what was your favourite old toys as a child? do any of you girls remember chatty cathy,tippy tumbles or katie copycat or pippa dolls? my brothers had a wind up evil kneivel (however its spelt) a steer n go game they also had a little smokin monkey the smell was awful but it was good how it worked.we also had a whip n top and some clackers (i can still remember all the bruised wrist from those). as a teenager i loved my music and had a portable fidelity record player with a shut down lid.you could stack about half a dozen records on at once n they'd drop down one by one.i also had a solid state radio that you hung on your wrist and i used to listen to radio luxenburg in bed at night.

toys i had are
SPACE HOPPER
ETCH A SKETCH
ACTION MAN
SUBBUTTEO
EVIL KENEVIL
im sure theres some more i used to like:clap: :| :clap: :clap:

tippy tumbles over and over------


when i was young it was sindy and tressie dolls. you turned something and her hair grew.

I had a Johnny Seven gun.

Well whisper, I don't usually admit to owning dolls, but remember Dancing Pippa? You waggled her arm and her head turned, and her leg moved.

Big track
One of those radio controlled cars that used to be on a wire.

I remember the smoking monkey's, they used to blow smoke rings..

I quite liked the smell of them??????

Does anyone remember that vampire board game in 1980's?

If you lost... you had 2 put your finger in the vampire's mouth for it to bit your finger! lol

Angel x

Action Man, Subbuteo [I had the Blades and Owls teams, and oddly enough, the Blades nearly always won...], various lethal looking guns and rifles, and my favourites Britain's toy soldiers.

i had a clockwork train,lead soldiers,a gas mask,tin helmet,pen knives,daisy pellet gun,marbles a fort and a pet dog...in the winter we would have tin cans with holes in the sides and wire handles which we would fill with burning coal to keep us warm while we were sledging down pit lane

Hi depoix

I remember the tin can with red hot coals in. We called it a winter warmer. Didn't we swing them round so the wind would keep the coal alight. I had a tin lid with a jagged edge with 2 holes put in the middle and string handles so when the string was swung and twisted we had a mini circular saw that could cut thro anything. We had metal toys and on the reverse side were brand names like oxo obviously made out of old tins.
I had a whip and top and would spin it on the black patch, the place where the bomb dropped in the war and the rd was repaired. It was much smoother than the other part. If I didn't have a top I would spin a tizer cork!
Hazel

My nephew in England gave me his action men when my son was born over 30 years ago, i saved them and gave them back to him when his children were born, great toys, and lots of lovely outfits to go with them

Mine was an old ATS doll, think it was called that, it was a big soft doll, a girl dressed in army uniform, would be worth some money now if I still had it.

I used to like `Top's, my first top was a "peggy top" about three inch high with coloured stripes round it.
My next top was even better " the Bulldog Top" it was fatter and heavier with grooves turned into the sides so the leather thong of the whip could get a better grip, Oh yes "the whip" it was the most important part , we used to wrap the the thong of the whip several times around the top...and then with a deft flick we would throw the top to the ground.. as the thong unwound the top would revolve at high speed...while it was spinning a "top topper expert" would continue to whip the top to keep it spinning for as long as possible.
Another similar toy was the Diabalo but I never had one.

re hazel.wasnt the whip made from a leather boot lace ? and tizer tops did work great especially if you put a drawing pin in the base for it to spin on.we didnt have the saw thing though..

i also had a bus conductors hat and a ticket machine.i think real tickets came out of it.

hi trekker ive just spotted this on e-bay .pity you haven't still got yours http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=720&item=5924510958&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Hi

My dad did the saws out of nestles milk tin's tops. Jagged from the opener. pretty lethal they were.
Can't remembrer the improvement of the drawing pin tho
I think the leather thongs werea bit expensive, think I had a piece of cloth that used to wear out, but I remember wrapping it round the top and throwing it.
hazel

Just thought of another one, one i begged for for ages, finely got a toy cash register, it was red plastic, bell went off when the drawer opend up, i never got tired of this toy. That must have been over 50 years ago, they havent changed much over the years.

Originally posted by Strix
Well whisper, I don't usually admit to owning dolls, but remember Dancing Pippa? You waggled her arm and her head turned, and her leg moved.

Surely that's describing a real girl?

A quick scat at some of your previous postings is starting to build a picture of you, wallbuilder :wave:.
Are these emotional walls you're building :suspect: ?

But the best toy ever was Lego! (A new toy every day) Problem was, you'd spend all afternoon building something you were ded proud of, so it had to sit on show for at least a month, and in the mean time you had to find something else to play with! :(

I watched an episode of 'Children's antiques roadshow'. Got the distinct feeling I'd made a terrible mistake as a youngster concerning a hammer and my yellow Beatles submarine
Boo Hoo Hoo

Originally posted by Strix
But the best toy ever was Lego! (A new toy every day) Problem was, you'd spend all afternoon building something you were ded proud of, so it had to sit on show for at least a month, and in the mean time you had to find something else to play with! :(

I once built a house for my woodlice, problem is i left ventilation holes so he could breathe, Dohh!:huh:

Hi Strix,
Guys are all putting up walls, it's the only way to cope with the emotional battering we rreceive from the faireer sex. I'm sat clutching my three foot cuddly Sylvester pussycat as I speak

Originally posted by WALLBUILDER
Hi Strix,
Guys are all putting up walls, it's the only way to cope with the emotional battering we rreceive from the faireer sex. I'm sat clutching my three foot cuddly Sylvester pussycat as I speak

Is Max off out on his own tonight? Some best friend he is :roll:

I wish,
Max is laid out snoring loudly, after all he's had an exhausting day, an amble this morning, an amble this afternoon and this evening he's chewed one of his favorite toys into bits, squeaky yellow teddy R.I.P.

I like the way you brought that back onto topic!
Poor little squeaky yellow teddy :cry:

Apparently my favorite toy as a very small child and I emphasise small [young] child was a stuffed dog thing that ran on wheels, it was big enough for a small child to sit on and then there was a handle so you could be pushed along. The embarassment of those old pics, now carefully hidden at the back of my deepest cupboard.
My favorite toy as a young teen was a thing shaped like a rugby ball that travelled along two lengths of string, very odd toy but brilliant for hurting your little sister with, Oh what was it called?

Action Man.My Mum bought it for me when I was in King Edwards Hospital in 1967.I used to tie crepe bandage around his waist & through him over the curtain rails & pull myself around the ward.Also my other toys ,were Batman car Man FRom Uncle Gun & Thunderbird 2 with Thunderbird 4.

I remember my early 50's red pedal car. Made of tin, large boot for storage......tool kit consisting of plastic saw, hammer and lump of wood(?).............and based on an Austin A50 I think. Just room for me and a teddy. No brakes, so the post box at the end of our road came in handy!! Endless hours trying to prize feet out of pedals, which were no more than bent steel rods.

Never could ride it uphill. :(

Simon, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong.... Do these count as toys? I'm just a child of the 70's/80's!

And as a special treat, for Christmas and Birthdays..... Post Office sets/Shop!!

Originally posted by Trekker
I had a Johnny Seven gun.

I hate you Trekker, I always wanted a very politicaly inccorect "Johnny seven gun" in fact I nearly bought one on Ebay. I think they were asking £50 .Sad isn't it :(

Originally posted by whisper
hi trekker ive just spotted this on e-bay .pity you haven't still got yours http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=720&item=5924510958&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Strange to think that a Toy like that should become a collecters item Whisper.

The cheapest and best toy I have had was a stick and rim.

I must have spent hours running about with it, making it spin and return, racing the other kids on the street.

My Dad made all sorts of wood toys but the old rim with the stick was always my favourite.

You must all think I was crackers but I wasn't the only kid who played with one.

Happy days!

This stick and rim business. It's not a big hoop that you rolled along, as fast as you could, whilst running along side with the aid of a stick is it?

If so, I had one. Managed to keep it going, continuously, for six miles once.

Stopped for a rest and some bugger nicked it! Had to WALK all the way back home.

Whip and top and what about those Aerobie Frisbee's?

Great Stuff Markham!

We had a yard brush which gave outstanding service for forty years

In all that time we only had to replace the head 5 times and the stale three times.

Happy Days!

spirograph, cindy, and kerplunk
But I loved my brothers scalectric best

Any of you build 'trolleys'? I think the posh people called them soab box cars. Usually made from old pram wheels, couple pieces of timber and an old wooden crate.

We used to live in Crookesmoor so we had plenty of downhill power.

Do kids still take the risks and chances we took back then? .......
Once we joined all the 'vehicles' together, somehow got some old sheets as a 'roof' and pretended we were on a Wagon Train (popular TV series at the time) - trouble was the bloody thing was so heavy we ended up doing god knows what speed down Crookesmoor Road until the driver had the courage to turn the front wheels so we shot down a side street and rolled over - all had cuts bruises etc. but to this day, 40 years later, I still remember the laughter from about 10 kids who were very lucky to be alive.

Sledges? (Toboggans) - during the winter of 62-63 (I think) it seemed like the snow was on the ground for ever ( it was weeks ) We all had home made sledges apart from one or two who had bought ones from redgates - if I remember they actually had front runners that moved so you could turn faster.

We spent every night on Crookes Valley recreation ground (The Tip) now the Ponderosa - until it was very dark and parents came shouting for us.

Other toys - yes I was one of the lucky ones who had a Johnny Seven - trouble was I had been pestering my folks for at least a couple of Christmases so when I finally got it I was perhaps a little too old for it - but still was an amazing thing - I think my best toy looking back. We got it from a toy shop in Castle Market on Waingate - I spent weeks before Christmas going down there and ogling it and the other cool toys. Now I think about it i could only have been nine or ten - and I was walking into town on my own or with another couple of mates - would that be safe now?

Hornby Dublo Train set when i was five - three rail 'Duchess of Montrose' - (not sure if this was not for my Dad!!) - after all thee years - I still have that, wrapped away and boxed in my garage - I understand a collectors item now - but the only thing remaining from my childhood and will pass to my kids (both girls so don't know what they will do with it)

My friend had a 'Minic Motorway' which was a cool slot car system, but instead of racing cars ala Scalextric, were minature road cars.

Keil Craft - model planes - balsa wood and rubber bands and the dope?????@@>:'l.;l - cool odurs (those who know what I am talking about know what I mean)

Airfix Kits from Woolworths - small kits in bags with pocket money - big kits in boxes for Christmas

Another brand of platic kit that did not need glue, all the bits snapped together - they came with an electric motor and when finshed made a car or boat or something.

Going down to the tip to watch the 'big boys' fly their control line planes

Yes,
you were right docmel,
the snow of 62 lasted from New Years eve until Apil and never lleft the ground. I had my first baby that winter and remember pushing the pram over frozen pavemants..

Hazel

i have my old whip and top its decorated on the top too,very posh:) ,my grandchilden have also had a go at walking on tin cans with string through:D

Golly Wog, wish i had one now, do they still sell them ?

I had a black doll I called Topsy, She had gold earings and a red turban and i loved her dearly. i can see her now

Originally posted by docmel
Any of you build 'trolleys'? I think the posh people called them soab box cars. Usually made from old pram wheels, couple pieces of timber and an old wooden crate.

We used to live in Crookesmoor so we had plenty of downhill power.

Go-kartsmade with a set of old pram wheels and bits of wood great fun. We lived on Carter Knowle Road and would start at the bottom of Montrose road and speed down in the middle of the road, I hate to imagine what sort of speed we'd of been doing when we reached Bannerdale road but it seemed very fast. The only problem then was that our house was a further fifty yards on and we somehow had to do a right angled turn on to the drive way. I can still remember one kart we had was made out of an old blanket shest and as we turned and it tipped over as they often did I was trapped inside it. Then in the distance I heard a car approaching, mother was not pleased that day.

yes youve brought back memories.
Ihad a black doll i called lulu, a doll with long dark red hair i called sabrina.
havent thought about them for years until now, isnt it funny how you create little characters out of dolls.
gosh this all sounds really weird did we really do that.

When I was Two years old in 1941,I recieved a birthday present from my Mum and Dad, it was a large wooden rocking Micky Mouse, I believe it was made by a family friend... as I grew older it was passed on down through the family and on to other kids to enjoy. In 1968 I was visiting the Childrens Hostpital (the one near Western Park) and I was suprised to see my Micky Mouse in the play area..I often wonder where it is now, it must be a rare Item.

Yes! model planes made from balsa and tissue paper, great, the smell of dope and balsa cement, oh happy days, and of course, Meccano sets, the best creative toy ever invented for boys.

Did'nt anybody ride on a metal roller skate with a book on top to sit on?

I had 2 and roller skated on them

before lego I remember saving up for a betta builder set,this came with a base and metal rods,that you slotted individual building bricks down in between the rods to build houses.We use to save money,at the local newsagents,in a savings club,then when you saw what you wanted if you had saved enough you blew the lot,and started to save again!There was also a savings club for fireworks,and christmas clubs.I also remember toy sweet shops,and post offices,telephone exchanges,the first typewriter,had a knob with letters on,and you turned it round to the right letter,then pressed a space bar to type,it took ages to type a letter.christmases were very good in the old days,you got excited at the thought of waking up to a sack(pillowcase) full of toys,and the tangerine.does anyone remember the torches with the three colours,red,green,and,amber.My sister threw mine at the bedroom wall,because I use to shine it on her when she was asleep,and laugh!Happy days.

Firework Club

We used to save a few pennies each week with the local newsagent for our fireworks.

Come the magic day there would be queue of kids (some with Mums so they could not blow it all on 'Air Bombs') outside the shop - when you got inside there was that magic smell that fireworks gave off.

The spending pattern was always the same....as big a 'Selection Box' you could afford and spend the change on loose fireworks.

Our newsagent used to have a tray which he got from under the counter full of catherine wheels, bangers etc. and we chose from that......

god, the Health & Safety people would do their nut nowadays.

Weeks before (or so it seemed) we built our bonfire on some 'spare' land. Someone was always throwing out an old sofa, so that became base camp. We always had someone there from the gang to protect our stash of wood etc from raiders - mind you, that did not stop us going out on our own hunts for suitable inflammable stuff.

......and we asctually used to light and throw bangers!!! - what were we doing????

Play Dough and its marzipan smell!

sorry i forgot about fuzzy felt and spirographs.

nobody had a cowboy outfit then

Originally posted by wadsley10
nobody had a cowboy outfit then I never had a Cowboy outfit but I made myself a Zorro costume it was a Trilby hat beaten into the Zorro shape a "mask" made out of black felt and a "whip" made from a stick and leather boot laces and a "sword" made frome a garden cane.. I used to keep this outfit in a biscuit tin hidden in the shrubbery in Concord Park...When "Zorrow" was needed..I used to go into the bushes and put on my outfit and then burst out of the shrubbery in full flight, pretending to ride an invisible horse...People used to stand amazed watching me as I rode by..They used to say things like.."Look there goes a pillock".
Its great to be eight years old.

No mention of meccano - unless I've missed it. I had a number 8 set with a few extras. Clockwork motor. Made lorries with 3 speed gearboxes which would go up really steep inclines. Only worked out how to build things with it when I was about 16. I think Dad played with it more than I did. I, too, was a Hornby Dublo fan. Duchess of Montrose, a Standard 2-6-4 tank and an 0-6-2 tank (or was it 0-6-0) What I do know is that it was a hell of a long time ago and I suddenly feel very old.

No mention of meccano - unless I've missed it. I had a number 8 set with a few extras. Clockwork motor. Made lorries with 3 speed gearboxes which would go up really steep inclines. Only worked out how to build things with it when I was about 16. I think Dad played with it more than I did. I, too, was a Hornby Dublo fan. Duchess of Montrose, a Standard 2-6-4 tank and an 0-6-2 tank (or was it 0-6-0) What I do know is that it was a hell of a long time ago and I suddenly feel very old.

I think that this has always been the case with dads and toys mike.I remember my dad buying my brothers a toy railway and my dad was always buying or hand making things for it.
When my girls were little they used to have some beautiful dolls but they were always undressing them then just leaving them like that,so I used to put their clothes back on,I felt sorry for the naked dolls.(how sad?):roll:

I still have the 1st computer game "Frogger" I've had it 30yrs I think if I keep it for 30 more it may be worth something (It still works)

just seen this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-RAVING-BONKERS-FIGHTING-ROBOTS-BY-MARX_W0QQitemZ300088044451QQihZ020QQcategoryZ2662Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) on ebay,brought back memories of the one i had.A few months ago I was in a shop in meadowhall and they were selling Evel Knievel,looked just the same as i remember it.

Wish Id kept my pippa dolls- my dad thought it would be a good idea to give them all away to my distant cousins when they visited us one crimbo - didnt bother to tell me about it til after theyd gone!

Also loved my Raleigh Chopper bike, my space hopper and my Pality Sheena doll. I am a saddo but Ive finally got myself a replacement doll complete with all the accessories and Im rebuilding a chopper bike. Dont think Ill be looking for another spacehopper tho.

"Tipsy tumbles over and over, tipsy tumbles the whole day through,see her flip and over she goes, tipsy tumbles , tumbles for you" ..
I had one of those!!:) :) :)

Does anyone remember that vampire board game in 1980's?

If you lost... you had 2 put your finger in the vampire's mouth for it to bit your finger! lol

Angel x

i had that,i want to bite your finger it was called.also remember major morgan,simon,girls world,crossfire,sindy dolls,tiny tears,spirograph,domino rally,viewfinders.,trick sticks.anyone remember yorkie porkies?was a plasticc thing you put round your ankle with a pig on the end and you had to spin it round and jump over it with your other foot!hoola hoops.

When I was Two years old in 1941,I recieved a birthday present from my Mum and Dad, it was a large wooden rocking Micky Mouse, I believe it was made by a family friend... as I grew older it was passed on down through the family and on to other kids to enjoy. In 1968 I was visiting the Childrens Hostpital (the one near Western Park) and I was suprised to see my Micky Mouse in the play area..I often wonder where it is now, it must be a rare Item.

You brought tears to my eyes with this story Timbuck. I was a patient at the hospital from 1956 to 1966 and remember the mickey mouse which I rode many times. It was there when I visited in 1974 and again in 1982. I don't know if its still there.

apart from the rocking horse ---

I still have my spirograph that someone else mentioned!

Also still have all the dolls, including "Tressy" - 'with hair that grows' - saved all my sixpences to buy that (29 shillings and 6 pence in about 1963).

Did the Lego. Also had a do it yourself garden (can't remember what it was called) - used to buy the litle packets at Coles or Redgates or Saturdays, with my pocket money - there were lawns, garden seats, do it yourself rosebushes and climbing roses, apple trees, and pergolas - all made out of plastic which you pulled out and then assembled!!!

Always went with Dad to buy my 5 pounds of fireworks at Wilson Gumpit (sp?) in Fitzallan Square.

Had an indulgent auntie/god mother who had no children so always seemed to have the latest little toys and entertainment, usually from Redgates, but loved the home made things the best.