The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOME MADE CHILDREN'S TOY

THE GERMAN JUMPER IS A TOY OFTEN USED ON THE HILLS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
IT IS A WINTER TOY TYPE SLED.
MRS. KEHOE'S FATHER MADE HER A GERMAN JUMPER WHEN SHE WAS TEN
YEARS OLD.
TO MAKE A GERMAN JUMPER, TAKE A FLAT PIECE OF ONE BY EIGHT
INCH WOOD THREE FEET LONG.
NAIL AN EIGHTEEN-INCH PIECE OF TWO BY FOUR WOOD TO IT IN THE VERY
CENTER TO FORM A " T ".
THEN TAKE A PIECE OF FOUR INCH WIDE METAL, ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH
THICK
AND NAIL IT TO THE TWO BY FOUR AT THE ONLY OPEN END.
THEN NAIL THE OTHER PIECE OF THE METAL TO THE END OF THE ONE
BY EIGHT PIECE OF WOOD.
THE METAL SKI WILL BE FLEXIBLE, MAKING HALF OF A CIRCLE ON ONE
SIDE OF THE " T ".
YOU NOW HAVE A HOME MADE GERMAN JUMPER. A LITTLE SANDING
AND PAINTING WILL MAKE THE TOY MORE ATTRACTIVE AND PRESERVE IT
AGAINST THE ELEMENTS.

Submitter comment: THE CHILD SITS ON THE END OF THE ONE BY EIGHT WITH THE METAL SKI
NAILED TO IT.
THE CHILD STEERS DOWN THE SNOW HILL WITH HIS LEGS ON EACH SIDE
OF THE JUMPER.
HE HOLDS ON TO THE OPEN END OF THE ONE BY EIGHT FOR STABILITY.
IT MIGHT BE WISE TO NAIL A SMALL HANDLE TO THE OPEN END BUT IT IS
NOT NEEDED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Date learned: 12-03-1982