This guide can be used to date most Holgate Toys to within a year or two. I believe it is the most accurate guide available.
These decals and other logos are from my collection, unless noted, with date ranges gleaned from a combination of toys and catalogs (I have catalogs from 30+ different years, and am looking for more). The initial year is the earliest reference to that decal that I can find. The last year is typically right before the introduction of a new decal, though there was likely some overlap.
| Image | Type (click to see toys) | Primary (secondary) colors | Years | Text | Notes |
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Decal Type 1 | Gold (black) | 1933 | EDUCATIONAL | PLAY | MATERIALS | KANE, PA., U.S.A. | Found on Holgate Ferry, Jerry Blocks, and a Peg Board |
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Decal Type 2 | Gold (black) | 1934 | HOLGATE TOYS | MADE BY HOLGATE BROTHERS CO. | KANE, PA. | |
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Decal Type 3 | Gold (black) | 1934-1935 | HOLGATE TOYS | KANE | PA.U.S.A. | |
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Decal Type 4a | Black (gold) | 1936-1937 | EDUCATIONAL | STURDY | SAFE | HOLGATE | TOYS | Black ring, 0 stars |
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Decal Type 4b | Gold (black) | 1938-1942 | EDUCATIONAL | STURDY | SAFE | HOLGATE | TOYS | 9 stars |
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Decal Type 4c | Yellow (black) | 1943-1947 | EDUCATIONAL | STURDY | SAFE | MADE IN U.S.A. | HOLGATE | TOYS | 4 stars |
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Decal Type 4b-large | Gold (black) | 1938-1941 | EDUCATIONAL | STURDY | SAFE | HOLGATE | TOYS | 9 stars; Large size, only known on pails (#208, #209, and possibly #220) |
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Decal Type 5 | White (blue/orange) | 1948-1951+ | holgate toys | |
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Decal Type 6 | Blue (white/orange) | 1952-1959? | holgate | Large rectangle with logo "h"; Seen in 1959 catalog, but likely phased out with Playskool purchase in 1958. See #688. |
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I had originally planned on only cataloging the Decals found on toys. I'm expanding that to include all Logos found on toys or packaging, which are used to indicate the brand, and not just a design element of the toy. Logos below this line are still being investigated as of 11/2020, so please be patient as dates are updated and new logos are added. Also, please note that the numbering may change to account for new logos or to better align with the time frames. |
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Logo Type 1 | 1920s-? | HOLGATE | SINCE 1789 | Does not mention "Toys" | |
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Logo Type 2 | 1930-? | MADE BY | Holgate Bros. Co. | Kane | Pa. | Does not mention "Toys"; found on only one early toy in Ronald Simkoff Collection; also found on two plaques in my collection, including one attributed to Jarvis Rockwell | |
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Logo Type 3 | 1932-1933 | MADE IN AMERICA | HOLGATE-TOYS | SINCE 1789 | BY AMERICAN WORKMEN | Sticker; found only on three toy boxes, not the toys themselves; one box in the Ronald Simkoff Collection, the other two are known to be pre-1934. | |
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Logo Type 4a | Various | 1959-1962 | holgate | painted, sometimes also impressed |
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Logo Type 4b | Various | 1959-1962 | holgate toys | painted, sometimes also impressed |
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Logo Type 4c | Various | 1953 | holgate | "h" is the stylized giraffe; painted single-color version of Decal Type 6. Image from online auction. |
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Logo Type 5 | 1959-1960 | TEACH A TOT TOYS | holgate | painted | |
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Logo Type 6a | 1991 | HOLGATE TOY CO. | MADE IN USA | Tree logo | |
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Logo Type 6b | 1992 | HOLGATE TOY CO. | KANE PA | MADE IN USA | Tree logo | |
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Logo Type 7a | (branded) | (>1989) | HOLGATE | MADE IN USA | KANE, PA | |
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Logo Type 7b | (impressed) | 1996 | HOLGATE | KANE, PA | MADE IN USA | |
| Image Coming Soon | Logo Type 7c | (impressed) | 1996? | HOLGATE | KANE, PA | MADE IN USA | Same as 7b, but with "HOLGATE" in the same typeface as in Type 8 |
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Logo Type 7d | (impressed) | 1993 | HOLGATE | KANE PA | MADE IN USA | LICENSE BY | THE CORPORATE MOTORSPORTS CO. | |
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Logo Type 8a | ~1999 | SINCE 1789 | HOLGATE | MADE IN USA | Stamped. Image from online auction. | |
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Logo Type 8b | 1999 | SINCE 1789 | HOLGATE | www.holgatetoy.com | MADE IN USA | Stamped | |
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Logo Type 9 | 1991 | HOLGATE | Painted in a typeface similar to Logo Type 8b, but with more space between characters. | |
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Logo Type 10 | 2008 | ? | This is a (not exact) negative image of Decal Type 4b, but likely painted directly on the toys. Found on 2008 reproduction of #1202 Raggedy Ann and Andy. Decal image from online auction. | |