Retro Thing

8 Inch Mego Action Figures Still Stand Tall

Throughout most of the 1970s, Mego was THE name in action figures. Mego had mostly been known for toys that cost under a dollar, but they saw an opportunity in 1971. 12" GI Joe's flag was flying at half mast due to negative sentiment over the Vietnam war, while Barbie wasn't exactly scoring points for Women's Lib. Mego created a slightly smaller 8" figure with good articulation and poseability, and the line was a massive hit for nearly 10 years.

Key to being able to offer such a varied lineup of figures is they all shared the same body, only the vinyl heads and costumes were different. They also reused a lot of outfits and accessories between lines to save on costs. The reduced size of the figure brought overall material costs down, and by aligning themselves with established pop-culture properties a lot of their marketing was already done for them. Mego's 8" figure became the standard size action figure for most of the 70s.

Mego's first score was with an original character; Action Jackson. He was a generic hero type with cheaply made accessories and vehicles. Unusually, he was available in three different styles: caucasian (fuzzy bearded and clean-shaven) and African-American. This one line offered kids an adventurer, dangerous occupation aspirational playsets, and a sort of low-rent Evil Kenevil.

Greater success came later with Mego's many TV and movie licenses. Mego was right there at the birth of extensive media tie-in merchandising (that title may have to go to the massive Six Million Dollar Man toy line), though they sure made some strange choices. They are probably best remembered for their line of comic book superhero figures, but they also licensed properties like "Our Gang" and "The Waltons" (imagine the excitement of finding a John Boy figure under the tree on Christmas morning...)
The comic book offerings were unusual in that Mego was able to license both DC and Marvel characters together. The also marketed the toy in other countries. South Africa got a figure to accompany the adventures of radio hero Jet Jungle (a figure so rare, the few known examples trade hands for thousands of dollars). The UK got most of the hero line though Palitoy, and Denys Fischer brought us the unconventional TV heroics of Tom Baker's Doctor Who.

Another sci-fi saga was a huge hit for Mego; "Star Trek". When the figures came out in 1974, the show had already been off the air for a number of years. Mego got the license to the dead series for a song. You can see why a line like Trek would be interesting to a thrifty company like Mego. The uniforms are all the same, the accessories are the same. Mego's timing was perfect. Trek's unexpected success in reruns and the roll out of a new animated series made Mego's Trek offerings popular. Back then, that early breed of Trekkers were ready to snap up anything with the "Star Trek" name on it. "Planet of the Apes" was another hit line, especially after the movies were re-run on television and the Apes returned a weekly TV series.
In 1974 and 75, Mego's 8" figures were on the list of top 10 best selling toys in the US. Some estimates put their production at 12 million figures per year. With so many hot TV & movie licenses, and such a simple development cycle to creating new characters, what went wrong?

In 1976 Mego was invested in bringing Takara's Micromen line (called Micronauts in the US) to these shores. They were offered the license to a sci-fi movie that was slated to come out the next year called "Star Wars". Mego's David Abrams was reluctant to license every "flash in the pan" B-movie. Instead Kenner got the license, and enjoyed unprecedented sales on movie tie-in toys. Mego tried to play catch up afterwards, licensing "Moonraker", "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", "The Black Hole", "Buck Rogers", but none of these properties could keep up with the unending demand for Star Wars and Mego shut their doors in 1982.

Since then there have been modern-day reissues, and there is continued interest in collecting the old 8" guard. An unexpected market is in low-budget and hobbyist stop motion animators (prominently the guys making "Robot Chicken") use the cheap articulated bodies to create cartoons. There's also a collecting magazine called ToyFare that uses the posed figures for oddball photo comics about collecting action figures. It's a bit too meta for me... Fortunately with so many years of Mego production, the 40 year old 8" figures can be a relatively cheap pop-culture collectible.

link:

online Mego Museum

The 8 Best 8-Bit Arcade Games of 1981

Video arcades flourished in the early 1980s for one simple reason -- arcade consoles offered stunning gameplay unmatched by the rudimentary home consoles of the day.

Even relatively straightforward arcade titles like Namco's Galaga incorporated three Z80 microprocessors, a dedicated sound chip and a high resolution (for the time) color display -- a potent combination unmatched by the blocky graphics and bleeps of Intellivision and Atari 2600 consoles.

1981 was a landmark year. Games like Defender and Pac Man arrived in arcades late the previous fall, and the gold rush was on to develop the next smash hit title. The result was an onslaught of brilliantly coded and innovative games.

Here are my 8 favorite arcade video game titles from '81, in alphabetical order.

Bosconian

Namco's brilliant multi-directional shooter places your tiny spacecraft in space, surrounded by an endless collection of enemy space stations, enemy fighter formations, space mines, asteroids and spy ships. Your job is simply to cause as much mayhem and destruction as possible before succumbing to the inevitable.

Apart from the frenetic gameplay, it was also the first game to feature a continue screen that allowed you to pick things up without having to start from the beginning.

Remembering the Zilog Z80 Microprocessor

It shouldn't surprise you that I have a fondness for a number of vintage microprocessors, including the 6502 used in the Apple II and the Motorola 68000 family used in the original Mac, Atari ST and Amiga systems. However, the CPU that means the most to me is the Z80. 

Designed by Zilog and released in 1976, the 8-bit Z80 was one of the most popular processors of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by a couple of ex-Intel engineers, the Z80 used the familiar Intel 8080 instruction set and enhanced it with bit manipulation commands, block I/O, a single 5V power supply and on-board dynamic RAM refresh. The result was an affordable and familiar chip that was easier to design into products.

The Z80 was the heart of the Sinclair ZX80 and Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I computers -- the first micros my father purchased to fuel my lust for technology. The Z80 was also used in the ill-fated Coleco Adam, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Sinclair 2068, the Osbourne I portable and even the Commodore 128. Its popularity in the consumer field led to its invasion of military technology, too.  

To add to the Z80's mystique, it didn't take young me long to discover that the Z80 also ran arcade machines such as Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug (though the Galaga main board required three Z80s to handle its state-of-the-art graphics, sound and game play), along with home consoles such as the Sega Master System.

The Z80 is still alive and kicking in the 21st century, thanks to inexpensive derivatives (some available for under $1) that power countless consumer products. 

 

Revealing The Mysteries Of The Magic 8 Ball

It's an object filled with mystery, murky black ink, and an opinionated icosahedron. Am I talking about the Magic 8 Ball? Signs point to yes.

The Magic 8 Ball is a popular novelty fortune teller, that seems to have inspired more than its share of cautious dread. Bring up the Magic 8 Ball, and there will always be a couple of adults who will tell you it spooked them in their childhood. Coincidentally, the Magic 8 Ball's origins are fittingly otherworldly. Inventor Albert C. Carter was inspired in the mid 40s to create the novelty based on a "spirit writing" device used by his mother, a self-avowed clairvoyant. That's some provenance. Carter's 1944 patent for the device called it the Syco-Seer, first stuffing the die mechanism in a decorated cardboard tube, later styling it after a crystal ball. This was unsuccessful in stores, but it did catch the eye of Brunswick Billiards here in Chicago. They commissioned a new version that looked like an 8 ball, and somehow this captured the imagination of toy-aisle occultists.

Each side of the twenty sided die within the Magic 8 Ball has a simple answer to your yes-no questions. After querying the ball, you simply turn it over. For some reason some people insist on shaking the ball first, which creates bubbles that rather spoils the spooky effect of the die rising through the gloomy goo. The d20 (hello D&D fans!) offers one of 10 positive answers, 5 negative, and 5 milquetoast. Ever wonder what all of the possible answers are?

-SPOILER ALERT!-

    ● It is certain
    ● It is decidedly so
    ● Without a doubt
    ● Yes definitely
    ● You may rely on it
    ● As I see it yes
    ● Most likely
    ● Outlook good
    ● Yes
    ● Signs point to yes

    ● Reply hazy try again
    ● Ask again later
    ● Better not tell you now
    ● Cannot predict now
    ● Concentrate and ask again

    ● Don't count on it
    ● My reply is no
    ● My sources say no
    ● Outlook not so good
    ● Very doubtful

Before this turns into a story problem for you mathematicians, it takes an average of 72 "throws" for all 20 answers to each come up at least once. The Magic 8 Ball has become a classic toy, available today in bewildering variations. There's a USB powered one (no surprise), one full of memes for the A.D.D. txt'ing generation, and my favorite - one that curses you out. Will the Magic 8 Ball prognosticate over our problems for generations to come? You may rely on it.

I read recently that the iPhone's Siri gets one out of ever three searches wrong. With those kinds of odds, I'll just stick with carrying around a Magic 8 Ball instead.

link:

Get your own Magic 8 Ball and help out Retro Thing!

Retro Thing Turns 8!

It's hard to believe that we've brought you 8 years of moldy mayhem and antiquated anarchy, and there's STILL so much that we haven't talked about. All this week our posts will include retro treasures that involve the number "8". The fun starts tomorrow, but you can use the comment section today to request any "8"s you think we should cover before the week is out.

007's Lotus Esprit Submarine Car On The Auction Block

Among James Bond's many gadgets, his fabulous cars are remembered with the most fondness. Fans still go back and forth whether the best is his classic Aston Martin DB5 or the Lotus Esprit from 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me. The Esprit's radical look was one of the first angular "folded paper" designs from Giorgetto Giugiaro (who would go on to design the DeLorean DMC-12). In James Bond's world, Q Branch added a few options to the car not yet available from most Lotus dealers. 007's car transforms into a cozy two person submarine that fires sea-to-air missiles. Natch.

The prop submarine car is going on the auction block this September. To create the effect of the car converting into a mini sub, the film's producers used several full sized props (not miniatures!) at various stages of the transformation. The vehicle on auction is the fully functional mini submarine nicknamed "Wet Nellie" that was used in all of the underwater scenes showing the vehicle in operation. Surprisingly the vehicle was found a few years ago as part of a blind auction to buy the contents of a New York storage locker. Imagine the new owner's surprise when they pulled back the tarp and found out they'd bought an important part of Bond movie history.

It's difficult to predict what a famous prop car might go for on the auction block. Bond's Aston Martin DB5 used in Goldfinger and Thunderball got 4.3 million dollars at auction just a few years ago. The Lotus isn't quite the icon of the film series that the DB5 is, but I still think they'll do okay auctioning the world's most famous functional submarine car. After all, this submersible Lotus was expensive to start with. Perry Oceanographic in Florida made the Lotus seaworthy at a cost if $100,000 - about a half million in today's money.

So if you're a well-heeled Bond fan, you can find out first hand which is the best Bond car - though moisture may be a problem. This submersible prop isn't in fact watertight, nor does it feature much of an interior. The driver was a retired US Navy SEAL named Don Griffin who had to have full scuba gear on while operating the vehicle. Yes, you'll be cruising the coolest (non) wheels in the ocean, but it's not going back up on land like in the movie. Don't expect to make any points with the bikini ladies when you roll up on the beach and hand a kid a fish.

There is a funny bit of an emotional hiccup in the movie. Right as the car is about to plunge into the water, Roger Moore douchequips "Can you swim?" as the lovely Russian agent played by Barbara Bach panics. Underwater the spy-ette continues to worry, until a few scenes later she is completely laid back and admits to having stolen the plans for the sub two years before. Clearly being a sexy cold-war era Russian secret agent is a real emotional roller coaster.

Transparent Typewriter; Perfect For Ghostwriting

I saw this totally clear typewriter at one my favorite Chicago haunts; American Science and Surplus. They traffic a lot of odds and ends there, and even they didn't know what this was. I initially thought it was some salesman demo or a "test shot" (a term from the plastics industry when they create a transparent prototype to spot any molding problems), or perhaps yet another late 90s iMac tribute. Then it ocurred to me that just like our popular post on a transparent TV set, this typewriter must be for use in jails.

Turns out that this typewriter is the Swintec 2410CCi Clear Cabinet Electronic Typewriter. Their tagline is "clearly, the smart choice" which is more than just cute marketing. The transparent case is so that prisoners can't use the typewriter as a place to stash contraband. Even the ribbon cartridge is a specially manufactured clear one. Also there are as few metal parts as possible so that prisoners cannot pull off pieces to "convert" for other purposes (i.e. impromptu "shank").

Even though most clacky typewriters have been silenced forever, Swintec still does good business on these $200 typewriters even today. Prisoners can buy the unit through the commissary with money that's usually sent in from the outside. Many prisons offer some sort of limited computer access today, but there are those who prefer to write up their legal documents and correspondence (called "kites") on an old typewriter – which is in point of fact not that old. This model was developed and began manufacture in the early 2000s.

Even if you're not writing your prison novel while doing "Buck Rogers Time" (a sentence with a parole date way off in the future), you can get one of these typewriters. This clear model is available to the general public on Swintec's website. General manager Ed Michael of Swintec says that plenty of people on the outside buy the clear typewriter "because it's pretty".

link:

Swintec website

Brand New Altair 8800 Clone With 1976 Price

There have been several Altair 8800 remakes and emulations in recent years, but this brand new version by Mike Douglas does a great job of mimicking the impressive look and feel of the original without relying on outdated technology. Instead of a case crammed full of boards, a Microchip microcontroller is used to emulate an 8080A CPU running at 2 MHz with 64K RAM, 16K ROM, along with printer, cassette and floppy disk I/O. 

The case is the same size as the original, but it's just an illusion...

 Douglas explains: "The Altair 8800 Clone is a full size, fully functional replica of the computer that started a revolution – the Altair 8800. Whether used for personal or educational purposes, the Altair Clone is a great way to relive this important period in computing history and learn core computer science principles at the same time!

The Altair Clone provides an accurate, hands-on experience without having to worry about damaging a vintage computer. Built with modern hardware on the inside, the Clone is also less expensive and much easier to keep running than a vintage computer.

The Clone is available fully assembled or in kit form. The kit requires installation and soldering of all switches, LEDs and resistors (surface mount components are pre-installed at the factory). The kit also leaves power supply wiring, serial port wiring and mechanical assembly for the user to complete."

The price is the same as the original base unit from 1976, a mere $621. David Greelish of The Classic Computing Blog recently interviewed the creator, and it's a fascinating chat.

Altair 8800 Clone [via The Classic Computing Blog]

A Gloriously Complicated Car Cassette Deck

Back in the late 1980s, the lowly audio cassette ruled dashboards around the globe. Most people made do with factory decks, but a sizable minority stepped into the often expensive world of aftermarket audio, which was dominated by brands such as Kenwood, Alpine, Blaupunkt, Panasonic and Sony. 

Lyle sent us a link to this wickedly high-end Kenwood KRC-999II deck from 1988 that features a servo-driven pop-out panel for adjusting EQ and radio tuning, zillions of blinky LEDs, and DBX and Dolby B & C noise reduction. The microprocessor-driven design with brushed metal buttons mirrors the look of expensive home stereo components of the period, although everything is miniaturized. 

I'd love one of these electromechanical marvels, if only I could figure out a way to stylishly hack an extra hole into my modern car's swoopy dash.

Kenwood car cassette player KRC999 mark II [YouTube, thanks Lyle!]