner, though in the 1970s and 1980s, plastic interiors and other parts were also added. One exception to this simplistic construction was the 1955 Pontiac Safari two-door station wagon which

2600-566: A special smallish blue and dark rose box. Another interesting model was the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr which was available in a gift set with a 'Roamer' camper trailer. World War II work later had the Dowst Co. making detonators for grenades and mines as well as belt and parachute buckles. As would be expected, little toy production was seen during wartime production, though some paper toys were made. Whether small or large, metal or plastic, Tootsietoys were usually simply made - often with only seven parts:

2730-409: A variety of other toys were manufactured by Dowst. Vehicles often had white rubber tires which over time become brittle and often have not survived play-wear and time. One of the unique offerings were a set of 1932 Graham diecast cars - Tootsietoy offered a Graham sedan, town car, coupe, roadster, dual cowl convertible, delivery panel truck and tow truck. A marque not often seen in miniature since, Graham

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2860-461: A wide variety of multiple promotional variations. Almost all European toy model brands had some kind of promotional service, but in Germany, 1:50 scale was, and remains very common for trucks. In the United States, such diecast companies are rare, but Winross Models and Pennjoy are a couple of European style examples which have had much success, particularly Winross which has been making models since

2990-638: A young Black female dreaming alongside math and science illustrations. From 1943 to 1954, the Rockford Peaches were an inaugural team of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Playing home games at Beyer Stadium , the Peaches won league championships in 1945, 1948, 1949, and 1950; the four championships are the most of any league member. The team and the league itself were portrayed in

3120-406: Is 10 acres in size and features a teahouse and guesthouse in the sukiya-zukuri style. Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden is 155 acres in size and is noted for its selection of both indigenous and foreign plant species. The Burpee Museum of Natural History is home to the world's most complete juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex , Jane , as well as a Triceratops , Homer. The Discovery Center Museum ,

3250-919: Is a notable example of Gothic Revival . Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, it is used for the School of Medical Technology of the Rockford-based Swedish American Hospital . Further Swedish influence on Rockford during the Victorian era is represented in the Erlander Home Museum, the base of the Swedish Historical Society. Swiss influence can be seen in the Tinker Swiss Cottage , which

3380-469: Is often included. In smaller scales some of the details are often eliminated, so in 1:43, 1:64, or 1:87 scale cars, working steering is not common. Likewise, only the front doors and hood might open, with non-opening rear doors and trunk. (There are exceptions, of course, such as the steering by lever on the late 1960s 3 inch Ford Mustang by Matchbox or the patented steering on 1:32 Modarri toy cars.) Over time, market pressures have caused further changes in

3510-652: Is served by a synagogue, the Muslim community by a mosque, the Sikhs by a temple, and its Buddhist community is served by two houses of worship. As of January 2017, the ten largest employers in Rockford, Illinois are: Mrs. Fisher's , a regional manufacturer of potato chips, was founded in Rockford. Compared to Katowice by writer Leopold Tyrmand , Rockford possesses a wealth of notable architecture. The Lake-Peterson House , constructed by alderman John Lake in 1873 and preserved by Swedish industrialist Pehr August Peterson,

3640-660: Is still based in Chicago and makes about 40 million cars per year. Toy cars The scope of the vehicles involved in the hobby, according to Louis Heilbroner Hertz author of The Complete Book of Building and Collecting Model Automobiles , encompasses "ordinary or stock automobiles, racing cars ([...]), buses, trucks, specialized service vehicles (especially fire engines), military vehicles, including such equipment as self-propelled gun carriers and mobile rocket launchers; construction equipment, including bulldozers and road rollers, tractors and related farm equipment; mobile showmen's engines, customized automobiles, hot rods, dragsters,

3770-497: Is the driest. During a typical year, Rockford receives 37.24 in (946 mm) of precipitation. Rockford and surrounding areas are prone to violent thunderstorms during March, April, May, and June. On April 21, 1967 , a violent F4 tornado struck the neighboring town of Belvidere , killing twenty-four people and injuring hundreds more at Belvidere's High School. Other severe weather events, such as hail and strong winds are common in these storms. On July 5, 2003, at 04:13,

3900-487: The Alexander Brothers worked for AMT. Tom Daniel design vehicles for Monogram and Mattel. Dean Jeffries was employed by MPC. Bill Campbell created hippie monster designs for Hawk. Ed Roth, famous for his 'Rat Fink' was hired by Revell about 1962. Many of these customizers created real cars and had to have specialists convert their creations into model kit form. Jim Keeler, a model kit designer for Revell, brought

4030-569: The Burpee Museum of Natural History . Its contributions to music are noted in the Mendelssohn Club, the oldest music club in the U.S., and performers such as Cheap Trick and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps . Rockford traces its roots to 1834, as the combined settlements of Midway were founded on both banks of the Rock River. On the west bank, Germanicus Kent and Thatcher Blake (with his slave Lewis Lemon) founded Kentville;

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4160-593: The Free Soil Party and the later Republican Party . In 1848, 42 percent of voters in Winnebago County (where Rockford dominated as the county seat) voted for Martin Van Buren . In 1852, Free Soil candidate John P. Hale became the first presidential candidate to visit Rockford, although he would only receive 28 percent of the vote. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won 3,985 votes in Winnebago County to

4290-500: The Kishwaukee River , joins the Rock River at the southern end of the city near the Rockford airport. Since the 1946 closure of Camp Grant, much of the length of Kishwaukee has been redeveloped into parkland and forest preserves, effectively forming the southern border of the city. Other waterways that feed into the Rock River include Spring Creek (northeast region), Keith Creek (east region), and Kent Creek (west region). Of

4420-524: The Marx Brothers , Frank Sinatra , and Bob Dylan . The 186-foot tall Faust Hotel complements the Coronado; constructed in 1929, it endures as Rockford's tallest building, albeit as apartments for the elderly and disabled. The Laurent House , a single-story Usonian home constructed in 1952 by Frank Lloyd Wright , is the only Wright building designed for a person with disabilities. Acquired by

4550-497: The Soviet Union (commonly known as Novoexport, Saratov, or Tantal) produced many carefully crafted diecast models mostly in 1:43 scale. These were known for their intricate detail, numerous parts, and delicate construction. Larger sizes in die-cast grew out of offerings of European companies like Polistil, Schuco Modell, and Martoys , which was later to become Bburago . 1:24 and 1:18 scales did not become really popular until

4680-459: The 16th Congressional District in Illinois which includes Rockford, ran for President of the United States. Further attracting commercial growth, the MetroCentre 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena, was opened in 1981. Rockford was hit hard by the early 1980s recession and became one of the highest-unemployed cities in the United States. In 1981, rail service to the city ended as Amtrak ended

4810-409: The 1920s through the 1940s, but period models rarely copied actual vehicles, likely because of the crudeness of early casting and metal shaping techniques. Casting vehicles in alloys such as zinc-aluminum-magnesium-copper (trademarked as zamak ) became popular in the late 1930s and remained prominent after World War II . Many early model cars were not intended either as toys or for collecting. By

4940-574: The 1920s, the manufacturers of real automobiles would design and construct scale as well as full-sized models for design or promotion. Citroën of France, for example, made its own models for promotional purposes as early as 1923. Sometimes styling or concept models were made out of wood or clay, often in 3/8 scale. From 1930 until 1968, General Motors sponsored the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild Competition where hundreds of modelers competed for scholarship money. . The emphasis

5070-904: The 1970s and 1980s and were handmade in the United States, Canada, or England with the occasional constructor in France, Belgium or the Netherlands. A couple of geographical oddities include Goldvarg (made in Argentina) and some early Milestone Models which were made in South Africa. Mail order companies like Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint also focus on the collector market, though in a more popular vein. Since 2000, more than fifty different diecast, resin and white metal manufacturers in England, France, Italy, Ukraine and Russia have exploded onto

5200-522: The 1992 motion picture A League of Their Own . Rockford Park District operates Aldeen Golf Club, a municipal golf course. Since the creation of Winnebago County in 1836, Rockford has served as its county seat. Rockford is the largest Dillon's Rule municipality in Illinois, having revoked home rule in 1983. Along with a mayor (elected every four years), the Rockford City Council consists of 14 alderman (elected every 4 years), with

5330-462: The 1:43 or 1:32 scale diecast metal models produced as toys or collectors items, often brightly colored or with authentic tampo or silk screen liveries for commercial products. Companies commonly making promotionals in Europe have been NZG Models , Conrad Models , Gescha in Germany and Tekno and Emek Muovi in Denmark and Finland, respectively. Tekno was one of the first European companies to offer

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5460-461: The 2010 census, Rockford has an area of 61.949 square miles (160.45 km ), of which 61.08 square miles (158.20 km ) (or 98.6%) is land and 0.869 square miles (2.25 km ) (or 1.4%) is water. Rockford is approximately 90 miles west-northwest of downtown Chicago , and 70 miles south-southeast of Madison . The Rock River forms the traditional center of Rockford and is its most recognizable natural feature. One of its largest tributaries,

5590-437: The 21st century. In addition to building them stock, most annual kits offered "3 in 1" versions which allowed the builder to assemble the car in stock, custom, or racing form. MPC joined the kit/promo business in 1965, and among their first annual kits/promos, was the full-size Dodge Monaco, which was released with a gold metallic plastic body and is a valuable collector's item today. Interest in model car kits began to wane in

5720-676: The 21st century. In 2003, the status was changed as it was overtaken by Aurora after the results of a special census held by the latter city (as the two cities were not counted together, a direct comparison was not possible until the national census in 2010). According to 2010 figures, 20% of Winnebago County residents were Catholic, 19% Evangelical, 10% Mainline Protestant and 48% belonged to another faith or had no religion. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford , several large evangelical and non-denominational churches, and several Lutheran and other Mainline Protestant congregations serve Rockford's Christian community. Rockford's Jewish community

5850-582: The 8 Illinois dams of the Rock River, the Fordham dam is located south of downtown. Summers are usually hot and humid with the average high temperature in July (the hottest month) being 83.9 °F (28.8 °C). The winter months can bring bitterly cold Arctic air masses. The average high temperature in January (the coldest month) is 29.1 °F (−1.6 °C). June is Rockford's wettest month while January

5980-483: The 817 votes of Stephen A. Douglas . The 1850s brought industry that would change Rockford forever. In 1853, inventor John Henry Manny moved to Rockford to produce horse-drawn mechanical reapers for farmers and transport the finished products by rail. Chicago implement manufacturer Cyrus McCormick (whose company became International Harvester ) took Manny to court after he produced nearly 6,000 machines; Manny would prevail on both judgement and an appeal. Along with

6110-495: The Chevrolet Corvette-powered Cheetah (a real-world competitor with Shelby's AC Cobra ). This car, though simple and tiny, was not commonly seen in miniature elsewhere. In 1961, Strombeck-Becker, later abbreviated to 'Strombecker' was a hobby company purchased by Dowst / Tootsietoy. Strombecker had previously made popular plastic models mainly for slot-car racing — and continued to do so, but by

6240-605: The Dowst and the Shure Brothers who were established near the same time in the 1890s. The Dowst brothers originally established a trade paper called the National Laundry Journal and later purchased a linotype machine to cast metal buttons and cuff links related to the laundry business. Meanwhile, the Tootsietoy brand also had origins in a range of miniature cars in the form of charms, pins, cuff links and

6370-714: The Dubuque-to-Chicago Black Hawk route. After struggling to compete with more modern facilities, the Coronado Theatre showed its last movie in 1984, shifting solely to stage performances. To expand passenger service, the Greater Rockford Airport rebuilt its passenger terminal in 1987, although the access of Rockford to the Northwest Tollway (to the much larger O'Hare Airport) became a popular alternative. In

6500-660: The Japanese market. Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois , United States. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River , Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (with a small portion of the city located in Ogle County ). The population was 148,655 at the 2020 census , making Rockford the fifth-most populous city in Illinois, as well as

6630-526: The Main Street/West State Street intersection to traffic. In 1975, what the local press characterized as one of the most well-known and haunting crimes took place when newspaper delivery boy Joey Didier was kidnapped and murdered by Robert Lower. In the late 1970s, Symbol , a 47-foot tall Alexander Liberman abstract sculpture was placed in the center of the pedestrian mall. In 1980, then Congressman John B. Anderson , representing

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6760-561: The Midway/Rockford population was similar to much of the rest of northern Illinois and nearly all of Wisconsin during the mid-19th century. After the Black Hawk War , additional immigrants moved to northern Illinois; during the 1830s and 1840s, Rockford and Winnebago County were considered a cultural extension of New England. During the antebellum period, Rockford shared abolitionist leanings, lending considerable support to

6890-433: The Rock River. As the 20th century progressed, growth in western Rockford (and established neighborhoods in eastern areas of the city) struggled to compete with economic development that moved further east. From the late 1950s, downtown Rockford (centered around the intersection of IL 2 and US 20; Main Street and West State Street) began to decline as the primary shopping district of the city. In 1956, North Towne Mall opened on

7020-656: The Rockford area was selected by Chrysler Corporation to construct an assembly plant; the final site of what is now the Belvidere Assembly Plant is southwest of Belvidere, between US 20 and Interstate 90. While not located directly in the city, the Chrysler assembly plant has served as one of the largest employers of the region since its 1965 opening. The growth of Rockford led to many changes to its educational systems. In 1955, Rockford College – now Rockford University – became co-educational for

7150-493: The Round 2 LLC name. Revell and Monogram have merged. Modelers today can take advantage of modern technology, which includes photoetched details, adhesive chrome foil for chrome trim, wiring for engines, and billet-aluminum parts. Many builders today can construct a model so it resembles the real car in miniature, much more than could have been done with essentially the same kit more than forty years ago. The internet has also fueled

7280-530: The Soviet Union. Earlier Solido and Schuco dies made their way to Brazil. Even some of Mattel's earlier Hot Wheels tooling showed up in Argentina as Muky . Tomicas became Yat Mings , Tomicas and Yat Mings became Playarts , and Matchbox tooling reappeared in other forms in many places. The trend is nearly always a diffusion from more industrialized to somewhat lesser industrialized countries and often

7410-428: The U.S. as the "Highway Pioneers" Series of kits. On the heels of the promotional model business, Aluminum Model Toys or AMT introduced model car kits in 1957. Jo-Han , Revell and Monogram also started producing model car kits about this same time. Most of these were known as "annual" kits, and were the unassembled kit version of the promotional models or 'promos' representing the new cars that were introduced at

7540-442: The U.S., Banthrico started producing diecast promotional model car banks in the late 1940s for the banking industry. These coin-banks were available as gifts to customers who opened a new account and had a slot in the bottom to put their spare change. Usually the bank's name and address was painted on the roof of the car. Banthrico models were also painted in authentic Big Three colors and used as "paint chips" so dealers could gauge

7670-624: The United Kingdom; Solido , Norev , and Majorette of France; Schuco Modell , Gama , and Siku of (West) Germany; Tekno of Denmark, and Mercury , Polistil and Mebetoys of Italy. Immediately post-war, Belgium made Septoy and Gasquy. Even Israel got into the act quite successfully with Gamda Koor Sabra which made its own tooling for several unique models. Non-market system communist countries also had some successful factories, like Kaden models and Igra of Czechoslovakia, Espewe of East Germany, and Estetyka of Poland. State factories of

7800-461: The adult collector market. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, David Sinclair in Erie, Pennsylvania , was important in bringing new, more sophisticated and rarely produced years and makes to the United States. Model brands like Rio , Western Models , Brooklin , Idea3 and Pirate Models were sold to adult collectors for the first time. Many of these were handmade in white metal in fewer numbers. Also in

7930-784: The adult collector market. These include Spark which focus on motorsport such as 24h Le Mans and F1, Bizarre is the brand dedicated to the unusual and extraordinary in the car world, FDS, YOW Modellini (from Japan) and many others. Since 2000, companies like Altaya, Ixo, and Model Car World (for example, with its White Box line) have been started in Europe – with production increasingly seen in China. Many of these producers have focused on global auto marques producing vehicles that were produced in Russia or Brazil. Some of these companies only produce kits – others produce kits and build them up to order. Still others are professional kit builders, who do not produce

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8060-406: The aerospace industry ( Woodward and Collins Aerospace ; the latter, tracing its roots to Sundstrand Corporation ). In 2012, Woodward selected suburban Loves Park for a $ 200 million manufacturing campus toward its energy control and optimization systems. Boeing included Rockford in a list of five finalists to manufacture the 777X during union disputes in 2014. In 2016, AAR Corporation opened

8190-601: The beginning of each model year. As early as 1962, avid British collector Cecil Gibson had even written a book on plastic model cars. By the mid-1960s, plastic model kits had become more plentiful and varied, with increased level of detail. Typically, the kits often had opening hoods, separate engines and detailed suspension parts. The mid-1960s is generally considered the "golden age" of plastic model car kits. Many specialty modelers and customizers, famous for their wild creations, were hired by model companies to sponsor and create new kit designs. George Barris , Darryl Starbird, and

8320-400: The beginning of the 20th century, the city was the second leading center of furniture manufacturing in the U.S. During the second half of the 20th century, Rockford struggled alongside many Rust Belt cities to maintain its previous industrial presence. Since the late 1990s, efforts in economic diversification have led to the growth of automotive, aerospace, and healthcare industries, as well as

8450-475: The case of Chrysler's later Turbine Car, where 50 real cars were put into consumer use, the model by Jo-Han was widely distributed as a good will gesture by Chrysler, though the Turbine was never actually marketed. In Japan, promotional models from the late 1950s until the 1970s were typically cast in pot metal and given a chrome or gold finish; they typically doubled as cigarette holders and ash trays. About

8580-535: The city has been affected by the deindustrialization of the Rust Belt. There has been an emphasis on services, especially medicine and education. During the 2000s, a movement began to reverse urban blight of downtown Rockford, which had begun in the 1960s. After an 18-month multi-million dollar renovation and expansion, the Coronado Theatre was reopened in 2001. In 2008, the MetroCentre downtown arena completed

8710-399: The city was 65.1% White (58.4% Non-Hispanic white ), 20.5% African American , 0.4% Native American , 2.9% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 7.5% from other races , and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 15.8% of the population. The median income for a household in the city was $ 55,667, and the median income for a family was $ 65,465. Males had

8840-617: The city was a target of the Palmer Raids . While its congressional district favored Republicans, Rockford continuously elected former socialists as mayor between 1921 and 1955. One of its contemporary attractions, the Coronado Theatre , opened in 1927. Noted for its atmospheric styling , the Coronado rivaled its counterparts in Chicago and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Camp Grant

8970-471: The city. The Rockford Female Seminary became the alma mater of Jane Addams in 1881. The move accompanied the Seminary's transition into a more complete curriculum, which was represented by its renaming to Rockford College in 1892. Culture flourished with the founding of the Mendelssohn Club in 1884, which became the oldest operating music club in the United States. It was complemented by the construction of

9100-461: The classic automobile museum in Turin . Scale miniatures of real production vehicles, designed as kits for children or the enthusiast to construct, can be made of plastic , die-cast metal , resin, and even wood. In plastic model kits, parts are molded in single cast 'trees' with thin connections that can be easily severed for painting and assembly. Parts come molded in a variety of colors, white being

9230-611: The downtown routing of the highway, the bypass established much of the southern border of the city (which remains to this day). In 1958, Interstate 90 was completed in Illinois, becoming the Northwest Tollway; in a decision that would change Rockford forever, the interstate highway was not routed through the city, but near the Winnebago-Boone county line, with the eastern terminus of the US 20 bypass in Cherry Valley. In 1963,

9360-665: The early 1960s. Another variation on promotionals were whole toy lines or brands constructed to represent vehicles on display at particular automotive museums. Examples were Cursor Models of Germany which made models specifically on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Sindelfingen , R.A.M.I. by J.M.K. of France which made vehicles in the Automobile Museum de Rochetaillée sur Saône in France, or also Dugu Miniautotoys of Italy which made vehicles for

9490-686: The early 1970s, craftsmen like Carlo Brianza and Michelle Conti started making ultra-detailed large replicas in Italy and Spain – costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In addition, the company Pocher , from Italy, made extremely complex kits in 1:8 scale Around the early 1990s, many began to collect and record vehicle variations in miniature (in a manner similar to stamp or coin collecting ) which led to rising values, especially for rare models (for an example, see Parker 1993). This led to mass producers such as Matchbox (specifically with its Models of Yesteryear series) and Corgi intentionally catering to

9620-483: The east bank was settled by Daniel Shaw Haight. With the location of the Rock River equidistant between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, the combined settlement derived the name "Midway". In 1836, Winnebago County was created (from both Jo Daviess and LaSalle counties), with Midway named as its county seat, as it was "halfway between Galena and Chicago on a line of four-horse coaches." In 1837,

9750-516: The end of the 1960s the slot-car niche had largely run its course. Later, plastic as well as die-cast toys were identified with both names as "Tootsietoy-Strombecker". The name Tootsietoy was often applied to larger, but fairly realistic plastic cars and trucks through the 1990s, but some die-cast were also still made like the Hardbody series in Matchbox size and slightly larger than 1:43 scale. By

9880-457: The far northwest side of the city, with Colonial Village opening on the (then) far east side in 1962, both of which were partially enclosed (some stores had exterior entrances). In 1973, Cherryvale Mall was opened as the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the city; nearly 6 miles from the city center, the mall was located at the intersection of the US-20 bypass and the Northwest Tollway, sharing

10010-459: The fifth-largest city in Illinois. From 2014 to 2018, the unemployment rate in Rockford has fallen from 12.9 percent to 4.4 percent (the lowest since 2000). While predominately a manufacturing community since World War II, Rockford has struggled to diversify its industrial base. Shifting from agricultural machinery and furniture, manufacturing in the city remains dominated by fasteners, automotive suppliers (representing FCA Belvidere Assembly), and

10140-498: The first Illinois regiments to be mobilized, the Zouaves, were from Rockford. The city also served as the site for Camp Fuller, a training site for four other infantry regiments. In 1884, Rockford established its first city-wide public school district, constructing Rockford Central High School in 1885; following the construction of the high school, the district began construction of brick multi-story multigrade school buildings across

10270-485: The first time. Coinciding with the expansion of the student body, the college outgrew its near-east side campus in use since the 1840s. After the acquisition of land in 1957, construction began on its present-day campus location, opening in 1964. In 1964, Rock Valley College was founded as a two-year community college, with construction on its campus commencing in 1965. Prior to the 1960s, neighborhood and economic growth in Rockford largely mirrored itself on both sides of

10400-473: The form of detailed (but simply cast) promotional models for automotive dealerships which preceded the appearance of automotive kits for assembly. Among more collectible vehicles in Europe after World War II and during the 1950s, smaller scales, like 1:43 , and 1:64 generally became popular first. Since the 1980s, many factory assembled scale model cars made of diecast metal have become more and more adult collectible oriented and less and less toy-like. Besides

10530-449: The front axle, noticeable by the studded white vinyl gear that protruded around the axle (and through the oil pan). However, they were painted and looked just as attractive as dealer promos. Some model companies sold unassembled versions of the promo cars, that were typically simpler and easier to assemble than the annual kits (with engine and customizing parts available in the full-blown kits left out). They were molded in color (instead of

10660-495: The hands of smaller children (about 1:64 scale or about 3 inches), which improved profit margins in packaging more items per carton, and increasing profit per vehicle sold. Others moved to larger scales from 1:43 toward 1:40, 1:38 or 1:35 . Later, popular scales went even larger. In the United States, 1:25 (6 to 7 inches) became the staple size for plastic promotional models, while European manufacturers went to 1:24 or 1:18 (about 9 inches long). The larger 1:12 scale

10790-510: The history of the city was the winter of 1978–1979, when 74.5 inches (189 cm) of snow fell. The record high temperature is 112 °F (44 °C), set on July 14, 1936 during the Dust Bowl , and the record low temperature is −31 °F (−35 °C), set on January 31, 2019 . As of the 2010 census , there were 152,871 people and 66,700 households. Rockford is in the center of its namesake metropolitan area . The racial makeup of

10920-694: The kits themselves. Promotional models are sometimes used when the real auto manufacturers contract with model or toy companies to make copies of their real vehicles. Some of the earliest promotional models were from the early 1930s, when TootsieToy introduced a line of 1932 Grahams and later, the 1935 LaSalle. These were both diecast and made available in boxes with the brand name displayed with appropriate logos and colors (Seeley, No Date). National Products made models of about 1/28th scale starting in 1934. Later manufacturers like Winross, Lesney Matchbox, Lledo, AHL, and White Rose used their toy vehicles to advertise logos on their flanks promoting various companies. In

11050-489: The late 1960s, Tootsietoys were made in both the United States and Hong Kong. Though most Tootsie toys are produced in Asia today, they were traditionally produced in Chicago, and were also made in a few other American factories such as Rockford, Illinois . Tootsietoy, however, should not be confused with the similar brand Midgetoy , which was also based in Rockford. Tootsietoy, which is now owned by J. Lloyd International, Inc.,

11180-491: The late 1980s when other brands like Yatming and Maisto were produced in Hong Kong or China by either American or Asian companies. 1:87 scale plastic vehicles, related to railroad modeling or not, also continue to be popular in Europe. Despite continued European companies, today, China is now the center of diecast production. Post-war European diecast models were produced in fairly simple form, such as Dinky Toys (often in

11310-538: The like, introduced circa 1901 by the Chicago based Cosmo Company owned by the Shure Bros. which bought Dowst in 1926. The name, however, remained Dowst Manufacturing Co. The first actual model car from the company was produced between 1909 and 1911. One was a closed limousine which was followed by a 1915 Ford Model T open tourer. By the early 1920s the name 'tootsie' was being used as a brand name and "Tootsietoy"

11440-438: The majority of summer rainfall. The city is also prone to severe snowstorms in winter, and blizzards are frequent winter occurrences. On January 13, 1979, over 9 inches (23 cm) of snow fell on Rockford in just a few hours during one of the strongest blizzards in the city's history. The city averages approximately 36 inches (91.4 cm) of snowfall in a normal winter, but greater amounts are common. The snowiest winter in

11570-440: The market. Examples of these would be plastic windows, interiors, separate wheel/tire assemblies, working suspensions, opening/moving parts, jeweled headlights, mask-spraying or tampo-printing, and low-friction 'fast' wheels. Into the 1970s, model makers began to feel the squeeze of rising costs. Often press tooling for a new model might cost more than 30,000 pounds (more than US$ 50,000). Companies began to offer fewer new issues and

11700-604: The mid-1970s, and while the precise causes are not perfectly clear, some factors were a sharp rise in the price of plastics, parents becoming cautious of 'glue sniffing' and, later, the rise of video gaming. A revival of sorts was seen in the late 1980s, especially among adults, as Monogram introduced a series of replicas of NASCAR race cars, as did AMT with a kit of the 1966 Chevrolet Nova, which American modelers had been requesting for years. New model specific magazines sprang up, such as Scale Auto Enthusiast , (now simply Scale Auto ) and Model Cars Magazine! . These magazines spread

11830-431: The model's final appearance was not precisely like a promo (which would have had no custom parts attached to the body of the car). Probably, because of the promo look, however, today these often command higher prices than the detailed "3-in-1" kits, especially AMT's Craftsman series of the early and mid sixties. After being owned for a time by Seville Enterprises, Okey Spaulding purchased once-defunct Jo-Han, which produced

11960-559: The models became simpler with fewer opening parts. Larger 1:24 and 1:18 scale premium models became extremely popular at toy and hobby centers during the 1990s, but are less popular circa 2010. This size is generally made with close attention to the details of the real vehicles, such as a working steering, and opening doors, trunk/boot, and hood/bonnet. Detailed interiors, instrument panels, trunks/boots with spare tires and engine compartments are common. Chassis often show intricacies of exhaust systems and suspensions. A working suspension system

12090-575: The models first appeared on the market. Even before such companies as Corgi and Dinky were ten years old, adults were collecting them, particularly in the UK and the USA. Often, as well, adults seek the joys of childhood, collecting what they had destroyed in youth or what their parents had thrown away. This also lead to the foundation of the Diecast Hall of Fame in 2009. Many manufacturers began catering to

12220-614: The most common in the 1960s and 1970s. Some parts are chrome plated to simulate real bumpers, grilles, wheels, and other pieces that might be chrome on the actual vehicle. Tires are most commonly molded in rubber. Water 'slide-on' decals are usually included along with an instruction brochure. The best kits have incredible levels of accuracy, even in detail and parts unseen when the model is complete. Major manufacturers are AMT , MPC , Revell , Monogram , and Tamiya but many smaller plastics companies, like Aurora , Pyro , IMC, and Premier have come and gone. The model car "kit" hobby began in

12350-559: The near east side of the city. In response, the city secured FEMA grants, demolishing over 100 homes; to reduce the severity of future flooding events, the creek is being reconstructed (through 2019) and left as greenspace. As an effect of the recession, by 2013, thirty-two percent of mortgages in the city were upside-down . While remaining the largest city in Illinois outside Chicago and its suburbs, estimated population decline from 2010 to 2017 led Rockford to be overtaken by Joliet and Naperville (the latter, slightly), effectively making it

12480-428: The necessity to "understand the realities of their system." In the late 1950s, Rockford lost over 50,000 trees to Dutch elm disease , thinning the tree canopy of the "Forest City" for decades. From 1955 to 1965, several events would take place that would shape the development of Rockford into the 21st century. In 1956, construction was approved for a four-lane US 20 bypass; along with shifting truck traffic away from

12610-525: The need for detail. Many 'in house' models of real car companies are made by professional modelers in full size, or at very large scales like 1:4, 1:5, 3:8, or 1:10 to portray adequate features and proportions. For toys, many European pre-war cars and trucks were made to display with railroad layouts, making 1:87 (1 to 2 inches, or HO scale) or 1:43 (about 4 inches long, or O scale) common scales. Other companies made vehicles in variations around 1:40 to 1:50 scales. Some companies went smaller to appeal to

12740-518: The operator of Rockford Memorial Hospital. In 2019, MercyHealth opened Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside (named after the MercyHealth CEO and its Riverside Boulevard/Interstate 90 location); its second hospital in Rockford, the $ 505 million complex was the largest construction project in the history of the city. In July of 2024, a 200-year flooding event overwhelmed the city's stormwater management systems, killing at least one. According to

12870-747: The position of mass producers of model cars, while smaller companies have been marginalized and forced out of business. For example, when Ferrari entered into an exclusive agreement with Mattel's Hot Wheels, companies like Solido and Bburago felt the crunch, and Bburago went out of business (though the name was eventually reacquired by Maisto). Manufacturers focusing on premium models, usually in white metal and sometimes resin, include Brooklin Models , Western Models , Enchantment Land, Conquest / Madison, Durham Classics, Elegance Models, Mini Auto Emporium, Mini Marque, Motor City USA, Tron, Starter, RacingModels, SMTS and Victory. Several of these started production in

13000-512: The post World War II era with Ace and Berkeley wooden model cars. Revell pioneered the plastic model car in the late 1940s with their Maxwell kit, which was basically an unassembled version of a pull toy. Derek Brand, from England, pioneered the first real plastic kit, a 1932 Ford Roadster for Revell. He was also known for developing a line of 1/32 scale model car kits in England for the Gowland brothers. These kits were later introduced by Revell in

13130-555: The previously dominant Irish and Swedes. The city was also no stranger to contemporary political issues. Electorally divided between wets and drys on the subject of prohibition , Rockford featured a coalition of labor unionists and socialists that elected numerous aldermen and carried 25 to 40 percent in mayoral elections. During World War I, an antiwar protest by the Industrial Workers of the World led to 118 arrests. In 1920,

13260-427: The primary promotional manufacturers. Throughout, the promo producers were at the whim of the real automakers and would respond to requests of particular scales, paint colors, and other details like working suspensions or even, on occasion, detailed engines, or other opening features. These plastic models were intricately detailed, with body scripts, trim, and emblems, as well as dashboard details, exact duplicates of

13390-471: The production of agricultural machines, Swedish furniture cooperatives established the city as a manufacturing base. The Rockford Union Furniture Company, under John Erlander , spearheaded these cooperatives. Today, Erlander's home is a Rockford museum that shows his efforts in elevating Rockford to second in furniture manufacturing in the United States, behind Grand Rapids . During the Civil War , one of

13520-632: The real thing, in 1/25 scale. Typically, each automaker would license their cars to one or more model companies. Sometimes the contracts seemed piecemeal – for example in 1965, Chrysler had promos made by AMT, Jo-Han, and MPC. But often one of the BIG 3 favored a particular model maker. For example, Jo-Han produced most Chrysler products and Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles from GM, while AMT did the Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, and Fords. American Motors Corporation shared promotional duties between Jo-Han and AMT depending on

13650-506: The recently popular so-called 'funny cars', early self-propelled road carriages, and so on." Miniature models of automobiles first appeared in Europe around the time real automobiles did. Then, shortly after, they appeared in the United States. These were toys and replicas often made of lead and brass. Later models made in the early 20th century were slush cast plaster or iron. Tin and pressed steel cars, trucks, and military vehicles, like those made by Bing of Germany, were introduced in

13780-564: The result is poorer paint, faulty zamac alloys, and imprecise assembly. One example was the copies of Italian Ediltoys made by Meboto in Turkey. The Argentine Mukys featured paint that was flat and dull, unlike the bright colors of the original Hot Wheels. At the other extreme, Auto Pilen of Spain was an exception and copied models beautifully. These were as good as, or sometimes better, than the original Dinkys or Solidos in quality and paint. Organized collecting of model cars developed shortly after

13910-425: The scale models to play with while the parents and the salesman haggled. Collecting and trading these "promos" soon became a popular hobby. AMT soon took control of SMP, another plastic promotional model producer. By 1960, Wisconsin-based PMC ceased to produce promo models, though continued to make toys. Interest in the hobby peaked during the 1950s and 1960s, with AMT, Jo-Han, and Model Products Corporation (MPC) as

14040-563: The smaller scales, these models are manufactured in various scales like 1:12 , 1:18 , and 1:24 . Northern Europe and the British Isles were the homes of the most successful European producers in the 1950s and 1960s in the post-war revitalized economies across the continent (Rixon 2005, p. 9). Quite popular were models produced in the altered railroad modeling scale of 1:43. Examples of well known companies are (or were) Corgi Toys , Dinky Toys , Matchbox , and Spot-On Models of

14170-588: The state's most populous city outside of the Chicago metropolitan area . It anchors the Rockford metropolitan area , which had 338,798 residents in 2020. Settled in the mid-1830s as Midway due to its location roughly equidistant between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River , Rockford became strategic for industrial development. During the second half of the 19th century, it became notable for its production of heavy machinery, hardware, and tools. At

14300-531: The subjects of these companies are Japanese cars, both classic and current (and, of course, ships, planes and military vehicles). For example, Hasegawa and Aoshima make detailed models of the first-generation Toyota Celica, which has become somewhat of a classic. Nevertheless, Hasegawa also produced 1/25 scale models of 1965–66 American cars, including the 1965 Chevrolet Impala, and 1966 Buick Wildcat, Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and Thunderbird Landau. These were actually Johan and AMT kits that were simplified and modified for

14430-409: The time Banthrico was declining as a promotional maker, two companies, PMC and Ideal Models (later to become Jo-Han ) were introducing plastic promotional models to the public. Similar to metal model producer Banthrico, PMC also made many in the form of banks. Many Chevrolet bank models had the inscription on the bottom "To help save for a rainy day, or to buy a new Chevrolet." The scale for these cars

14560-432: The traditional white) and easily assembled without glue (thus no glue or paint was required). When assembled these were almost identical to the much more elite promotional models. What usually gives them away is that they were mostly molded in a brighter nonmetallic color without paint matched to official 'Big 3' colors. AMT's "Craftsman" series of promo-like models had perforations in the bodies for mirrors and antennae – thus

14690-440: The train related 1:64 or 1:43). Dinky production began in 1934, while Matchbox cars (often approx. 1:64) were introduced in the mid-1950s. These early die-cast toys featured no opening parts whatsoever. Affected by market forces and by improvements in production technology, companies began to improve the quality of the toys over time. The "best" improvements were often copied by the competition within 1–2 years of their appearance on

14820-537: The undertaking of various tourism and downtown revitalization efforts. Nicknamed "the Forest City" for its heavily forested residential neighborhoods during the 20th century, Rockford is known for various venues of cultural or historical significance, including Anderson Japanese Gardens , Klehm Arboretum , Tinker Swiss Cottage , the BMO Harris Bank Center , the Coronado Theatre , the Laurent House , and

14950-411: The upcoming colors on real models. These primitive promotionals included Buicks, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Packards, DeSotos, Chryslers, Dodges, Ramblers and the more common Chevrolets and Fords. In the United States, the word 'promo' is usually associated with 1:25 scale plastic, pre-assembled models. In Europe, promotionals were made in smaller vehicle sizes in diecast zamac in 1:32, 1:43, or 1:50 scales. In

15080-403: The village of Midway was renamed Rockford, highlighting a rocky river ford across the Rock River in the village. In the same year, Rockford established its first post office, with Daniel Shaw Haight as the first postmaster. In 1840, the first weekly newspaper began circulation. In 1847, Rockford Female Seminary – today Rockford University – was founded. On January 3, 1852, Rockford

15210-417: The way models are designed and manufactured. In the 1960s, many European models had opening parts and working components, but today few of the smaller scale toys do. More working parts mean more production expense and Hot Wheels and Matchbox vehicles now rarely have such features. Today, the number of moving parts has been reduced even in large-scale models. For example, premium model maker AUTOart introduced

15340-770: The word, helped advertisers, and brought a new generation of modelers together from all across the country. Many of the kits from the golden age of modeling have been reissued. Not only does this allow the craftsman to build the cars they always wanted (but couldn't obtain or afford), but it tends to lower the prices of the originals. In some cases, models of cars from the 1950s and 1960s have been issued with all-new tooling, which allows for even more detailing with modern kit design and manufacturing methods. These include AMT's 1966 Fairlane and 1967 Impala SS, and Monogram's 1967 Chevelle and 1965 Impala Super Sport. Today, model car companies are still in business, fueled by this renewed interest. ERTL took over AMT and MPC which are now both under

15470-571: The world and their varied cultures, markets, labor and economies. Europe quickly developed niche marketing after World War II. The greater availability of labor there generally allowed the development of relatively complex toys to serve different markets in different countries. In the United States, less labor availability would not allow for complex toys with opening doors, hoods, and complete interiors with all detail, so they were often single castings with few parts. Sophistication in America did come in

15600-560: The world highly detailed model cars in the early sixties and is credited with bringing Ed Roth's famous hot rods and customs to the model car marketplace. He also designed Revell's Custom Car Parts which allowed kit builders to add engines, custom wheels and other custom features to existing models. Keeler later went on to Aurora Plastics and innovated the Prehistoric Scenes, which were highly detailed models of prehistoric dinosaurs. Many of Keelers kit designs are still being sold in

15730-458: The year. Also, contracts sometimes changed between companies for similar models almost on an annual basis. For example, Jo-Han uncharacteristically produced the 1972 Ford Torino, and MPC did full-size Chevrolets in the early and mid-1970s. While Jo-Han did Chrysler early on, MPC took on the pentastar in the mid-1970s. 1968 through 1970 Chevy Impala kits were made by both MPC and AMT, as were some Camaros. Trying to beat competition to market, sometimes

15860-445: Was 1:25, however a few Chevrolets and Plymouths were produced in a larger 1:20 scale. Other less well known plastic companies like Lincoln Line, Cruver or Burd Manufacturing, made the occasional promotional model though cars may not have been the company's specialty. AMT began producing assembled 1/25 friction and coaster models in 1948. These were mostly promotional models manufactured for automobile dealers. Youngsters would be given

15990-491: Was a household name at Tootsietoy. The Tootsietoy Grahams were available in boxes with "Graham" on the sides - indicating that they may have been used as promotional models for the Graham company. If so, these would have been just about the earliest promotional automobile toys seen anywhere. One car that definitely was a promotional model was the 1935 Lasalle made for General Motors that came in sedan and coupe versions packaged in

16120-428: Was heavily diecast in about 1:28 scale, larger than much of the Tootsietoy fare. On this model, the diecast body was not as simple as on most of the companies offerings but also had diecast seats, an accurately shaped dashboard and a plastic steering wheel. The rear tailgate opened and the car also had a heavy separately diecast chassis. The usual fare in the 1960s were American offerings like a 1959 Oldsmobile convertible,

16250-541: Was occasionally seen and more rarely, 1:10 or 1:8 . At the other extreme, some very tiny toys since the 1980s were fairly accurate down to about 1:120 (a little over an inch). Toys in the United States almost always were simpler castings of zinc alloy (zamak), pressed steel or plastic and often castings of only seven parts (a car body, four plastic wheels and two axles) – while more complex plastic and zamak models in Europe often had precision detail with more working features. This provides instruction on different regions of

16380-609: Was officially chartered as a city; a year later the long-running "Forest City" nickname first appeared, used by the New York Tribune . Also in 1852, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad connected Rockford to Chicago by railroad. At the time of its founding, many of the village's residents were transplants from the Northeastern United States and upstate New York . Descended from English Puritans,

16510-587: Was opened as a museum under the park district in 1943 and was featured in an episode of Ghost Hunters in 2012. Modern architectural movements, like Art Deco and Prairie School , are also integral to Rockford. Most renowned is the Coronado Theatre , a civic and entertainment center named one of 150 Great Places in Illinois by the American Institute of Architects . The theater is known for its blend of Art Deco with Spanish Baroque Revival and has hosted numerous performers over its lifetime, including

16640-528: Was registered as a trade mark in 1924. The 'Tootsie' moniker apparently came from one of the Dowst Brothers' granddaughters, whose name was "Toots". Tootsietoy made metal prizes for Cracker Jack boxes, and this success in the 1930s may also have led to Dowst providing cast pieces for the game Monopoly. The company also produced a large assortment of die-cast dollhouse furniture. In the 1920s trains, cars, trucks, military vehicles, aircraft, pistols and

16770-413: Was to earn recognition for creativity which would lead to possible employment as an industry stylist. In-house models could also be precise replicas made of similar materials to the real vehicles. For example, Hudson Motor Car Company made twelve precisely crafted 1/4 scale replicas of its 1932 vehicles for promotion at the 1932 New York Auto Show (see Hudson display models). About the same time, but in

16900-652: Was turned over to the Illinois National Guard. During World War II, it reopened as an induction center and POW detention camp. The USS Rockford , a Tacoma-class frigate named for the city, was commissioned in March 1944 and earned two service stars. In the September 1949 issue of Life magazine, postwar Rockford was described as "nearly typical of the U.S. as any city can be." Due to this archetypal nature, sociologists like W. Lloyd Warner warned of

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