SkillsOne visits Len McCarthy from Good Ol' Toys at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, whose passion for wood has driven his love for creating timeless toys which in themselves are pieces of art.

Len tells us the histories of the wood that he uses and talks of their great qualities, including castle which fold out of wood.

Len's company specialises in the art of handcrafting 18th and 19th century toys.

Owners Lynden Jacobi and Len McCarthy first met in 1978. Soon after, Len moved to Nimbin where he began carving an ancient Chinese propeller toy and ribbons-on-a-stick for kids to sell at the local markets.

In 1984 they became partners and began carving toys together, soon discovering some toy designs form the 1700s and 1800s. All their toys are crafted from recycled or found timbers.