Production of children’s toys in the Komi ASSR in the second half of the 1940s–1950s

The author considers the problems of state policy in the field of organizing the production and sale of children’s toys in the Komi ASSR in the mid-XX century. Based on the analysis of archival materials, a set of interrelated problems was identified that led to a shortage of highly artistic and high-quality children’s goods produced at republican enterprises of the local industry - artels and factories. The main production difficulties identified during the study included a shortage of high-quality raw materials, insufficient specialization of craftsmen, manual labor as the basis of the production process and, as a consequence, high selling prices for the manufactured products, as well as inefficient work of supplying and trading organizations. Similar situation has developed in other regions of the country, which caused criticism from state and public institutions and was repeatedly discussed in the press. In the second half of the 1950s the central Union factories, introducing new materials and technologies, significantly increased the volume of children’s products, while in the Komi Republic the production of toys remained at a low level.