Thursday, February 25, 2010

Spirograph Glassware

Spotted at a thrift store, these vintage glass trays with atomic designs which resemble Spirograph geometric drawings.

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Monday, January 18, 2010

Little Van Goes

I wrote about my new-to-me Little Van Goes.

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Saturday, January 16, 2010

Flintstones Draw Rings

Spotted this "Draw Rings" set at the thrift store today. I didn't buy them, so if you can't find them on eBay -- and you need them -- ping me and maybe I can go get them for you. That's what pickers do; they find the stuff other people want.

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Professor Fliggins Vampire Pants


From Shawnimals.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Mixed Vegetables Message

Proof that the Jolly Green Giant knew that Little Sprout was skipping his vegetables:

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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Before Frosted Flakes...

Young Tony the Tiger just liked milk.



Clarolyte rubber squeaky toy by Alan Jay; from my vintage rubber toy collection.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Squeaky Peep Toe Hobo

Find out why my hobo is a wealthy bum

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Consult the Educated Monkey!

Not only does this monkey dress nicely, wearing a fine suit and bowtie -- and I don't even know how to tie a bowtie! -- the simian below is also capable of complex multiplication problems (video here):
Man, nothing's worse than being show up by a monkey. Hey, let's see him figure out square roots, because I -- wait, I can't do that, either...darn you, educated monkey!

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Friday, February 6, 2009

Revenge On The Clowns

Spotted in a local antique shop, an old tin or metal clown toy with a metal rod through his nose, holding his hat 'up'.

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Monday, January 26, 2009

I Can Haz Cheeze Pleaze?

A vintage rubber squeaky mouse from DeadlyVintageSweets.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Seahorses Do Not Have Legs

But are there sea-zebras?



Leila Hyams & zebra sans gams at the beach, via Flickr.

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Thursday, December 4, 2008

Utterly Knitable

Running out of Christmas gift ideas? Don't have a cow -- knit a cow!

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Rosie The Riveter, More Than A Hill Of Beans

At the museum conference last week, I had a chance to meet the Famous Be'an Collectibles. Yes, I hugged the beanie version of Rosie the Riveter. But the saleslady made me give her back.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Your Homework

From Making Words Work, 1942, a "Thinking about the picture" assignment:


HELLO, JACK!

Thinking about the picture
Is Jack having a good time? How can you tell? What is he doing?
What kind of boy do you think he is? What kind of day is it?

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Monday, August 25, 2008

What Could Be Bedda Than Hedda?

Hedda Get Bedda, one of the American Character Whimsie series dolls made in 1961, is a three-faced doll.



You turn the knob on the top of her non-removable bonnet to see all the faces/phases of her disease.

Three Faces Of Hedda Get Bedda Doll


Creepy, ey? This doll would send my sister into deep psychological scare.

According to DollInfo.com, these dolls were marketed to the pre-teens and teenagers who were getting "too old for baby dolls".

If anyone can move past the two-faced to the three-faced, it's pre-teen and teenage girls.

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Of Pink Elephants That Roll Through Your Life

I found this pink elephant at a thrift store this weekend -- and it reminded me of the real pink elephants in collecting.


And yes, Jolly Jumbo (circa 1961) is for sale. (The glass "marble" wheels aren't the only way this pink elephant is movin' on through...) But you don't have to buy mine; someone else has one like it listed on eBay. Maybe you'll score.

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Have A Ball

Kick a kitten.


Wal-Mart wants you to.

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Story Of The Bear Hug Wiggler; Or Why I'm Not Allowed To Go Out Of The House Alone

We went to BK the other night, hubby, middle girl and I. The kids' toys are Crayola toys. Inside the toy's packaging they always have the insert with all the other toys, so kids whine to come back for more. I looked at it and was intrigued by the "Bear Hug" Wiggler.

I have a thing for bears, and a natural human disposition to laziness, so I wondered, is this thing a bear you put a crayon into and when you wind it up, it draws for you? If so, I need one.

There was no explanation or description on the insert, so I went to the counter to ask the pimply-faced boy standing there. Our interaction was brief and went like this:

Me: "Hi, can you show me the bear wiggler?"

Him: "Huh?"

Me: "Can I see your bear wiggler?"

Him: *blank stare*

Me: "Your bear wiggler -- the Crayola toy."

Him: *digging blindly beneath the counter in what I can only assume is a bin of kids' meal toys -- occasionally looking into the assumed box then back at me*

Me: *waiting hopefully*

Him: "I have no idea what that is. I have no idea what that is."

Me: "Uh, OK, thanks anyway."

I walk to the door to meet the waiting family, whereupon my hubby, sardonic eyebrow raised, says, "Probably not appropriate to ask a guy to show him his 'bare wiggler' in public."

Doh!

All that, and I still don't know what a "Bear Hug" Wiggler is.

But I'm pretty sure I still want one. Now I have a great cougar story to with it.

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Not Playing With A Full Deck Myself...

In an old coffee can of toy parts I found these vintage slide puzzle pieces of cowboys & Indians.



I know pieces are missing; but I'll keep looking. One day, I might just find 'em.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Last Message, Toy Printing Press

Below is the final message found typeset on a toy printing press I bought recently:



"PLANS FOR BOMBING MISSION WILL BE CARRIED OUT AT 1100.

UFO SIGHTED RED ALERT IS WHAT WAS SAID IN AN AIRFORCE"...

The message ends there, because the last half of what had been set up is no longer attached to the press, and has been lost to history. If only we knew more about the UFO sighting before the alien invasion, things may have turned out differently...

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Saturday, July 12, 2008

Art From The Stuff In The Bottom Of The Toy Box


Indecent Exposure is a series of 3 vintage flashbulb head dolls by Artsy, at Etsy.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Goodman Action Figures

Found this at Lost At E Minor, where Gerry Mak says, "The Big Lebowski is probably one of the most beloved films of our generation, so the soon to be released Dude action figure should be an insanely hot item."



I've never seen The Big Lebowski; so maybe I'm un-cool. But who doesn't want a John Goodman action figure?

Personally, I've always wanted Roseanne action figures. I'd totally love to play with the Connor family. I double-dog-dare you to say you wouldn't either.

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Modern Woman Mondays: Still Not A Suzy Homemaker

I'll admit I've been more than a bit smitten with Suzy Homemaker ever since I found out she wasn't just some phrase my mom made up; so when I spotted the oven at a trip to the thrift shop this weekend, I was very tempted.


The $39.99 price tag removed the possibility.

But still, I am going to have to get one so that one of these days I can fire it up and see how it compares to the Easy-Bake Oven. For science, you know.

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Retro Flinstones Toy

We saw this at an auction and when the guy behind us won, I asked him if I could snap a few quick pics. I keep wanting to call it Dino, but Dino was a pet, not the working crane.


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Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Un-Charmkins Episode

In 1983, Geraldine Ferraro was poised to run as the nation's VP, and Sunbow Entertainment, Marvel Productions, released one episode of The Charmkins, based on the Hasbro toys.



Like Humpty Dumpty, all the king-sized voice talent couldn't hold the cartoon together.

Ben Vereen (Dragonweed), Aileen Quinn (Brown-Eyed Susan), Sally Struthers (Poison Ivy), Ivy Austin (Skunkweed), Martin Bierbach (Willie Winkle), Lynne Lambert (Lady Slipper), Chris Murney (Bramble Brother, Briarpatch, Crocus), Bob Kaliban (Bramble Brother), Gary Yudman (Thorny), Peter Wardren (Popcorn), Freddi Webber (Blossom), Patience Jarvis (Announcer), Tina Capland (Announcer), Helen Leonhart (Vocalist), Jamie Murphy (Vocalist), Helen Miles (Vocalist).

While the Charmkins only had one episode on TV, I recently had my own Charmkins episode. It resulted in a headache so fierce, that I'm selling the smelly jewelry playmates. If you want 'em, they're cheap.

Advil is extra.




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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Bedtime with Blackout and Jocko

I go to sleep.
Blackout and Jocko go to sleep with me.


If you removed just a few words, it would tell a very different story.

From a vintage children's book; via Flickr.

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

I've Got A Squirrel Loose; Or, My Heaven Is Missing A Squirrel

I'm smitten with AT&T's Valentine's Day ad -- not so much for the phones (I don't even think we get that service here, bastards), but as we all know, I'm a sucker for a puppet show. I partially married hubby for his puppet skills, and if that makes him The Puppet Master and myself the puppet, well, I can live with that.

In the commercial a red boy mouse finger puppet hits on a blue girl squirrel finger puppet:
Mouse: You know what I think?
Squirrel: What?
Mouse: Heaven must be missing a squirrel.
Ms Squirrel laughs, but you know she falls for it. Just as I have.



AT&T needs to sell me these finger puppets.

Seriously.

Are you listening, AT&T? I don't want an iPhone. Especially as I don't have service for it here. But even if I could, I'd still want those adorable finger puppets more.

I guess this whole post makes me AT&T's puppet, posting their ad like that... Unless they make me the puppets. Then I am The Puppet Master.

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Monday, January 28, 2008

(Kinda) Mute Monday: Collections

The point of Mute Mondays is to only post images -- I know that. But as a meme, there's no screening process, and so people like me can come along and resist the muzzle. I had to -- today's theme is "collection/collections" and like, duh, that's 'me' to a 'T'.

You know, since I ramble about, & link to, writing at Collectors' Quest, I figured you all knew that hubby and I are columnists there -- but it has been brought to my attention that you did not. So I'm guessing you don't know about the CQ community either... For free you can make a profile, promote your blog, and (the most delicious part) show off your wacky/obscure/unique/valuable collection (or collections) to other nut-jobs collector. That's where all the following images come from...

Kitschy Animal Figurines With Bow Ties '50s and '60s Pop Culture Collection Cephalopodia Physics Experimental Equipment Prehistoric Post Cards Stuffed Birds Spiderman Collector Toys My Teacups paperbacks MISC. STAR WARS (OTHER COLLECTIBLES) awesome records Nerfuls

And my favorite: Ninocollects

(No, he's not mine -- but how adorable is that photo?)

If When you join, be sure to hook-up with me, poptart so I can see your stuff!

To see more (silent) collection Mute Mondays go here. If you're playing, use the widget & leave your link!

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Friday, December 28, 2007

Big Mike's Service Station

Big Mike toys from an old Wards catalog featuring neato lithographed steel service stations.

You might find more in the More Boys' Toys of the Fifties and Sixties: Toy Pages from the Great Montgomery Wards Christmas Catalogs, 1950-1969.

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Thursday, December 27, 2007

13 Toys That Made Noise In The 60's


Thirteen Things That Made Noise in Wards Catalog in the late 60's

Pierre Poodle is a 6-transistor radio, with the controls on his tummy:


Big Plush Talkers are stuffed animals with chatty rings & talking strings. There's Bugs Bunny; Sniffy the Skunk who talks and smells like mint; and Montana Mouse, who, while "shocking pink" is "dressed like a real frontier hero" and "talks with a Western twang" as he shares "10 secrets".


There are several talking circus toys here, Larry the Lion, Patootie the clown, and my favorite, Chester O' Chimp who says, "I speak English, can't you talk Monkey?"

Hey! Hey! They're the Monkees! (And they "talk to each other just like on TV!)

These talking hand puppets feature pull strings so that each chats up a storm. There is Tom the cat with Jerry the mouse in his hand, King Kong, and Bugs Bunny.


This one is abso-frickin-lutely my favorite. Her name is Scooba-Doo, and she says, "I'm Scooba-Doo. Come on, let's get with it!" because she's a "member of the swinging generation" -- which may explain her "striped mini-dress and mod necklace", but should she really say, "Dig my crazy black stockings!" -- really? Me thinketh someone wasn't as hip as they thought daddy-o.


Not only does the dressed in red Baby Secret doll say, "Hold me close and whisper!" but they stress that her lips move and that she can be put in any baby-like position. (My mind is seriously in the gutter.)


"Nobody can out talk us!" Danny O'Day ventriloquist dummy comes with a record by Jimmy Nelson to teach you "instant ventriloquism". Rowlf Muppet is just a puppet. And while both require your own voice, I had to show them off here too. Consider them, numbers 14 &15, as a bonus. *wink*





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