Author: dbmiller

Kidco / 1983

I had a few of these, including the Magnum P.I. red Ferrari.

Takara / 1981

I loved these. I remember that they clicked if you pulled them back too far. And they were faster – they usually spun out and I remember hearing the wheels spinning out in the air. And yes, they worked well with pennies.

Nintendo / 1983 / Instruction Manual PDF

I had a few of these, starting with the orange Donkey Kong.

Tonka / 1983 / Instructions PDF

I grew up with these and had several. I had Spay-C in particular and remember how you would rotate the nose cone to reveal the robot’s face. GoBots is a line of transforming robot toys produced by Tonka from 1983 to 1987, similar to Hasbro’s Transformers.

Sony / 1986 / Owner’s Manual PDF

Got this in 1986 for my 13th birthday.  This is model FD-10a.  I remember Sony had a few different versions:

• Silver case
• Bigger screens
• LCD color
• Imprinted with NFL football team helmet logos

Love the fact this commercial showed Jason Alexander (Seinfeld).

This is my collection and I love these.  Many have brought back so many childhood memories

From top row down, left to right:

• Doodletop (blue), Silly Putty, Turntable, Pez (Peter), Little People School Bus, Stretch Armstrong, Yo-yo (blue), Pound Puppies (black)
• Yo-yo (green), Pez (boy), Chatter Telephone, Etch-A-Sketch, Gumby, Sock Puppet, Thomas Minis (black), G.I. Joe
• Mattel Electronics Basketball, Thomas Minis (blue), Hot Wheels (red), Hot Wheels (green), Rock-A-Stack, Yo-yo (red), Magic 8 Ball, Mattel Electronics Football
• Hot Wheels (blue), 1959 Barbie, Mattel Electronics Baseball, Perplexus, Rubik’s Cube, Pez Emoji, Polaroid Camera
• Army Men

Coleco / 1981 / Owner’s Manual PDF

These were great.  Coleco made Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Frogger, Galaxian, Zaxxon, Berzerk, and Space Invaders.  I was reading that Omega Race never made it to production.  Also, they made Gakken Super Puck Monster, which was simply the Japanese version of Pac-Man.

I had Zaxxon – I wasn’t very good at it.  I remember the image being “3D” and projected from the bottom up, off reflective glass at an angle.

I have seen folks recently make “custom” versions modeling this Coleco style and form factor.  Those include Dig Dug, Q*bert, Tempest, and Galaga.

 

Mattel / 1977 / Owner’s Manual PDF

Yes, I had one of these, and I also now have the more recent out-licensed retro version.  Mattel also made Football, Basketball, and Baseball.

Not exactly a toy, but definitely a bit of tech nostalgia.  Back in 2009 analog TV broadcasting ended, and I remember the government sent out $40 credit cards good towards purchasing a digital converter.  I still have mine.

 

But I never forgot that cute old lady who was part of the spoof called “digital conversion for the elderly.”

 

Milton Bradley / 1979 / Owner’s Manual PDF

I used to love playing with this at my friend’s house.  You could pre-program its route.  Loved how the “laser beam” was a flashing light on the front.