Chicago Toy Makers Tickle Our Fancy

By Matt Wood in News on Oct 16, 2006 12:38PM

T.M.X. Elmo, the hot new toy soon to be driving parents to explain to their children that, somehow, the entire city of Chicago is out of batteries, was created in part by a Chicago company. The newest incarnation of the Sesame Street character who refuses to use pronouns, the Tickle Me Extreme Elmo laughs hysterically and goes into convulsions, which will be endlessly amusing to children and funny to adults exactly once. Chicago toy makers Lund and Company LLC helped develop the technology responsible for Elmo's sophisticated movements.

Lund is one of a number of Chicago companies driving innovation in the toy market profiled by the Tribune this weekend. In addition to Lund, Zizzle from Bannockburn and the West Loop-based Big Monster Toys, our favorite because of their yellow front door with a giant monster peering through the window, have scored big hits in recent years. Together they created Zoundz, a seizure-inducing interactive musical toy that uses radio frequency technology and incorporates iPods.

Chicagoist already has a bounty out on one of those ROFL Elmos, so if you have a hookup, let us know.