I found your site when I was looking for Skittle Pool rules, I still don't have the rules but your site is very interesting. Good work.
Thanks
Claude (Gamebits)
Claude <gamebits2Hotmail.com>
corunna, on canada - Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at 07:41:46 (MST)
(The rules are now available from the bottom of the Skittle Games page - Sam)
Had a lot of fun reading all the descriptions of these classic toys. My wife is going to kill me since I will now be pursuing some of these toys that I had forgotten about. My personal favorite is a board game called "Seven Seas" in which you buy and sell cargo and move it to ports around the world. My brother and sister used to play it with me in my Grandma's basement on holidays. I found a perfect one on eBay to purchase a few years back.
Thanks!
Mike <schpee@dellnet.com>
Lake Zurich, IL USA - Tuesday, December 18, 2001 at 22:15:23 (MST)
My wife and I had three girls. In about 1974, I bought a vertibird for them. My wife thought I was crazy, and had just bought it for myself. The kids loved it, and so did I. We wore it out, and finally trashed it. I wish I still had one like it. Thanks.
Jim Baber <jnmbaber@peoplescom.net>
Campbell, tx USA - Thursday, December 06, 2001 at 20:36:26 (MST)
The Vertibird was the most memorable toy I never ownned! I agonized over whether or not to ask "Santa" for a Vertibird for Christmas, 1972 since I was about to turn 13...to old (or so I thought) to play with "toys". I played with a neighbor's Vertibird for months and have always regretted not owning one. My other favorites: Johnny Astro, Sandlot Slugger, Skittle Bowl and Skittle Pool, Amaze-A-Matics, Time Machine, Six Finger and Hot Wheels (will you ever forget the first time your mother yelled at you when you attached the C-clamp to some fine piece of furniture and watched that hot wheel car scream across the floor?)
Didn't Johnny Astro come with some sort of plastic lunar moon surface to land on?
What was the name of the toy car that exploded into about 8-10 pieces when you crashed it but could be put back together for hours and hours of fun?
Kevin <kevlquin@aol.com>
Bedford, NH USA - Sunday, November 04, 2001 at 18:24:44 (MST)
has anyone heard of a sculpture toy in the 70's i think they were called chip-a-ways. you would buy a figurine and chip the block away till you got to the figure underneath. if any one can remember anything like this i'd appreciate info, thanks, john s.
john sabbatelli <sabbofam@rcn.com>
wakefield, ma USA - Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at 18:18:33 (MST)
I had an original Vertibird helicopter as a kid.
My best guess would be 1976.
It was the best toy ever made and I am trying to find one for my kids.
Chris Hayes
Kenai Alaska
Chris Hayes <chris.hayes@acsalaska.net>
Kenai, Ak USA - Monday, October 29, 2001 at 11:15:23 (MST)
C00L site. Thanks...
Anime
Dallas, TX USA - Sunday, October 28, 2001 at 18:49:28 (MST)
Terrific! How about the Jimmy Jet and the Topper Johnny Space Mobile X-7? Anyone?
Inabif <inabif@aol.com>
USA - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 14:54:48 (MDT)
Great memories on this site. My mom worked for Mattel in the 70's and I was a toy tester as a kid. My mom would bring different toys home to play with and then I filled out a questionaire. I tested probably 5 of the Vertibird Police Chopper sets until they broke. What Fun!
Vince Jesse <vincecantera@home.com>
Woodland Hills, CA USA - Friday, September 07, 2001 at 16:14:03 (MDT)
I have a working vertibird Police set. I don't have the box or any accessories,and Ive had to manufacture a replacement hook. I got it fot my 9th birthday in 1975. I now have a son who is 6, and its almost time to dig it out and put in fresh batteries and fire it up. Verti bird was/is a great toy. I had many hours of fun. When I was youhg most of my dads adult friends would have to give it a try when they visited. I fired it up a couple of years ago and it was still as much fun as I remember.Thanks for putting together this site.PS I am missing the battery cover door, know of any?
Ken Ditlof <seahorse@saltspring.com>
Salt Spring island, B.C Canada - Friday, August 31, 2001 at 15:19:03 (MDT)(Yes, replacement battery covers are availabe on Whirlybird Central Vertibird Parts page - Sam)
I too had a little brother that received a Johnny Astro at Christmas in 1968. I took ownership of it in a typical "big brother" deal involving some Hot Wheels I think. I played with it for years repairiing it dozens of time, then lost it during a move. I FOUND ONE!!! 5 years ago at a garage sale IN THE BOX WITH EVERYTHING!!! The ballons were of course too hard to inflate (I ruined one LUNA trying), but I have since found a repro source for the balloons and have flown it numerous times to the amazement of anyone who visits!! IT"S STILL THE COOLEST TOY!!!! Thanks for the site
Alan <aknagel1@home.com>
Calgary, Canada - Friday, August 24, 2001 at 16:19:57 (MDT)
My brother is 36 and is still bitter that he never got the coast guard verti bird. I am looking for any ideas of where to find one. If anyone has one they're willing to sell, please let me know!!!
Amie <ames2411@yahoo.com>
Cincinnati, OH USA - Monday, August 13, 2001 at 11:48:58 (MDT)
From time to time I look through Ebay to find toys I had when I was growing up in the 60s. Your site has helped me find those games that have escaped my memory banks. I would like to invite you to my website Dr. Shatterhand's Botanical Garden and check out the Memorabondia section of old and new James Bond toys.
Keep up the excellent work. Many of us appreciate it.
- Stuart
Stuart Basinger <raftcove@erols.com>
Stafford, VA USA - Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 08:27:20 (MDT)
i once had a starsky and hutch car but somebody out there stole it and i would like it back the year was 1981 i was only 9 so if anybody has any information leading to the recovry of the vehicle it would be much appreciated
thank you
a child at heart
kevaloski <kevaloski@hotmail.com>
gb - Saturday, August 04, 2001 at 10:48:40 (MDT)
Like others, I too had a yellow rescue vertibird...It was one of the greatest and most entertaining toys of its time..and like those old Wayne G. rookie cards, I'm not sure what happened to it.I'm now seeking one of the new ones in Toronto...Does anyone know where they can be brought?
Mike
Mike Goldman <mike_goldman1972@yahoo.com>
Toronto, Canada - Sunday, July 29, 2001 at 20:34:51 (MDT)
I love the site!!......and o yea i had a vertibird too. Mine was yellow with a bunch of differnt plastic things to pick up on a small hook. The funniest was the little man holding a large ring over his head. Mine got played into the ground! Man this site brought back memories.
Jon Prell <jprell@twol.com>
Ft. Morgan, CO USA - Monday, July 09, 2001 at 08:21:32 (MDT)
I have been searching "forever" for a toy Chinook, not a model. The Vertibird would be nice, but a little pricey, I'll look at the clones.
My favorite, most hated toy was King Zor. I loved to play with it, but he was a preditor. He ATE batteries! I was one of seven kids and got about 30 minutes of play out of him a year. Alkakine energizers were a ways off yet! Alas he was sacrificed for science as I decided it would be more interesting to see how he worked than to look at him in the closet, about a $2000 childhood error. He is in the Dallas/Mesquite dump at the 1966 or so level, and his feet are in good shape!
Dan Gooch <dangooch@soopergrape.com>
Balch Springs, Texas, USA - Monday, June 18, 2001 at 08:18:23 (MDT)
Thanks for helping with TipIt--we played this for hours on rainy days at our no TV summer place, and I want one for my 5 year old. What is a Vertibird?
C.
Chris Stoate <cstoate@home.com>
Toronto, Canada - Wednesday, June 06, 2001 at 20:48:47 (MDT)
I just did a simple search on Yahoo, hoping to find some information about the old Mattel toy, "Vert-ibird". And, alas, I'm directed here!! What a hoot! I thought I would never find anyone who even KNOWS about Verti-Birds, never mind someone who actually still OWNS one!! Thanks!
Scott Stanchfield <stanch@earthlink.net>
New Hartford, CT USA - Tuesday, June 05, 2001 at 14:28:07 (MDT)
I, too, LOVED King of the Hill. I have looked for it, not very hard, on the Internet and today I found your picture/thoughts about it. I still taunt my cousin with the memory of her (she was (still is) four years younger) ramming a too-large marble into the top whole, thereby, rendering the game unwinnable. Thanks for the picture.
Liz <lizardrod@hotmail.com>
W, RI USA - Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at 13:35:46 (MDT)
I'm a copy editor these days for a New England newspaper, but when I was a kid growing up in Louisiana, my parents got me a Linoprinter for Christmas one year. It broke (I probably broke it) before I could get full use of it, but I think it might have been THE toy that got me started on the road of becoming a reporter/writer and now copy editor.
--V Pizzolato
Victor Pizzolato <pizzolato@earthlink.net>
Uxbridge, MA USA - Sunday, April 22, 2001 at 09:16:40 (MDT)
My family had a Green Ghost Game in the 1960's. I have been trying to locate one for some time. Thanks to your website I will be able to share this game with my kids!
Dave Lehnhoff <dlehnhoff@fuse.net>
Cincinnati, oh USA - Sunday, April 15, 2001 at 21:07:07 (MDT)
I took my Vertibird down from storage yesterday and set it on the kitchen table. Down to the store for 4 large D batteries. Today my five year old son learned to Verti-bird. To me it seemed like I had never left the controls.
Andrew <abrogers@sentex.net>
Fergus, on Canada - Sunday, April 01, 2001 at 19:45:43 (MDT)
Six Finger,Six Finger,Man Alive... How Did I Ever Get Along With Five?
"The Fighting Lady" (a battery powered battle ship) was a classic.Seemed like it was 3 feet long.Put on a "Victory At Sea" album and "play on".
How about that weird Voodoo game "Kabala"?
Buddy <thebeatusa@netscape.net>
Daly City, Ca USA - Monday, March 26, 2001 at 00:01:59 (MST)
I had a Think-A-Tron when I was a kid. After awhile we
figured out how to read the punch cards to know what the answer would be. Guess I got an early start hacking...
Barry Gershenfeld <barry@zmicro.com>
San Diego, CA USA - Monday, March 19, 2001 at 14:45:53 (MST)
I found your site while browsing the web looking for quality sites which would work well with my own site http://www.ez-toys.com
A great site is hard to find, and yours is a great one!
Good Work!
Tom
Tom Pratt <tom@ez-toys.com>
New York, NY USA - Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at 15:20:20 (MST)
I got a Power Shop when I was 7 years old for Christmas in 1966. It's by far my favorite toy of all time.
I've saved a few toys over the years but this one has
never been out of my site.
The one I have is in perfect condition except the box has a few cracks. But all pieces are in mint condition except for the sand paper discs.
About 10 years ago I pulled out it out of my closet and me and a friend built two remote control boats out of Balsa
wood as a base for fiberglass and it worked great.
I've never seen your website before but its great.
Keep it up
Mike Keefer
M. Keefer <jgkeefer@earthlink.net>
Tujunga, Ca. USA - Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at 17:58:49 (MST)
Thanks for the inspiration! My son turns 7 next month and I have kept all his cool toys (his definition) when he outgrows them. Nothing like your site, mind you, but at least I won't be the Mom that threw them away.
Susan
Gainesville, FL USA - Tuesday, January 23, 2001 at 11:12:07 (MST)
Thanks for the site. I had a Vertibird as a kid in the 70's
I STILL remember it as being totally cool and am in the process of bidding on one of the new clones right now. When I do get one I'll lay my 38 year old self on the floor and FLY!!!!
K.Dimmick
Tn. USA - Saturday, January 20, 2001 at 18:21:27 (MST)
Hiya Sam! Great site! Of course, you have a lot of toys for boys that I didn't have, being a girl and all. ;-) However, I DO remember a lot of them from my brothers and TV commercials. I just bought my 5 year old a Creepy Crawler set for Christmas! I wanted one of those SO bad, but never got one. I also wanted an Incredible Edible set, too. Do they still make those? If not, I wonder why?
While I'm here...do you remember a game where you had to feel around inside a box to get the small object that was depicted on the card and retrieve it before anyone's else's hand found it first? Nobody remembers this one but me! I can't remember what it was called, though..Feeley something or other.
(I don't have a copy (yet!) but the game was called Feeley Meeley by Milton Bradley in 1967. Here is a link to search eBay for the game. - Sam)
Well....have fun looking for your toys! Wish I had a lot of the one's you do!
Lori <ltreed@win.net>
Southbridge, MA USA - Monday, December 25, 2000 at 08:43:55 (CST)
Sam, You are one of a kind....my brother who has never grown up....thanks from bringing back memories of the toys we had growning up. I miss those days. Love ya!!! Come visit me.
Peggy Kamp <PKamp8650@aol.com>
Myrtle Beach, SC USA - Monday, December 18, 2000 at 23:01:38 (CST)
I found your site looking for more info. on the Armatron (just bought one on Ebay). Anyway, while looking I was reminded of the neatest toy I had as a kid- the master caster. It was so cool! The kit consisted of different colored wax pellets, little hot wheels sized wheels and axles, and the oven of course. As I can remember, you placed two axles into the bottom part of the mold, heated the wax pellet, and dumped the molten wax (which had a great smell) and then I think you pressed out the top profile of the car. After it cooled you elected the mold, and the car was ready for destruction! It's funny, the original cars were red, or yellow or blue, and after playing and mixing wax, all of the cars produced were brown! Thanks for reminding me of that great toy!
Donovan
Donovan Bort <donovanbort@charter.net>
Simpsonville, SC USA - Monday, December 11, 2000 at 15:24:29 (CST)
My husband is insistant that we get a Vertibird for our 5 year old son. Your site has been the most helpful so far. Thank you for your thoroughness.
~Jackie
Jackie <jthomas@darbyprinting.com>
Atlanta, GA USA - Tuesday, December 05, 2000 at 09:22:24 (CST)
Great page Sam! I had a Vertibird as a kid and also have been searching for one, recently ordered but have not received the Jasman version. Thanks for all the great info on the "clones".
Alan
Alan <abeljanney@aol.com>
USA - Saturday, December 02, 2000 at 22:10:22 (CST)
I HAD A COAST GUARD RESCUE VERTIBIRD TOO. IT WAS THE COOLEST TOY EVER! MY BROTHER HAD THE FIRE RESCUE? VERSION, BURNING BUILDING. I WAS CLEANING OUT MY PARENTS ATTIC A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND FOUND MY BROTHERS VERTIBIRD INTACT WITH ALL PIECES EXCEPT FOR THE CARDBOARD BUILDING/ LANDIND PAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY I BOUGHT UP SOME D-CELLS REAL QUICK AND SPENT A FEW HOURS PLAYING CHOPPER PILOT! THE VERTIBIRD NOW HAS A SAFE HOME IN MY ROOM UNTIL MY NEXT "FLIGHT" IS SCHEDULED. THIS WAS/IS THE COOLEST TOY EVER.
DAVE WATT <SJDWATT@SYMPATICO.CA>
MISSISSAUGA, ON CANADAUSA - Saturday, November 04, 2000 at 07:26:15 (CST)
Stumbled upon your page by searching a different topic. GLAD I DID! I had a V-bird when I was a kid and wore it out. My little girl turns 3 in a month, and now she'll have one too. Thanks for taking the time to make your site!!!
Mark <merimarkway@earthlink.net>
Biggs, CA USA - Wednesday, November 01, 2000 at 02:42:38 (CST)
I had an EXPLO robot, it would run for about 30 sec. doing different things and then explode. That was a cool toy.
Gene <ugeneiii@gateway.net>
Pueblo, CO USA - Tuesday, October 24, 2000 at 19:45:48 (CDT)
I would like to thank you for your site. It has given me the information on the current manufactures and retailers I
need to locate one of these awsome toys from past (Vertibird). I am a helicopter pilot and had one when I was young. I can't
believe what the older origionals are going for. But the new ones look just fine to me. Once again thanks for the
web site!
Michael R.
USA - Monday, October 23, 2000 at 21:51:19 (CDT)
Finally got the guestbook implemented. Hope to see some great stories here in the future. Thanks for stopping by.
Sam Cancilla
Albuquerque, NM USA - Friday, September 08, 2000 at 22:44:12 (CDT)
Contact me: Sam Cancilla, sam@samstoybox.com.
