Thanks for posting the Thingmaker pictures. Oh, what memories! I had Fun Flowers, Creeple People and the Incredible Edibles set (blecchhh!!!). My younger sister ruined my dollhouse furniture with the goop...I guess I should forgive her - it's been almost 40 years!
Amy
USA - Monday, December 28, 2009 at 08:43:15 (MST) Thanks for posting pictures of the 1964 Thingmaker. I was just thinking about my "Fun Flowers", "Creeple People" and Incredible Edibles...amazing that we were allowed to play with those, totally unsupervised! My little sister ruined my doll house furniture with the Goop almost 40 years ago...I remember it vividly!
Amy <adroth1209@aol.com>
Bradley Beach, NJ USA - Monday, December 28, 2009 at 08:38:46 (MST) My brother got a Hands up Harry for Christmas, must have been about 1969. I always thought it was the coolest toy. I never knew anyone else who ever had it.
Darrell
Canada - Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 05:31:34 (MST) Thanks so very much for posting the instructions for Electronic Detective. you are awesome to share. My family and i have had the game for many years. we have everything intact, however misplaced the instructions. We were trying to remember how to play today - although we were trying to remember as we went along, we were not sucessful - until we found you! Thanks so much for sharing - have a great day!
pam stroski <PSTROSKI@HOTMAIL.COM>
FERNDALE, MICHIGAN USA - Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 14:32:21 (MST) yea i rember having thise power mites i had to save big time to get them they were sold at the two guys department store i was about ten yers old
william j grayeski <williamgrayeski@yahoo.com>
langhorne, pa USA - Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 08:49:13 (MST) Thank you so much for the site. When I was a child, my grandmother had a spirograph for all the grandkids to play with. I was remembering how much time I spent with it, when I saw a small copy of one at Barnes & Noble book store. I really wanted to get one like the one I played with, for my daughter this Christmas. Looks like I should have started this search a long time ago (if I had only remembered earlier). Thanks for the memories.
Catrina <Catrina@2dog.com>
Las Vegas, NV USA - Wednesday, December 09, 2009 at 16:48:28 (MST) I found your site when I was looking for Spirograph toys. I have a newer (80's version) of Kenner's Spirotot. It is yellow and orange and has 4 gears with it. It originally had 3 pens, but they dried up years ago. Let me know if you would like pictures :)
Natalie <rayvenfairmoon@yahoo.com>
Flat Rock, MI USA - Sunday, December 06, 2009 at 23:04:47 (MST) Plasticast was my all-time favorite, I still remember the smell, which I loved and my mom decided was probably toxic. If you decide to sell one, please contact me, I've been looking for one for a long time
julie <julievogel@optonline.net>
mtn lks, nj USA - Saturday, December 05, 2009 at 10:36:31 (MST) I had the Sea Diver game when I was a kid, but my small hands weren't strong enough to squeeze the bottle! My sisters' boyfriends played it more. It disappeared many years ago, I guess the bottle burst, or leaked. I found a "cartesian diver" recently in a toy/science catalogue that reminded me of this one, but nowhere as fun or creative as this. I wish someone still made these, as pop bottles would be an endless replacement now, and it was really fun and challenging to play. Thank you for posting the pictures and refreshing my memories!
Geoff <gmlstrat@shaw.ca>
Winnipeg, MB Canada - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:10:14 (MST) Agent Zero M!!!!!!!!! I had all of them, but my favorite was the pocket knife/gun! It had a compartment for a roll of caps on one end and a gray plastic fold out knife blade.I held on to it until about 1973 when a playmate "borrowed" it and forgot to tell me.That and another gun system that was 7 guns in one were among my most beloved toys. Thank you for keeping my childhood memories safe for me and others to visit .
ollie <sloan013@hotmail.com>
New York City, NY USA - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:43:55 (MST) Had to be the Oscar Mayer Weiner Whistle I had in 1965! It just didn't get much cooler . . .
SUSAN <cajunbully@hotmail.com>
morenci, AZ USA - Monday, November 02, 2009 at 20:56:13 (MST) I just saw a you-tube video called "Endless Racing Game for iPhone". I was cute as can be, and immediately reminded me of the Trik-Trak I had as a boy in 1964. I Googled (Binged actually) Trik Trak and found myself here, and wanted to share. Take a look at the video and see what I mean.
Jeff
Vero Beach, FL USA - Monday, November 02, 2009 at 12:25:21 (MST) When I was a kid back in the 60's I would check other peoples trash. I had found a 1964 Thing in a black box that was not working. I fixed it years later ( 80's ) and it's been working great ever since. The kids today get a kick out of it when I break it out every Holloween. They like putting coins on it and watching the green arm come out a grab it.
John Lesko <leskojp@q.com>
Loveland, CO USA - Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 22:49:40 (MDT) I have the knapp electric questioner. We played with it often as children. It belonged to my father who was born in 1923.
Barbara
Littleton, Co USA - Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 20:36:58 (MDT) The Armatron was one of my favorite toys when I was a kid :) I eventually took it apart (like all my cool toys, radio's, etc,) and couldn't figure out how to put it back together correctly, lol :) Brings back memories, thanks for the pics :)
Chad Schloss <ChadSchloss78@aol.com>
Perry, MI USA - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 19:11:49 (MDT) Toot Sweet was my most favorite toy. I still have it. I am missing one important part. The plastic part that pushes the tootsie roll into the mold. I have the original box and all the molds. I saw that someone on here was looking for one and I say good luck. I found one recently (after many years of searching) and the price on Ebay had gone way past $100. If I had more money to spend on it, I probably would have, but that was my max. IF the person who bought it is looking on here then I say congrats. I will continue to search for another one more in my price range. But, if my husband can figure out how to make the small barrel that pushes the tootsie roll up, then I will just keep the one I got and not worry about another. I can not wait for my kids to get to make the molds. The whistles were the best. Blow and eat.
Sharlene M <twingles974@yahoo.com>
Royse City, tx USA - Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 14:53:28 (MDT) I wanted to mention I have a Amaze-a-Matic Mustang in addition to the VW Bug you mentioned. I could take pics if interested...
Don <saytam@comcast.net>
Mount Holly, NJ USA - Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 20:13:02 (MDT) I have a Magic Mosiac that we've had since the mid 80's. I just brought it to work to play with when I have free time. SO many memories!
Erin <echelon122@aol.com>
Madison, WI USA - Friday, October 09, 2009 at 14:37:56 (MDT) You really took me back down memory lane! I'm one of the biggest Godzilla fans ever,and I still remember walking into the 5 and dime store in downtown Memphis,TN. with my mother as a child,and seeing the Aurora monster kit of the Big G for the first time!(This was in the mid 60s,I didn't get the model until 1972 for 1.50!!!!!) I still think "Godzilla,King of the Monsters"is the best of all the movies done about him.The scene with him stomping thru the railyard,and the people fleeing ahead of him, scared the living daylights outta me as a kid! Thanks, Sam!!!
Tommy Williams <tlwilliams1961@yahoo.com>
Detroit, MI USA - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 18:19:49 (MDT) Thanks very much for having a link to the rules of the game "Forbidden Bridge" which we have an old set of. My 5 year old loves it!
Rob Connell
Christchurch, New Zealand - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 02:28:03 (MDT) Thank you!! I was beginning to think I'd imagined smoking monkeys!! When I was little in the late 1960's, we used to have family days out to Blackpool and I would beg my parents for a smoking monkey. The monkeys didn't really do much other than hold a lit paper 'cigarette' in their mouth, but I loved them. I'd be horrified now at a toy that promoted animals smoking, and children playing with burning paper! Thanks again for sealing my memory.
Carol Harris <Chesharris@hotmail.com>
Lancs, UK - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 01:35:58 (MDT) loved those old kits, still have some around, I have had the vhf tuner section of the am vhf radio kit for the last 30 years or so, and finally after all these yesars can complete the kit with your manual scan. At least homebrew the rest of it. thanks This brought back memories. I've held on to this pc board for years and looked for the manual.
Kenneth Lee <crunch@europe.com>
High Point, NC USA - Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 22:52:09 (MDT) Wow! What a great site Sam! Creepy Crawlers, Strange Change Machine, Sixfinger, Battle Tops... and the list goes on! All the favorites from the 60's and 70s... With all of those light bulbs covered by screen mesh, melting plastic, heating metal molds and dropping them in cold water to cool them off, shooting small missles and "cap bombs"... by todays saftey standards, you have to wonder how any of us survived playing with these things! LOL ! I'll say one thing... no Xbox, no Internet, no PCs... but all this cool, creative stuff...I think we had it better than our kids! Sam...Thank you !!!! Joe M
Joe M
Boston, MA USA - Monday, September 14, 2009 at 18:38:46 (MDT) I remember the incredible edibles as pretty horrible, too, But lots of fun and very memorable. My older brother had a magnetic spy board game which I've yet to find. As I remember, the board had holes (possibly street manholes).
Jack O' Lantern <m0martin@charter.net>
Kalamazoo, MI USA - Monday, September 14, 2009 at 14:04:58 (MDT) Enjoyed the website enormously,ah where did those years go to?
Keith Mulligan <keith.mulligan@ntlworld .com>
wilton, wilts uk - Sunday, September 06, 2009 at 14:28:15 (MDT) Hi, I've been searching the internet for information on a Knapp Electric Questioner I just purchased. I have been able to find nothing that dates to what I appear to have. I have noticed that there are game #'s listed on some I have seen but none as low as what I have. I have seen #'s 300, 325, and 28 but my game is numbered 1. thats right it is numbered 1 on the paper lable on the inside cover. I noticed that you said you could find no dates on the ones you have, the patent on the cards in my game say june 2, 1885. The game comes with 12 cards and the box has only a wood frame top and bottom covered with cardboard and taped with same fabric as top and bottom along back to searve as hinge. no metal hinges. Can you help me find a value for this item?
Edward Limoges <lesed@optonline.net>
Pine Plains, NY USA - Saturday, September 05, 2009 at 13:56:46 (MDT) I remember Sixfinger very well. Do you remember the advertising jingle-"Sixfinger, Sixfinger, man alive, how'd I ever get along with five?"
Robert Blake <Riptidenj@lycos.com>
USA - Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 19:12:52 (MDT) What a great site, for some reason out of the blue I googled "vac u form" and it led me here. Reading those instructs I can still smell the melting plastic and thinking "how does this thing work", today I am a very successful aircraft mechanic and I believe it all started with that little Toy... a belated "sorry" to my sis about tearing apart your "easy bake oven" and "pretzel jetzel"...hehe
Chauncy <crjmech@comcast.net>
portland, OR USA - Friday, August 14, 2009 at 11:11:32 (MDT) Sam, I was so relieved to find a website that had the solution to this puzzle. I have had 'The Disappearing Square' since I was a child (30 or so years ago) - and DO recall solving it at that time. After my mother brought out a box of my old toys I saw this puzzle and worked on trying to figure it out for 2 months!! Now being thoroughly aggravated I decided tot turn to the internet for a solution, and so I found your site, which brought be a great sigh of relief. Thank you for posting the solution, as well as the original box, which I still have. I do have to mention that the puzzle pieces I own are different colors than those shown in your example, which I was surprised to find a difference. Thank you so much!!!
Diana Lynn Moore <dianalynnmoore@gmail,com>
Boulder, CO USA - Sunday, August 09, 2009 at 20:28:42 (MDT) I had this "car" from my childhood. I didn't remember quite what it came with until I found your site. It is a red Ricochet Rocket car! I really am glad I found this- now I remember it. 1974 was a bit ago. Thanks!
Tracie <tradunn@charter.net>
Columbia, TN USA - Wednesday, August 05, 2009 at 15:43:57 (MDT) A buddy of mine had a Vac U Form (Mattel) in the mid-60's and we used it to duplicate bodies for Aurora HO road race cars. I can still smell the melting plastic. What fun to see something on this item. Just think how many kids burned themselves (learning a valuable lesson on electric devices at the time) on these gizmos.
Bill <haucktrain@aol.com>
Mendota Hts. , mn USA - Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 15:16:05 (MDT) I got a CIPM for Christmas one year and I loved it. Thanks for the memory!
Andrea <anmatthe@wyoming.com>
USA - Sunday, August 02, 2009 at 11:25:27 (MDT) I am always searching thrift stores and garage sales because my daughter wants NON-battery toys for my grandchildren. This site is such a joy. Thank you for sharing all the pics and stories......karen
Karen MacDonald <karenmacd@hotmail.com>
New Braunfels, TX USA - Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 19:05:55 (MDT) I came here to look at the Astrolite as it as my mom's favorite toy. She kept it and let me play with it as a child too. I don't know whatever became of it but I will be watching ebay! I love lighted toys and miss my Lite Brite. I enjoyed perusing your vintage toys. I am a child of the 80's and had not heard of some of these toys before, but enjoyed learning about them. I remember my grandmother had the original versions of Hands Down and Cootie, which my cousins and I always played when visiting. I still have my spirograph (its you have pictured from 1986). It didn't work as well as the original (which my grandmother also had). They replaced the pins with this plastic thing which doesn't hold the rings very well. THank you for sharing your toys with me! :)
Amanda <jnamasonheimer@insightbb.com>
Radcliff, KY USA - Friday, July 24, 2009 at 13:10:17 (MDT) I spent 7 years in Ireland with my family as a kid(early 70's). I accumulated several unique toys while there; several Corgi, Lindy, and Matchbox cars, an extensive Scaletrix race set with multiple cars, many large scale detailed diecast vehicles made in West Germany, a Mammod Steam Tractor with log wagon, and my favorite, a working robot that has swivwling eyes, walks on wheels, and has a see through center section with rotating gears and belts. I enjoyed reading and viewing your site. Stacey
Stacey <sbbolds@bellsouth.net>
Gilbertsville, KY USA - Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 20:34:50 (MDT) nice site we used to own the james bond scalectrix set in the early 70s we set it upsothe cars flew out of the second storey window ....do you know what the james bond DB5 from scalectix is worth now
Vip <viphammill@hotmail.com>
london, UK - Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 13:34:36 (MDT) Simply amazing trip down memory lane with the powermite tools! Had the drill and sander but never the building materials. Thanks for the postings!
S M
Palo Alto, Ca USA - Monday, July 06, 2009 at 18:17:32 (MDT) My first job out of college was a detail rep for Topper Toys. Six Finger was one of the first items I sold for Topper. They had a great commercial that went, "Six Finger, Six Finger, Man Alive How did you ever get along with Five"
Bill Sullivan <bill_sullivan@theenglesgroup.com>
Dallas, Tx USA - Monday, July 06, 2009 at 11:37:10 (MDT) I have a range of unusual toys and boardgames in my collection. What I'm hunting for, and finding difficult to trace, are train set and a train and a car game. The problem, given the wonders of the web? They are all, unusually, powered by the board vibrating, and putting "vibrating toy" or variations into Google really doesn't help. Really doesn't! I have a Chad Valley vibra car race game, A damaged microcars set by Da Nang, two hand-held racing games and two different train sets by Triang. And of course Escalado, all working from the same basic idea. I know there are at least two more train sets/games to find, but tracking them... Ah well, I have other toys and games in the meantime. The wonderful Child Guidance Toys Shuttle Train, and the DX getaway chase game, for example. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Chris Brown <ChrisBrownofCabra@googlemail.com>
Launceston, UK - Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 13:36:19 (MDT) I still have MY frustration ball and box. The ball is in new condition and it still gripes me when it bounces out the other side of one of those cups. You have such an amazing assortment of toys that I recognize and have had or still have. I have an early packed SPIROGRAPH with everything but the pens. Terrible that they would keep removing pieces till it was almost a joke of a set. Really miss my MAJOR MATT MASON SPACE CRAWLER. But you really couldn't leave it on long, it would travel plenty fast. They don't let the kids learn like we did..you only get burned ONCE with your INCREDIBLE EDIBLE. And you don't do it again. :-)
Raymond <raymond.youmans@augustachronicle.com>
augusta, ga USA - Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 02:52:37 (MDT) I was just thinking about the Time Machine (Mattel) this morning and decided to look it up......found your site. Also one of my favourite toys ...... we can't have that sort of thing today though.......someone might burn a finger!....I remember that we tried to cook some bacon on it..WHAT FUN!!!
Frances Davies
Soo, ON Canada - Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 06:22:56 (MDT) I just saw the "Sea Diver" and I'm looking for one. Can you tell me where to get one? I don't know what happened to mine when I was a kid. Please email me when you get the info. Tanx, ahead of time. -Eric
Eric Gover <darkpaladin1967@yahoo.com>
Baltimore, MD USA - Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 08:27:51 (MDT) THANK YOU for posting Frustration Ball! I had one and for the life of me couldn't think of the name of it! My mom cleaned her attic last year and actually threw mine out! :( I recently acquired an almost perfect Spirograph - all items, even those little dangerous pins were in it. Only thing missing was pens. Bosses mom was throwing it out when she moved out of her house.
deb <l4l@att.net>
Edison, NJ USA - Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 13:08:11 (MDT) Thanks! I finally found pictures of the Think-A-Tron! I used to see a kid playing with it in elementary school in Ohio. Brings back a lot of memories...
Kevin Miller <fireball_x_l_5@hotmail.com>
Upper Marlboro, MD USA - Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 13:30:00 (MDT) Someone told me about an old toy called SixFinger. I've looked everywhere to just find a picture to see what it looks like. Thanks to your site I have to look no further! If you ever here of another for sale somewhere please let me know. Thanks.
carson <themanyfew@hotmail.com>
col, ga USA - Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 20:17:56 (MDT) I somehow acquired an Electric Questioner I saw mentioned on your site. I had been searching to find out if I should include it in my upcoming garage sale, or keep it. It was nice to find other adults who enjoy board games. My all time favorite is The Lone Ranger, second edition. Yeee-ha! Get them thar bad guys!
Linda <lsparkman@hotmail.com>
Garden City, MI USA - Friday, May 29, 2009 at 09:46:31 (MDT) Awesome site! I was looking forever for the Rattle Me Bones game (I couldn't quite remember the name so it was hard) and I absolutely LOVE that game. If you ever know of one opening up for sale, let me know!
Athena <traveltomyworld@hotmail.com>
Chicago, IL USA - Saturday, May 02, 2009 at 23:48:09 (MDT) I googled Big Burger Grill and imagine my surprise to actually find someone who had heard of it let alone with pictures! I credit that grill with my love of cooking and always laugh about how a toy like that would never be allowed today. I remember getting blisters from the spattering grease - just like a real line cook!
joni wheeler <papermaven@earthlink.net>
minneapolis, mn USA - Saturday, May 02, 2009 at 12:01:29 (MDT) I have a perfect Vertibird Rescue ship from a christmas present I received in 1973 from my parents. Everything works and is like new with perfect box that my parents had kept for me when I was younger. I have a younger child and he enjoyed playing with the vertibird even though there are other games that are advanced in technology that he has, but this Vertibird rescue ship was difficult for him to stop playing with.
AL <alpiddington@comcast.net>
Hickory Hills, IL USA - Friday, May 01, 2009 at 23:53:52 (MDT) I found the site searching for the Daisy Sonic Gun to show my kids the sort of toys I had. I had the model shown in the top picture, with the target made out of pasticx strips. I got mine in around 1973-1974 so it might have been available later in the UK. I used to knock down armies of plastic soldiers with it. My kids think it is great being able to see toys from the 'olden' days
Andrew <AndTrnr8@aol.com>
Nottingham, UK - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 14:00:04 (MDT) hey I love your huge spirograph collection. I just bought a very well loved set at a garage sale for one dollar and imagine my surprise to find out it's the 1967 second edition (red storage tray). How crazy~ Thanks for sharing your fantastic collections.
Dense
USA - Monday, April 20, 2009 at 10:03:58 (MDT) I had Hands-Up-Harry. I got it for Christmas back when i was about 5 years old. That would have been about 1967. Real quality back then. And original. I thought i was the only one that had one. ha!
mike
Toronto, Ont Canada - Saturday, April 04, 2009 at 20:31:16 (MDT) I have come across a vintage Laurel and Hardy Electric Drawing Set. The box is dated 1962 and is in great shape. Where could I find how much this is worth??
Shawna <thelittles1@hotmail.com>
Cody, WY USA - Saturday, April 04, 2009 at 13:14:27 (MDT) I am a frustration ball whiz. I can hit all cups and then drop it back into cup one and start over. When I was 12 or so the contest was how many times I could go around, not the highest cup I could get to. I too found my current one on ebay. My adult boys are amazed at how good I am at it.
Tammy
Stafford, VA USA - Friday, March 20, 2009 at 10:22:28 (MDT) Hi Nice web-site! Beautiful toys! I put the Diecast Factory away sealed, Dragons & Wizards and some pack of Molds & the packages of BB metal. Does anybody know of there value? I wish I had my Enemee Universal Monsters back, What a kit that was!! I love reading what everybody else has too! thanks you for the sign-in page!!, Aurora1Craig
Craig <aurora1craig@yahoo.com>
No. Tonawanda, NY USA - Thursday, March 05, 2009 at 08:36:27 (MST) Neat to see the creepy crawlers set. I remember my brothers had a set in the early 70's. The cloying scent of hot plasti-goop in the house and the bugs which sometimes got a weird crumbly rot syndrome and usually the legs tore off over the years. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Ron E
StPaul, MN USA - Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 08:54:11 (MST) That Sub-Search brings back memories of me losing all the time--I found out years later that my friend had been cheating all along by looking thru a space in the wall where my subs were !
Dan <dann2ptf@gmail.com>
Cazenovia, NY USA - Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 08:53:57 (MST) I have a pair of the Satellite Jumping Shoes (I found your site researching before listing them on eBay) & definitely share your sentiments about the broken wrist! LOL I was really TEMPTED to try them out, BUT, alas, fear that I would damage them in the process of bouncing on my head snapped me back to reality - the reality that I am too OLD for such! LOL I do LOVE old toys though - my childhood dolls & such are now in their THIRD generation of children. However, with SO many things I've bought to start "collections", it's starting to look more like "clutter", so stuff's gotta go! THANK YOU for sharing your personal collection via the web - it surely is a trip down memory lane. God bless, Vivian
Vivian <TreasureZoo@cs.com>
Savannah, GA USA - Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 22:54:50 (MST) Fun strolling down memory lane! I had both Pull the Rug Out and Clean Sweep. Got both from Wonderama... well actually, Pull the Rug out was my sisters. These two were the most fun and memorable games from my youth.
Carolyn <cseera@optonline.net>
USA - Sunday, February 08, 2009 at 12:57:54 (MST) I also had Spy's A Poppin and feel that is was one of my better games. My sisters and I had a blast with it. The TNT plunger kept breaking and they, Transogram, would send us a new one. I could not remember the name and have been looking on-line for about a day. Thanks for posting it. Ken.
Ken N.
USA - Saturday, February 07, 2009 at 14:01:58 (MST) I have that travel spirograph, with all of the wheels - it has the 4 round sizes, the football shaped one, and a plus sign shaped one. If you would like a picture of it, feel free to send me an email!
Karen <kehester@gmail.com>
Mesquite, TX USA - Monday, January 26, 2009 at 11:04:50 (MST) Thanks for including the Batman Trace-A-Graph images! I had one of these, and I still remember the fun it was. It helped me develop my drawing skills, and so I suppose helped prepare me for the graphic design work which I now do. I would have it still if not for having carelessly left it on the floor beside the bed--where I accidentally stepped on it and cracked the plastic.
Lyle Simoneaux
Pensacola, FL USA - Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 22:54:35 (MST) I played Electronic Detective 1,000's of times when I was little and just now got the game from my parents' house. Thank you so much for having a PDF of the cards (5.1MB) as three were missing. Great site!
sandra <sandradances@comcast.net>
VA USA - Saturday, January 03, 2009 at 11:47:12 (MST)
