Retro Thing

Special Christmas Lego

Traditions come in a lot of different forms, and one that has endured for many years is the special little LEGO sets that come out as holiday treats. The sets are very small, easily fitting into a stocking, and have that classic LEGO vibe. None of those giant single pieces that replace many smaller ones, no elaborate special bits. Just doing what LEGO does best, letting you and your kids create a joyous cubist landscape.

The set pictured here is from 1989. How it's survived this long without being raided for pieces, I'll never know. The suggested model on the front is great, but the back has some great ideas too... after Santa goes home for Christmas, you can use the same pieces to build an eskimo. Or construct a freight haulin' ship for Santa to use next year if the weather is rough and Rudolph has a runny nose.

related:
Lionel train that ran under many Chicago Christmas trees.
Lego Christmas sets from a few years back

Kenner's Action Cow With Amazing Milking Action

When it's the late 70's, and you're Kenner Toys, you're probably doing pretty well with all that cash from Star Wars figures. So you're feeling bold, you want to try new things. After all, Star Wars was a bit of a gamble... who knows what could be the next epoch making toy. 

Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow, course. It's a toy cow that drinks water from a trough when you pump her tail. Because one of her stomachs is loaded with fake milk tablets, the water turns into  “pretend milk” (imagine cleaning the real thing out of her plastic insides) that you coax from her udders. I'm not the only one who finds this more than a little creepy, right? 

My feeling is that if you're interested in this toy, there's a good chance that you already have access to a cow. Or maybe I'm stereotyping here. Plenty of city kids could learn something from playing with the Resusci-Annie of cows. I also figure that more than a few kids took a taste of the “pretend milk” (which they made a point of mentioning no less than three times in the ad). With the giant success of their Star Wars & other toy lines of the time, perhaps Kenner was in the mood to experiment. With results like these, it was probably best that they waited until the next Star Wars movie. 

If the toy were made by Mattel's Hot Wheels division, perhaps they would have warned “some cows not for use with some sets”...

related:

Barbie's dog eats his own poop
Unfortunately named game: Ballbusters
“High Class” toy watch from gumball machine

Massive, Mesmerizing Toy Car Track

When I saw video of this mesmerizingly beautiful art installation by Chris Burden, I couldn't help but think of the simple orange plastic tracks I used to build as a kid for my Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. Mine weren't labyrinthine cities. They were gravity-fed drag races set off from the seat of a chair.

A couple years ago, I picked up a reproduction of my old track set as a gift to my nephews. (I got suckered in by the retro packaging.) Mattel appears now to only sell track sets involving animals and aliens, though big box stores apparently carry simpler sets. There's also Blu Track, a flexible double track available in absurd lengths (100 feet for $165).

Burden's 1,200-car noise machine, meanwhile, is headed for a long-term loan at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

[thanks, Nick D.]

related:
Slot Car Racing In Brooklyn
Gimp my ride: Hot Wheels manufacturing errors

Sir Sampleton - Your iPhone Can Sing Like A Casio SK-1

I don't usually sling around the word “genius”, but I'm pretty sure that Paul Slocum is one. You might remember his name from the brilliant Atari cartridge he created called Synthcart. Pop this in your 2600 and your 70's game console becomes a playable analog synth. 

His newest project is Sir Sampleton, a project to bring back the fun of sampling random audio to play on a mini keyboard. Paul is an old friend, so I can speak with confidence about his love for the old Casio SK-1. His Sir Sampleton app has that fun lo-fi Casio spirit, and yet it fits in your pocket. It's a very unadorned interface, but the simplicity belies how much cool stuff you can do with it. 

A child will like monkeying with it, just as much as a musician will find it gratifying. At only $3US, it's also quite a bit cheaper than a real Casio these days. Just search for “Sampleton” in the App Store.

Link: 

Softoft Techech homepage

Related: 

Casio SK- in pink
Casio SK-1 in Muppet

A Toy Record Player That Doesn't Need Records

Paging through the Sunday ad circulars recently, I was stunned to see Target selling a brand-new Fisher Price Music Box Record Player. (You can also get it at Urban Outfitters, natch.) Most of today's kids are unlikely to understand the concept of music being purchased on physical media — let alone the concept of vinyl records. Nonetheless, it seemed like a potentially cool gift for someone who doesn't want to go trolling through flea markets or online auction sites for an original.

Alas, today's model is not the analog marvel of the old one. The original had you cranking up the record to play notes on a music box that was crammed into the "tone arm."

The new version requires batteries. The new records don't have the nubs to activate the notes, they have smooth rings around the whole disc. (Target's own product shots actually show both the "old" and "new" style records, confusingly enough. The Christmas toy catalog stuffed in my Sunday paper, however, clearly shows the new style.) A helpful Amazon commenter named iSkyscraper explains why the records look different:

Evidently someone realized that it was far less expensive to use a 25 cent memory chip and a speaker instead of all those mechanical parts (sturdy though they were), so the new player works as follows:

The record head has four pressable buttons which line up with four ridge positions on the discs. Each disc no longer has "bumps" for notes, but instead simply has a combination of four continuous ridges. The memory chip identifies which disc is being played by the ridges depressing the buttons. The wind-up still turns the disc manually, but all it does is tell the speaker to play while turning. ... You don't really need the disc at alls - just wind it up (so the chip knows the music is "on"), and press the buttons under the head with your fingers to activate different songs.

The phrase "you don't really need the disc at all" is what really struck me. This new record player is merely an illusion.

The original Fisher Price Music Box was artificial, sure, but it at least was a sensible abstraction of a real LP. Its modern namesake isn't an abstraction at all. It's a push-button music toy with a slightly more complicated button scheme. It's a record player in which you don't really need the record at all.

Al Flosso: The Magic Of Magic

Somewhere between dinosaurs and astronauts, every boy goes through a magic phase. I did, and the fascination never vanished. Though it took me several years to learn that the fun is more than just the gimmicks and props that come with a Marshall Brodien Magic Kit. It's more about the style and zing of your performance.

Many of us can remember back to getting a magic kit. Did you hungrily devour the secret instructions as eagerly as I did? That's why so many of us know the mechanics of the "disappearing milk" jug, and we understand the secret of the "Chinese Linking Rings". Before you ask; if you don't know these secrets, the magician's code prevents me from telling you! As mysterious as they may be, the props are only a small part of what makes magic fun to watch. Even if you know the secret to a magic trick, it's still a delight to see a really good performance of it. It's like hearing a cover version of a favorite song. It may be the same base material, but what's interesting is how each band reinterprets it. The song can can either be a simple mechanical copy, or a wonderful new creation.

This 1952 clip from "It's Magic" features Al Flosso's hysterical version of "The Miser's Dream", a classic magician's trick. He performed on Coney Island for decades, honing his performance into what you see here. It is so funny, so fast, so amazing, so outside of what you expect to see, that it's easy to forget that you've seen this trick a hundred times before. The gadget lover in me adores the clever mechanics and secret gimmicks that come along with tricks like these, but it's that human touch that makes genuine magic.

link:

learn more about the amazing Al Flosso

"Lost" 1970's Star Wars Toy Commercial From Japan

You may recall a while back when we told about a new project by Super7 to create the first jumbo "Shogun Warrior" type toy in 25 years. The giant figure is a Star Wars stormtrooper, and it's available for order right now. The creators have also crafted a mock TV commercial that looks like it could have easily come from the 1970's. As if we need more persuasion to get one...

Miserable Model M View-Master From The 1980s

I've been a huge fan of View-Master 3D all my life. It wasn't until I was an adult that I discovered the older scenic reels. When View-Master started in 1939, it was originally intended for what we might today refer to as virtual sight seeing. It was decades later in the late 60s that the line morphed into being more of a childrens toy (admirable that the standard for the reels has stood throughout the product's entire lifetime. Any reel will mount into any viewer ever made).

The Model M viewer is from the late 80s and wasn't available for very long. I briefly thought that the Model M might have an advantage over more conventional viewers as the clear back would theoretically let in a lot of light. The transparent plastic is more to inspire the fascination of children as they watch the reel advancing mechanism work. As it turns out, the structure of the internals actually block out some of the image. Makes you wonder how this got off of the drawing board.

The curious shape is actually somewhat reminiscent of the first spindly View-Master Model A, so I guess it might be somewhat interesting for that reason. Though if using it occludes part of the dazzling 3D imagery within every View-Master reel, it's probably better to just put it back in the toy box.

related:
Ultimate View-Master
View-Master reels that talk!
View-Master 3D Trivia Quiz board game

Luxury Pinewood Derby Inspired Cars

The Auditorium Toy Co has released a stunning limited edition Pinewood Derby-inspired racer. Only 100 of these numbered $350 boattail beauties are available.

They describe their piece as, "A masterpiece of aesthetic form and function inspired by the slippery lines of early 20th century low-drag coachwork — designs formulated by the science of aerodynamics, yet strikingly gorgeous.

The wooden bodywork is sculpted from rugged 13 ply Baltic birch. The muscular stance comes courtesy of the 77.5 millimeter carnelian-core industrial grade wheels, which float effortlessly on precision bearings. Solid stainless steel axles and fasteners ensure faithful service for generations to come."

Auditorium Toy Co. Boattail Racer [via Make]

Nixiedoku

John Sarik's stunning Sudoku game is built around 81 vintage Nixie tubes. It uses an Arduino microcontroller board and a couple of knobs to select the digit, along with a keypad for numeric entry. There's also a video showing the beast recursively solving a puzzle - not fast or elegant, but beautiful. He's even provided all of the design files (schematics, boards, source code, and case design) in case you'd like to try your hand at building one for your evil mad scientist lair.

Nixie Sudoku [via Hack a Day]

Slot Car Racing In Brooklyn

Dave Clausen writes, "I posted some photos and wrote up a little blog post about my visit to Buzz-A-Rama, a 1960's era slot car joint in Brooklyn. What better way to spend a hot, humid Sunday Brooklyn afternoon than checking out Buzz-A-Rama, a 1960’s era slot car parlor in Kensington?

Inside this unassuming storefront are 4 or 5 large twisting tracks, where children and adults race cars about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long, much larger than the matchbox-sized slot cars I played with as a kid. Amateurs like us use slow cars rented from Buzz. The pros, however, bring their own custom lightning-fast cars and controllers, and they are quite serious about them."

Slot Car Hacking at Buzz-A-Rama

Gakken EX-150 Experimenter's Kit Available In the USA

Japanese manufacturer Gakken introduced their tremendously cool Denshi Burokku EX (Electric Blocks) product line in 1976, based upon Denshi's clever modular system. Each little plastic block contained a transistor, resistor or other electronic part that could be clipped together like a puzzle to build a working electronic circuit. It was a great way to explore the world of discrete electronics without having to muck around with wires, solder, and fragile components.

The original series was discontinued in 1986 and seemed destined to become a much-loved classic. Luckily, it was popular enough that a modernized version of the old EX-150 was released in 2002 as part of Gakken's Otona No Kagaku 'Advanced Science Kits for Adults' series. It even spawned an expansion kit that included a 555 timer IC and several other nifty add-ons.

The EX-150 is now available in the USA from the Maker Shed, a quicker and less expensive option than ordering from Japan. The kit includes instructions for 150 different projects. The text is Japanese only, but there are illustrations of each project to help you put them together, although the final result may come as a complete surprise. The projects include several radios, a lie detector, motorcycle and gun sound effects, wireless microphone and a variety of logic circuits [AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR].

The EX-150 is available for $139.99 from the Maker Shed

Nintendo Poker, Anyone?

Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a playing card company. One hundred and twenty one years later, they've returned to their roots with the release of three new "Mario Trump" card decks.

The hand-drawn and rendered versions are nice, but the vintage sprite cards absolutely rock -- perhaps the ultimate 8-bit playing card gift for anyone who grew up on a diet of cocoa puffs and NES. Available in July for 1,050 Yen ($11.50).

Mario Trump Cards [via Technabob]

The Pacific Pinball Museum

The Pacific Pinball Machine in Alameda, California features over 90 playable historic pinball machines, including dozens of vintage electro-mechanical tables from the 1940s through the 1960s.

This is the point at which I get misty-eyed, because chance childhood experiences so frequently define adult tastes. When I was ten or so, my family lived in a prairie town of about 400 people. Main Street was a dusty little strip with a handful of businesses including a rickety old hotel and an even seedier pool hall. I probably wasn't allowed to be in either, but I went in anyway and plunked down 25 cents for three games on a couple of battle-scarred Gottleib wedge machines.

That was in the late Seventies, at the dawn of the digital revolution. The clunks and chimes of those ancient tables quickly gave way to the bleeps and bloops of Space Invaders and fancy digital pinball machines, but I never forgot my first taste of electro-mechanical heaven.

Those early memories make Pacific Pinball the ideal place for me to while away an evening. Admission is $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids under 12 and all the machines are set to freeplay. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet of flashing lights and sparkling metal balls. The walls are decorated with stunning themed wall murals by Dan Fontes, Ed Cassel and many volunteers.

The stars of the show are 5 wood-rails and 20 wedge heads from Larry Zartarian’s collection, but you'll also find a roomful of digital machines from the 70s and 80s, along with a handful of modern machines in the back. It's almost enough to make me drive down to the Bay area (which Google informs me is a mere 1267 mile road trip).

Discover The Pacific Pinball Museum

Remember Lots-o-Huggin Bear From 1983? No? Here's Why...

Looks like MrCrazycommercials on YouTube has unearthed a real rarity here. His collection includes some crucial 80's ads, mostly for children's products. I don't normally admit this to a lot of people, but Retro Thing readers are special... I still know all the words to the ad for Pac-Man Cereal.

The ad for Lots-o'Huggin Bear may leave you scratching your head. Was it a limited release or a test marketing attempt that never made it to your town? It's neither. The geniuses at Pixar are introducing the new bear character in Toy Story 3, and they've created this 80's style commercial to help "sell" Lots-o' as yet another classic toy like those that populate the other movies.

It's a clever viral marketing ploy, and they did a really good job on the commercial. It's got the mooshed up colors and tracking problems of an old VHS tape. Also the characters in the ad aren't wild 80's stereotypes. Very few of us had moms and dads who were breakdancers and Madonna. Even the shooting & editing style mimics commercials of the time. It's not like I needed yet another lure to want to see Toy Story 3, but this is the kind of care and fun that permeates so much of what Pixar does. I've always admired companies that are unreasonably good at what they do.

They even "found" a version of the commercial from Japan.

links:

YouTube video of Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear 80's ad
YouTube video of Japanese promotion of the product