Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

June 13, 1993
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society

Ring Toss Game promised pleasure for all players

“The Pleasure’s All Yours” is the promise printed on the front of the Ring Toss Game. The box is colorful and could certainly appear to a child or even a teenager or adult. The clown, named Nosey, has a very large nose and there is a reason for that. The instructions on the inside of the lid are clear and to the point. “What a funny nose Nosey has. Put his big red nose in place by fitting it into the slots in the bottom of the box. Put the eyebrows on where they belong. Now, do you think that you can throw the rings at Nosey’s face and make them stay either on his nose or his eyebrows?”

The instructions further state that the box should be placed on the floor against the wall so that it is firmly anchored. Each player tosses the rings in turn from an agreed upon distance. The rings are marked with numbers 5, 10, and 25. The player receives credit for the number of points indicated on the ring if it stays on the eyebrow or the nose. A final score of one, two or five hundred is agreed on and the player who attains it first, of course, is the big winner. Two or more people can play and all ages are accepted.

Children have always enjoyed games of skill especially when there is plenty of competition. This ring toss game can offer plenty of that. When the scores are close the competition gains momentum and the least infraction of rules, like not toeing the line or leaning too far forward, are carefully noted and restrictions or penalties are imposed.

Games like ring toss or similar to it are often used at children’s parties. We can all recall pinning the tail on the donkey, dropping beans in a jar or tossing darts or horseshoes. This same kind of dexterity of tossing has been put to use in carnival games like tossing rubber rings over hooks or throwing balls through a hole in the backboard. In a more advanced degree the same principal applied in basketball and golf.

Nosey Ring Toss Game is contained in the colorful and very sturdy box. The box had to be durable as it is an important part of the game pieces. It was made by Transogram Co. of New York and is marked No. 7007 A Gold Medal Toy. The date of issue was 1938. This very nice toy was just recently given to the museum by Beverly Light of Terre Haute. It is presently on display in the display cabinet of the first floor hall.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

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