RSSProductive Plastic Playthings
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20: For Kids of All Ages, Page 50.
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Subscribers—read this article now in your digital edition!A look back at 1960s maker toys.
By Bob Knetzger
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The maker toys from the 60's were and are still a lot of fun. Every Christmas the " Hot Wheels toy factory" comes out and so does the " Thingmaker." My brothers kids love these old toys. Mattel has updated some of these. The new "Plstigoop" works in the old molds and colored glue sticks work in the car factory.Posted by gizmonic on November 14, 2009 at 13:12:03 Pacific Time
- Forgot a few important ones!
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Great article on make and play toys from the 60s / 70s.
You forgot to mention the "inbetween" toy that Mattel made called the Vacu-Maker. It was a combo of the Vacu-form and the Thingmaker. It had an exclusive mold you could make rubber goop turtle and beetle bodies and then you would make the hard plastic shells using the Vacu-form part.
Also - you left out the whole entire line of mold making toys Topper toys made to compete with Mattel. There was Motorized Monster makers & Cars molding for the boys and Rings and Things Jewelry making for the girls.
Thanks again for the great article!!
Posted by dr_tongues_toys on November 12, 2009 at 21:36:06 Pacific Time
- Forgot a few important ones!
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Yeah, those are good ones. I couldn't include all of the knock-offs and variations so I focused on the the original versions. Maybe I can do a follow up article on some more cool "maker" toys. Ever see the ToyMax metal caster? Very cool--uses a special low melting temp alloy with silicon rubber molds. Makes real die cast metal trinkets, all inside a clear safety enclosure.
I worked in the R&D department at Mattel in the 70s. There were some insanely great maker toy ideas back then: a kid version of a spot welder, a pressure former that used the explosive power of toy caps, etc. Some things were best left in the lab! -BKPosted by neotoybob on November 16, 2009 at 09:10:38 Pacific Time
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