The Dowst Manufacturing Company of Chicago made die-cast toy cars and other vehicles from about 1900 until World War II. "Tootsietoy" was registered as a trademark in 1924, named for one of the grandchildren. The company also made metal prizes for CrackerJack boxes, the cast game-pieces for Monopoly games, and die-cast doll-house furniture. During World War II, the company produced detonators for grenades and mines as well as belt and parachute buckles.