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Toys and Games
Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Aug, 1951
Posted in: Toys and Games
Tags: ,
Posted: 02/08/2012
1 Comment
models to order (Aug, 1951)

models to order

Just dream up a gadget and the Slonim brothers will make you a model. They’ve already sold over 10 million miniatures to the U.S. armed forces.

By Harry Kursh

TWO brothers were responsible for the greatest combined Army-Navy catastrophe in America’s wartime history. In one day, two U.S. Navy submarines and their supply ship were mistakenly bombed and destroyed by a flight of B-25′s. Not far away, a squadron of Navy TBF’s was obliterated by a shattering volley from anti-aircraft guns.

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Feb, 1959
Posted in: Toys and Games, Trains
Tags:
Posted: 01/30/2012
5 Comments
Portland’s Zoo Railway (Feb, 1959)

Looks like this train, plus two others are still going strong at the Portland Zoo.

Portland’s Zoo Railway

HAPPY tots and smiling adults ride around the new $3,859,000 Portland, Ore., zoo on America’s latest railway—the Portland Zoo Railroad Co. The rocket-styled, Diesel-powered Zooliner hauls three gleaming Skydome coaches and a luxurious club car which tote 99 adults or 132 kids. The pike is headed by famed Pacific Northwest author and historian, Stewart H. Holbrook, Chairman of the Board, and John H. Jones, President. All aboard!

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Jul, 1956
Posted in: DIY, Toys and Games
Tags: ,
Posted: 01/27/2012
1 Comment
SCAMPER (Jul, 1956)

SCAMPER

Using an air propeller, this model zips along at 40 mph as a car and does 20 as a ski-equipped boat.

By Paul Del Gatto

BUILT as a car, this model is a supercharged bundle of energy. Free-running, it surges forward as if shot from a cannon and tops 40 mph. Most people won’t have the space to let it go and will have to use a tether. Even at that, it will do better than 35.

Personally, our favorite version is the one featuring the hydro-ski arrangement. Though not as fast as the car, 20 mph is still very high for a boat of this size. Yet it isn’t the speed that impresses us so much as the sight of this unusual water bug rising up on the skis. The air prop lends to the fascination by creating the illusion of some weird form of aircraft skimming across the water. Of course you may experience a somewhat different type of reaction, but one thing is certain: no matter which version you try, you will enjoy it every bit as much as we did.

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Modern Mechanix
Issue: Mar, 1932
Posted in: Toys and Games
Posted: 01/24/2012
3 Comments
Inflation Hits Toy Balloon Market (Mar, 1932)

Inflation Hits Toy Balloon Market

IN SPITE of the depression toy balloons have continued to go up, but this can no doubt be laid to an inflation of the stock.

This cat, 12-1/2 feet high, is one of the many inflated comic figure balloons built for the use of parades, department store displays, carnivals, or what have you.

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Modern Mechanix
Issue: Feb, 1930
Posted in: Aviation, Toys and Games
Posted: 01/23/2012
2 Comments
Toy Air Limousine Has One Hundred Fifty Rubber Band Prop Power (Feb, 1930)

Toy Air Limousine Has One Hundred Fifty Rubber Band Prop Power
A TOY produced by a western manufacturer is guaranteed to fly several hundred feet. It is equipped with 150 rubber band propeller power, and has a steering wheel, gauges, levers, in fact about everything that is found on a regular machine. The windows are of celluloid and the passenger department is luxuriously upholstered.

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Dec, 1952
Posted in: DIY, Toys and Games
Posted: 01/13/2012
9 Comments
Intergalactic Space Control Panel (Dec, 1952)

Intergalactic Space Control Panel

A fascinating, safe, electrical toy for junior space travelers.

By Robert Brightman

“GEE, Bob, when are you ever going to finish that control panel for me?” When your youngster starts off on a tack like this and keeps it up for a few weeks there is only one way to keep peace in the family. And that is to finish the job. The control panel as it is called by my son and all his friends is one of the most fascinating toys a father can make for his boy. Essentially it consists of a six-volt transformer, a series of toggle switches and miscellaneous lights, bells, buzzers and meters.

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Jul, 1952
Posted in: Toys and Games
Posted: 12/30/2011
No Comments
Fold-Away Playhouse (Jul, 1952)

Fold-Away Playhouse

Long-wearing, water-resistant playhouse in cottage or ranch house style can be folded quickly into storable. portable package. It will not crack or peel, can be cleaned with damp cloth. It stands 5-1/2 feet high, and has a roll-up door. The house is made of Vinylite plastic and has wooden frame for holding it extended. Doughboy Industries, Inc., New Richmond. Wis.

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Feb, 1959
Posted in: Origins, Toys and Games
Tags:
Posted: 12/27/2011
1 Comment
HE MAKES DOUGH FROM DOUGH (Feb, 1959)

HE MAKES DOUGH FROM DOUGH

By Roger Fuller

PLAY-DOH is that mildly-scented modeling stuff your kid works into demented shapes, then shouts “Daddy! Look!” It comes in colors and your little Leonardo can blend the putty-like dough to his heart’s content. The guy who makes the stuff has kids, too, and they can play with platinum yo-yos now, if Daddy wants them to. Play-Doh was originally a wallpaper cleaner young Joe McVicker inherited, with built-in headaches.

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Modern Mechanix
Issue: Dec, 1936
Posted in: Toys and Games
Tags: ,
Posted: 12/21/2011
6 Comments
More Christmas Suggestions (Dec, 1936)

Apparently typewriters were the must-have gift that season. They make up three out of 13 suggestions.

More Christmas Suggestions

For the junior scientist what would be more appropriate than this photo electric eye apparatus. Motors can be made to run by waving your arm, burglar alarms installed without wiring and music can be produced from varying light beams.

Any member of the family will appreciate a flashlight. This model features a chrome case and a positive contact thumb switch.

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Modern Mechanix
Issue: Dec, 1936
Posted in: Toys and Games
Tags: ,
Posted: 12/21/2011
No Comments
Christmas Suggestions (Dec, 1936)

Also take a look at More Christmas Suggestions from the same issue.

Christmas Suggestions

For the amateur scientist this Micro-photography outfit is the ideal gift. Permanent records of all experiments can be kept on photographic prints. The microscope and the camera can be used independently.

Cellulose wrappings add much to the appearance of gifts. At right are examples of what attractive wrapping will do. Below—This toy airplane will thrill any youth who receives it. Plane performs like a real ship.

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