Author: dbmiller

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.

Playskool / 1983 / Owner’s Manual PDF

I had one of these.  I loved the big red button on the top.

Tandy/Radio Shack / 1984 / Owner’s Manual PDF

I had one of these and loved it.  Recently I bought two on eBay because, yes, I “missed” it.  The construction is absolutely amazing – essentially a single motor runs a convoluted path of gears that changes as the user manipulates the joysticks.

Mego Toy / 1978 / Owner’s Manual PDF

I didn’t have one of these but played with it at my friend’s house.  I remember it had an 8-track tape.

Tomy / mid-1980s / Owner’s Manual PDF

I had one of these and loved it.  It used an audio cassette to record and then play back movement instructions and audio.  It has a remote control that operated its movements and also allowed the user to speak through it, which lit up the lights based on sound volume.  The arms were poseable and could hold cups, pencils, or a tray.