Classic Toys: Tiddledy Winks

History of Tiddledy Winks

Tiddlywinks was is a game that was invented and patented in England in 1888 by Joseph Assheton Fincher of London. In 1889 he trademarked the game under the name “Tiddledy Winks”. It became a popular parlor game in Victorian England, played by both adults and children. The game consisted of counters, made of wood, bone or ivory and a bowl or other similar vessel. Players took turns pressing the edge of one of the larger counters against one of the smaller counters in order to direct or flip it into the bowl.

Students at Cambridge established the modern game of tiddlywinks in 1955, renewing the game’s popularity. The modern version is a much more complex game with new rules. Tournaments are played in both the UK and United States today and the team rivalries are taken very seriously. There are two national Tiddlywinks leagues that have been formed: The English Tiddlywinks Association and the North American Tiddlywinks Association. According to the official website of the North American Tiddlywinks Association, there is a Tiddlywinks Singles event planned for this August 28 and 29 and there will be a tournament here in the US with visiting British teams next year, in 2010.

We’re seeing a revival of Tiddledy Winks as a family game. This classic game is available once more in its original form. This retro version is played with rules that date back to the game’s creation in 1888.