Name Irving Price Organizations founded Fisher-Price | Died November 23, 1976 | |
Similar People Herman Fisher, Helen Schelle, Margaret Evans Price | ||
Irving Lanouette Price (September 21, 1884 – November 23, 1976) was a U.S. toy manufacturer.
Price was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1884 had a successful career as an executive with Woolworth, retired at an early age and was elected Mayor of East Aurora, New York.
He was the co-founder and co-eponym of Fisher-Price Toys in 1930. On 23 February 1909, he married the children's book illustrator and artist Margaret Evans Price (1888-1973). Margaret was a member of the wealthy Evans family of New York who for a time had an effective monopoly on the building material industry in the City. Margaret's Brother Heathcliff expanded his Father's business operations to include a book binding business which at its peak encompassed a complex of buildings on East 12th Street in Manhattan. Margaret's Cousin was Republican Politician & Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court Charles Evans Hughes. Margaret was the first Art Director of Fisher-Price and designed push-pull toys for the opening line, based on characters from her children's books.
In 2014, debates flared on whether his former home in East Aurora should be demolished or preserved for local historical purposes. The owner of the house wants to knock it down to make room for a parking lot.