Children in the 1940s had much more sophisticated musical toys than those just a decade earlier.  It was a golden era for musical tinplate toys and noise makers.  Particularly popular were the lithographed tinplate windup (mechanized) toys and even an electric toy record player.  Nevertheless, by the end of WWII tinplate toys began to decline and by the late 1950s plastic and diecast metal came into vogue as the materials of choice for toymakers.  It was also during this time the process of exploring and learning string instruments began to take hold as plastic toy guitars became available.