Thomas Lamb

Thomas Babbit Lamb (1896–1988) was an American industrial designer. He is best known for his innovative handle designs closely modeled on the mechanics of the human hand. Biography Lamb was born in New York City on September 18, 1896. From the age of 14, he apprenticed himself to a plastic surgeon, doing medical drawings in exchange for anatomy lessons, and worked in a textile design shop. In the evenings he studied figure drawing and painting at the Art Students League of New York. Lamb also studied merchandising at Columbia University. This combination of anatomy, art, and business was integral to Thomas Lamb's career as a designer. Textile design At seventeen, Thomas Lamb opened his own textile design firm, specializing in advertising, fashion, and magazine illustration. His bedspreads, napkins, and draperies became very popular in the 1920s and were featured in many of the New York Department stores including Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Children's books and commercial tie-ins In 1924, he began illustrating children's books, including Runaway Rhymes, The Tale of Bing-O, Jolly Kid Alphabet,<ref>Lamb, Tom. Jolly Kid Alphabet'. Joilet, Il: The P.F. Volland Company, 1930. </ref> and Kiddyland Story Balloons. Shortly after his success with Runaway Rhymes'', Lamb signed a contract with Good Housekeeping magazine to illustrate a series of Kiddyland cartoons. Lamb developed an extensive line of tie-ins, including Kiddyland textiles, soaps, and talcum powder. There was even a Kiddiegram designed for Western Union and endorsed by Shirley Temple.