The Glo Worm was introduced  by Hasbro (under Playskool) in 1982 with great success. Part plush and part flashlight, the original Glo Worm was geared toward young children who needed “safety” while they slept. Glo Worm’s green-pajamaed worm body had a zippered back. Inside was a plastic battery-powered tube with a bulb at the top

Here’s a 1946 page from Popular Science spotlighting the Slinky toy. It’s always interesting to read vintage copy: Given an initial shove, “Slinky” eerily and deliberately flip-flops end over end down a flight of steps. It is simply a spring, but it does stunts that made R. P. James, Philadelphia engineer, think of converting it

There are few who can whistle real music through their noses. For the rest of us, there’s the nose flute – also called a nose whistle or a Humanatone. This single-piece instrument relies on rhythmic breathing through the nose while maintaining or fluctuating the opening of the mouth. This simple, classic gem isn’t to be

Who could resist these Marx Toys friction toys featuring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck? These toys date to the 1950s-1960s. The toys stand about 4″ high and use a German-made friction motor. Friction toys are driven by springs – the spring is wound when the wheels are pushed backwards across a high-friction surface (like carpet

When marketing consultant Peter Hodgson risked $147 of borrowed money to introduce a bouncing putty to the world, his target audience was adults. As that market dwindled, it was kids lifting newsprint that made him shift gears. The once-failed product that was created in hopes to help the war effort turned into a multi-million dollar

It was 1978 and this little girl was begging for a cheap hunk of plastic that used loud noises and a remote control to operate. It was Tobor – the slogan will forever be imprinted in my mind, “tobor is robot spelled backward”. I have fond memories of decorating my little black robot with accompanying

Nearly every American toddler will inevitably become acquainted with Mr. Potato Head, either by owning one or through exposure to our popular culture. Thanks to his appearance in Pixar’s “Toy Story” movies, Mr. Potato has become a highly recognizable pop icon. And 2012 marks Hasbro’s 60th birthday celebration of Mr. Potato Head’s introduction into the

This is a beautifully restored Wyandotte Truck. Wyandotte pressed metal toys were manufactured by the All Metal Products Company, which was in business from 1920 to 1957. They mass-produced inexpensive, yet high quality metal toys, chiefly from scrap metal leftover from automobile manufacturing. The Wyandotte name, used as a brand name for their trucks and

Green Army Men have been an American classic for generations, and nearly every American boy has engaged in creative play with them at one time or another. Inspired by American troops from WWII through the Korean War, these green plastic figures have been a favorite toy for children since the 1950s. Also called toy soldiers,

Jacks: The Game with Ancient Origins The game known as “Jacks”, or a variation of the modern game, has been played for more than 2000 years. In texts left behind by the Greek philosopher, Sophocles, there is mention of the game being played around the time of the Trojan War (roughly 1190 B.C.). Modern Jacks