1950’s Space Phaser Cap Gun Toy
October 13, 2009
This space phaser cap gun toy from the 1950’s is sweet!
Buriki: Japanese Tin Toys from the Golden Age of the American Automobile – The Yoku Tanaka Collection
August 17, 2009
I had the pleasure of checking out the Buriki: Japanese Tin Toys from the Golden Age of American Automobile exhibit at the Japan Society this past weekend. The exhibit was a celebration of Japan’s achievements in tin toy design in the first two decades following World War II. The detail and construction of these is amazing. Some of them even have working lights, doors, horns, and automatic retractable convertible tops. Below are some highlights from the exhibit. All images are from the Japan Society website.
The Lincoln Futura concept car (This was the inspiration for the Batmobile)
This one had a working horn, lights, and retractable top!
Ambassador Magma is driving this sweet 1962 Cadillac
1963 – Ideal Mouse Trap Commercial
June 12, 2009
Antique Steiff Bears
March 9, 2009
Mr. Richard Steiff - Designer and creator of the first stuffed toy bear (Image:www.chelseateddybear.com)
The Steiff Company was founded in Germany in the year 1880. Steiff began creating the first hand made bears in the early 1900’s. The original stuffed bear was designed by Richard Steiff in 1902. The Steiff company remains in business today and still produces incredible stuffed toys. Below are some great antique examples that I found on Ebay and Google Images.
Early Steiff ear button
Auburn Racers – 1950’s
March 7, 2009
These Auburn Racer rubber toys from the 1950’s are awesome. I have a couple of these that belonged to my father when he was growing up in the 1950’s. These images are from Ebay.
Vintage Sock Monkeys
February 15, 2009
Sock Monkeys are a form of American Folk Art that originated in the 1930’s. The sock monkeys were made of Ragg socks made by Nelson Knitting Company of Rockford, Illonois. The red heeled ragg socks were a trademark of their iconic design and impartial to the creation of the finished toy! In 1955 the Nelson Knitting Company began including sock monkey patterns with every pair of socks sold. Below are some great examples that I found on Ebay.
Sock Monkey Instructions from the 1950's
Comic Book Artist Marina Corral's Dodger Sock Monkey (Made by hand by her boyfriend; he has great sewing skills!)
More Great Tin Robots of the Space Age
January 31, 2009
I found these amazing old tin robots on the Alphadrome Robot and Space Toy Database. These old robots are incredible!
Atom Robot - Yoshiya 1964
Target Robot - Masudaya 1965
Electronic Remote Control Robot - Matsudaya 1960's
Winky Robot - Yonezawa 1960's
Laser Robot - Daiya 1968
Blink-a-Gear Robot - Taiyo 1969
Sparkling Mike the Robot - SNK 1960's
Robo Movido a Pilhas - Argentina 1960's
Three versions of the Television Robot by Alps 1960's
Original tin win up paddle foot bullet style. Note wire key 1950's
Conehead Robot - Yonezawa 1950's - 1960's
Machine Robot aka "Turn Signal Robot" - Horikawa 1963
Space Conqueror 5 - Daiya 1962
Mr. Planet - Yonezawa 1969
Three versions of Mr. Mercury - Yonegawa early 1960's
Related Posts:
Swell Toys of the Space Age
Famous Robots from Popular Culture
How and Why Wonder Books
January 13, 2009
I found all of these great How and Why Wonder Books from the 1960’s – 1970’s on Rocket Roberts. I love the artwork and illustrations on the cover. Kids must have had a blast reading these. Below are some of my favorite.
Robots and Electronic Brains
Airplanes and the Story of Flight
Atomic Energy
Beginning Science
Chemistry
Electricity
Famous Scientists
The Microscope
Oceanography
Planets and Interpanetary Travel
Rockets and Missiles
Science Experiments
Stars
The Moon
Have a Blast With At-Home Chemistry Sets
January 5, 2009
I love all of these vintage at-home chemistry sets from the 1940’s-1960’s that I found on Ebay. Even better is that some of the chemicals are eating away at the packaging.
Gilbert Chemistry Outfit
Chemicals by Gilbert
Chemcraft by Lionel
Chemcraft by Lionel
Another Gilbert Lab
More from Lionel's Chemcraft
Atomic Energy from Chemcraft
This Gilbert set has a microscope
Inside of the Gilbert microscope box
An older Gilbert set
An older Chemcraft set
Chemcraft chemicals
Check out this swell set-up
Warning label from Chemcraft
Chemcraft experiment manuals
Ad for chemistry and microscope sets
These old sets remind me of one of my favorite movies “The Young Poisoner’s Handbook”, a British film (1997) that is loosely based on the life of Graham Frederick; also know as the “Tea-cup killer”. “The Young Poisoner’s Handbook” is mad science made cool & explores the fine line between genius and madness. Graham Young, the main character, who is a brilliant chemist sets his sights on becoming the world’s greatest poisoner after several humiliations by his family. Check out the opening from the movie below.
New Years Party Favors From the 1940’s For Your Party Tonight
December 31, 2008
I found all of these great 1940’s tin lithograph noise makers on Ebay. Enjoy them and have fun at your parties tonight!
Noise Makers
Shaker with some pin-ups
Great horns
Another great noise maker. I love the clothing on this one
Make sure tonight you have as much fun as this guy did!
