Memories of growing up in rural Saskatchewan are being passed down through generations thanks to the hobby of toy-making.
David Shabbits of Canora has been making toys for 20 years, and his wooden toys often feature farm equipment and vehicles from his childhood.
“My particular favourite toy is this one,” he said while holding up a wooden tractor, “because it’s based on the model my father bought for his farm, and the one I drove as a kid.”
Aside from the tractor, his collection of toys also includes semi trucks, trailers, construction equipment, sprayers, harrows, and other farming equipment.
The toys usually take about two weeks of spare time to complete, due to the various moving parts. One particular toy, a harrow draw bar, can be unfolded to a length of 52 inches.
Shabbits began making toys once he retired, thanks to a fascination with woodworking. He also makes furniture for his home, but recently, began making toys for his grandchildren.
“He loves the trailers,” he said of his grandson, Lukas Beblow of Edmonton. “He hooks them all up together so he can pull them all at once.”
Many of Shabbits’ toys have movable parts. His house mover, for example, can raise and lower using a winch, and the frame that carries the house can be folded up for transport.
“I make all the toys from memory,” he said. “Once I was biking past a trailer I liked, so I took a look at it and then built a model.”
He uses plenty of unique items to add details to his tools. One of his semis features clearance lights and signal lights made out of upholstery tacks and wooden buttons.
Shabbits keeps a collection of his toys in his shop so he can cherish his fond memories, but also sends some toys to his grandchildren, who love the old-fashioned toys, he said.
“I showed my grandson a truck I made and his eyes just lit up. I had to build him one after seeing the look on his face.”
