Retro toys

Barbie's Friend Ship (Mattel, 1972)


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Smoking Volkswagen (Aoshin, 1960's)

It used an oil-soaked sponge that was heated to produce smoke out the tail pipe.


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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE THAT ZEPHYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Funny, I found that at an estate sale at the house next door to my mother in law.....at least there was one positive to that visit.

 

The turntable of wheels is known as bump-and-go and was popular in the 1960's when toys with ingenious mechanisms reigned.

Another type of mechanism was used to detect the edge of a table and reverse the direction of the vehicle.

 

These toy engines date to the 1960s; I have a number of these in my collection.

There were different colors available, with names like:

"SILVER MOUNTAIN EXPRESS"

"SILVER FLASH EXPRESS"

"RED ARROW EXPRESS", etc.

All had a whistle and clanging bell!

Smaller versions of this toy were also available; the engineer was basically the same, but the engines were of a different type, but still nice-looking!.

I have a number of vintage tin (and plastic) toy locomotives and buses in my collection that feature that classic "bump-and-go" action.......they sure bring back a lot of VERY happy memories, 60-odd years ago!

 

For a comedy routine, Albert Brooks used a Speak & Spell that he modified to look like a Mr. Potato Head, another classic toy from decades earlier.


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Late Night Last Century: Albert Brooks Introduces Johnny Carson to "Buddy"


YouTube video:

Albert Brooks - Speak & Spell (The Tonight Show, 1984)

 

LARGEST battery operated tin "bump-n-go" toys I have are from the early 1960s, made in Japan for CRAGSTAN (then a BIG manufacturer of tin friction and battery-op vehicles) are two buses, both based on the GM PD-4104, then a popular intercity bus.

One is a GREYHOUND bus, the other, a school bus.

Both have "mystery" action, both have operating horns, and the GREYHOUND version has a door that opens and closes!

I've had both since at least 1963! (only wish I still had the boxes!)

These buses are BIG (close to 2' long!)

 

More like the Lolita Express.
How old is Barbie? Isn't she like 70 now?

 

How old is Barbie? (she debuted in 1959-you do the math!)

See:

Barbie - Wikipedia

 

Barbie almost qualifies for Social Security.

 

Mrs. Beasely doll (1967)

From the TV show 'Family Affair'.


Mrs Beasley Doll / Original 1960s doll / Sales, Sayings & Value


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(actress Anissa Jones)

 

Back in the 1960s, you'd be hard pressed indeed to see my younger cousin WITHOUT being in the company of her beloved "Mrs. Beasley"

 

Potterycraft (Gabriel, 1976)

A motorized potter's wheel with air-drying clay and enamel.


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Oh, man!

TOTALLY forgot about this one!

My cousin and her girlfriend were TOTALLY enamored with this!

Talk about "home crafting"!

Recall, this was way back when, when pottery crafting and macrame were all ther age.....man, it'sall so long ago now!