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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Feb, 1959
Posted in: Toys and Games, Trains
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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: Entertainment
Tags:
Posted: 01/30/2012
2 Comments
HE TAKES PEOPLE FOR A RIDE (Jul, 1956)

HE TAKES PEOPLE FOR A RIDE

Bill Schmidt keeps them thrilled and safe at Chicago’s Riverview, world’s largest amusement park.

By Stan Holden

EVERY year nearly 2,000,000 persons go to Chicago’s Riverview Park to have fun. One individual, however—a husky six-footer named William B. Schmidt—goes there to have trouble.

It’s part of his job. As vice-president and superintendent of Riverview, Schmidt is ringmaster and chief trouble-shooter of the world’s largest amuse- ment park. He runs 72 acres of neon-lighted, gaily-painted thrill-and-skill attractions valued at approximately $8,-000,000. That adds up to a huge cash investment for the sprawling playland.

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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: Oct, 1930
Posted in: Music
Tags: ,
Posted: 01/26/2012
12 Comments
Music Writing Device Records Notes Played on Piano (Oct, 1930)

Music Writing Device Records Notes Played on Piano

IF STRAY melodies are always running through your mind and you are averse to setting them down on music paper at the moment of your inspiration, you will find this music writing piano, shown with its inventor, at the right, Dr. Moritz Stoehr, a great help in recording the tunes and keeping them in memory for publication.

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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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Science And Mechanics
Issue: Dec, 1961
Posted in: Automotive, Television
Posted: 01/17/2012
3 Comments
TV’s Sheet-Metal Heroes (Dec, 1961)

TV’s Sheet-Metal Heroes

Here’s how Grandpa’s Pierce-Arrow might end up on television, co-starring with Bob Stack

By JACK B. KEMMERER

“I’M a co-star with a bunch of old cars,” moans Bob Stack, I relaxing between takes on the studio set of The Untouch- ables. “And if you don’t believe it, take a look at the fan mail. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get more mail than the rest of us put together.”

The Untouchables, ABC-TV’s tale of gangsters and government men in the ’30s, quickly skyrocketed to high popularity in the United States soon after its first appearance on the TV screen. And cars on the program share fan appeal with the human cast.

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Modern Mechanix
Issue: Feb, 1930
Posted in: Origins, Television
Posted: 01/17/2012
3 Comments
Pioneer Inventor Is Conducting a Radio Movie Station (Feb, 1930)

M0re information on the good Dr and his inventions may be found here.

Pioneer Inventor Is Conducting a Radio Movie Station

DR. C. FRANCIS JENKINS, noted Washington scientist and pioneer in the field of radio vision, is now conducting a new high powered transmitting station near Washington, for the broadcasting of motion pictures by radio. Opening of his station was preceded by broadcasts from his laboratory for several months. The station was originally assigned to operate on a frequency of 2850 kilocycles with a power of 1.5 kilowatts. Dr. Jenkins has developed an instrument which changes the lights and shadows of the motion picture film into electrical impulses which operate the radio transmitter. The broadcasting equipment which is decidedly intricate includes a photo electric cell and a series of lenses for focussing.

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Mechanix Illustrated
Issue: Oct, 1956
Posted in: Music
Tags: , ,
Posted: 01/17/2012
No Comments
Herb Shriner’s “INDIANA PIANO” (Oct, 1956)

Herb Shriner’s “INDIANA PIANO”

The Hoosier Boy’s harmonica was born in ancient China.

SOONER or later every boy falls under the spell of a shiny new harmonica and a “new easy method” of learning to play it. Years ago it happened to an Indiana boy named Shriner. Now a new generation of boys is yearn- ing for a Herb Shriner Hoosier Boy DeLuxe ($2.49) or for a Herb Shriner Regular ($1.98). Both come with Herb Shriner’s new easy method outlined in cartoon form.

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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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  • Toronto: PS: Grampa died in 1972, by the way. So he puffed his way to 78 or so. Granny made it to 96: drinking and smoking... ` – May 17, 6:49 PM
  • Toronto: I think one of my grandfathers was 73 in 1967, and he smoked like crazy (he was a locomotive engineer, so probably inhaled a lot... ` – May 17, 6:43 PM
  • Toronto: @Stephen - I've had several of those inflatables. They used to be a popular "swag" at trade shows. The south pacific ocean apparently has a... ` – May 15, 6:29 PM
  • experiment 626: I thought The US stopped production of rubber consumer goods such as this by the time this was printed I thought. ` – May 15, 10:18 AM
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