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Vintage Toys & Tech Photos

Posted by michael on Sat Dec 07, 2002 01:05 AM
from the pocket-protector dept.
Technology
savetz writes "Here's a fun site: Consumer Reports magazine's vintage photo gallery, in which you can see photos from when the magazine reviewed electric toasters in 1956, in-car record players in 1961, radio sunglasses in 1966, and other good stuff. Don't forget about the flaming Nerf ball."
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  • just me? (Score:5, Funny)

    by trans_err (606306) <ebenoist AT gmail DOT com> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:07AM (#4831284) Homepage
    is this just me or do all these new products seem a bit dated?
    • Last time I looked, NERF products were still in production...

      • Re:just me? (Score:5, Interesting)

        by coryboehne (244614) on Saturday December 07 2002, @02:28AM (#4831523) Homepage
        To hell with the nerf products, I need one of these [consumerreports.org]..

        Sonic Blaster, 1966

        The Mattel Agent Zero M Sonic Blaster 5530 fires compressed air with a deafening blast. Our measurements top out at 157 dB-above a level that can do permanent damage to the hearing of an adult. We rate the toy Not Acceptable.

        W00T!

    • Don't Buy Crap. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by BigBlockMopar (191202) on Saturday December 07 2002, @02:05AM (#4831466) Homepage

      I love it. My 1954 Maytag A-504 washing machine. It's been cleaning dirty underwear for 48 years, and all it's ever asked for is a drivebelt.

      Carrying on the tradition:

      • 1954 Ferrograph tape recorder
      • 1967 Maytag dryer
      • 1970 Maytag WU-600 dishwasher
      • 1970 Ariens snowblower
      • 1970 Dodge Dart
      • 1974 Plymouth Valiant Brougham
      • 1976 Dodge Ram (D-350)
      • 1972? Sound A-5000 amplifier
      • 1973 Acoustic Research AR-4x speakers
      • 1964 Pickett N3T sliderule

      The moral?

      If you buy good quality stuff once, it will last you your lifetime. And just because something may be old (ie, most of this stuff is older than I am), it doesn't make it irrelevent. What does a new dishwasher do that my old Maytag won't? Nothing. And the old Maytag looks really cool installed in a modern kitchen!

      So, when my washing machine's 48-year-old rubber belt finally broke, I went to the local Maytag store and bought a new belt at the parts counter. Spent $10 on the belt, then the manager came running out after me. He rented my washing machine from me - paid me good money, provided me with a new washer while mine was there, and tried to buy it outright - so that he could stick it in the showroom that fall.

      Unfortunately, you can only try so long to continue to use your desktop computer...

      • Re:Don't Buy Crap. (Score:5, Insightful)

        by coryboehne (244614) on Saturday December 07 2002, @02:21AM (#4831504) Homepage
        Unfortunately, you can only try so long to continue to use your desktop computer...

        Actually, I have started collecting key pieces of computer history (and I know a few other /.'s are doing the same) and I really believe that most of these systems are still quite capable of doing what they were meant to do, namely business software... No you can't play quake on a TRS-80 but it does a great job of running DOS and business applications.

        The problem is that most people think computers are a dated item, the fact is, people once thought that a 1956 Convertible was worthless junk, now a rusted shell of a car will bring 10k. Keep this in mind before you dismiss their possible future value (particularly look for the ones that people consider to be particularly worthless as there will be far fewer of these available in future and they will most likely be the more valuable among the systems that are available for almost nothing today)

        • Re:Don't Buy Crap. (Score:4, Interesting)

          by Megane (129182) on Saturday December 07 2002, @09:23AM (#4832286)
          The problem is that most people think computers are a dated item

          Most are. Most PC software can still run under the DOS window of 2K/XP, except for those games that don't have any speed control and were responsible for the "TURBO" buttons on a lot of XT and AT class machines. And they have better hardware. Most XT through 486 systems have zero collectible value, and aren't usually worth the trouble to set up, unless they're already running and doing duty as a word processor or something. But they've got no soul.

          I know someone who long ago set up a forms generation system for his practice, using Wordstar and its Mailmerge. I'm just as amazed now as I was then that he could make that work. He's gone through about four or five PCs since that original Sanyo 550, and even more printers, and that vintage software still kicks ass for him. But he doesn't go out of his way to run it on a 286.

          Most of those old PC clones have no style whatsoever. All of the old 8-bitters they killed off had some kind of interesting design and didn't look like a nondescript beige box. The original TRS-80 design with the computer built into the keyboard unit was brilliant... at least until they needed to add floppy disks. The Commodore PET had that '70s retro-futuristic look, and the VIC-20 and C-64 went with the original TRS-80 look because they figured out how to make an expansion cable bus, even if it was dog slow.

          Only Apple has kept the faith by constantly trying to come up with interesting designs. Sure, they've have their share of beige boxes along the way, but even some of those have made a point of looking different, like the Mac II series, and the current "flip-out" cases. And they've had their beige-box stinkers too, like the 8100, where you have to pull out the motherboard (which means all the cards too) to add RAM.

      • "What does a new dishwasher do that my old Maytag won't"

        built in garbage disposal.
        enerygy savings
        quiter.

      • What does a new dishwasher do that my old Maytag won't?

        The new one does not require small nuclear plant to produce enough energy to wash your plates after a dinner.

      • It's been cleaning dirty underwear for 48 years...

        please don't tell us it's the same underwear you bought 48 years ago when consumer reports recommended it.
  • Which would actually be great for listening to talk shows. Those glasses and a cell phone would be a talk show junkie on the go's dream! I can hear it now though: "Hello, you're on the air (dead air)...Hello, (sound of breathing) Hello, can you turn down your glasses please, we're on 7 second delay!"

  • Dangerous Toys (Score:4, Interesting)

    by jms (11418) on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:13AM (#4831305)
    My favorite is the Mattel Agent Zero M Sonic Blaster 5530. [consumerreports.org] What the picture fails to show is the little boy wetting his pants with excitement and joy when he opened his Christmas Present and saw that monster air bazooka. I know I would have!

    • Re:Dangerous Toys (Score:5, Funny)

      by caternater (574933) on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:19AM (#4831331)
      Good god! It has a 157dB blast. I guess the kids went through two pairs of pants... first from wetting himself with excitement, then from crapping himself after hearing that *boom*.
    • This looks real similiar to what we used to call a "Polish cannon." You take 5 or 6 empty tin cans (you know, the ones with real seams, not the extruded stuff), cut the bottoms out, and tape them together -- tightly -- with duct tape. Take an empty coke can and poke a small hole dead-center in the bottom, and tape this to one end of your tube (the small hole is outside, the side you drink from is inside). Break out the Ronco lighter fluid, and squeeze a healthy dose into the small hole at the end. Hold the cannon facing the ground and swing in several wide arcs. Grab with both hands and have a brave friend hold a lighter to the little hole (not the big hole!). The resulting explosion would lob a tennis ball several hundred yards. If you were unfortunate enough to be standing in front of it, you were assured of a temporary hearing loss.

      Oh, to be a kid again...

    • Re:Dangerous Toys (Score:5, Funny)

      by CaseyB (1105) on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:51AM (#4831432)
      Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids [theonion.com]
      • I don't think this is a real news article because the girl on the right looks Photoshopped. I have also never seen this toy in the stores and Wizco Toys has no discernable website, which is odd as well.

        N.B. - I read The Onion weekly, in case you were worried for me.
    • Seems like it should belong in the military assault weapons category and not the toys category. Rated: Totally Unacceptable!

  • Capsella (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:15AM (#4831313)
    Anybody remember Capsella? That stuff was the shit! It included mechanics, gears, electronics, even if you were lucky infra-red remote control.

  • Flaming Nerf Ball (Score:5, Funny)

    by Cyno01 (573917) <Cyno01@hotmail.com> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:15AM (#4831318) Homepage
    This brings to mind that classic SNL sketch...
    Consumer Reporter: Well, let's try this one. What about this little foam play ball? I mean, even you, Mr. Mainway, can't find anything dangerous about this. Huh?
    Irwin Mainway: [ takes ball, bounces it on table, then shoves it in his throat and feigns choking ]
    • Better yet, howabout switchblade [ken | male doll] (i dont remember exactally).
      or Bag O' Glass. That was a favorite in my house:

      Mr Mainway: Here. Try this one. We call it Bag O' Glass. Kids love it
      Reporter: *blink* Its glass. its SHARP.
      Mainway: But its glass. kids love it. its shiny. Ya' set it on the table - eh - Bag O' Glass! See. Its shiny
      ... etc...
    • one of the funniest sketches they ever did!

      Accept no Substitutes!

      Discontinue use of Happy Fun Ball if any of the following occurs:

      * Itching

      * Vertigo

      * Dizziness

      * Tingling in extremities

      * Loss of balance or coordination

      * Slurred speech

      * Temporary blindness

      * Profuse Sweating

      and my favorite...

      Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

  • Gaylord, the pup [consumerreports.org]

    I wonder where the etymology happened to change that word so much. Still more, I wonder if the original taker of that name really wanted to be known as the master of happyness at the time or not.

    Ryan Fenton
    • In six months of regular play, we estimate, the cost of batteries will exceed the cost of the toy itself.

      That this idea seemed ridiculous at the time is another way the world has changed. I imagine most small battery operated toys have similar economics today.

    • Wasn't there a troll or some other critter in the old Broom-Hilda cartoon named Gaylord? There was Hilda, that fuzzy guy, and then, IIRC, Gaylord.

  • WHERE IS... (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    The first electric vibrator?? I thought that would be the most important vintage appliance in their history. It put me out of business...
  • The scary part is... I think my parents own a few of the items on this list =\
  • Those old blurbs are pretty interesting, but it would have been nice to have a little more info, or even the original articles, rather than just a photo and a paragraph of text. Still, browsing their archive is a cool way to waste a half hour or so... ;)

    DennyK

  • Nerf ball on fire sounds silly, but... (Score:4, Funny)

    by dagg (153577) on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:24AM (#4831343) Journal
    When I was like 12 years old... me and my friends used to try shoving fireworks into, or taping fireworks onto everything not living. We did it to nerf balls, frisbees, He-men, Fisher Price guys, and water balloons. We'd often light the firework, throw the item and stare. Was a lot of fun. Good thing the nerf balls never burst into flames. If they did... we would have did it more often :-).

    --Yer Sex while flying [tilegarden.com]

  • Flaming Nerf Ball? (Score:3, Funny)

    by burgburgburg (574866) <splisken06@email.cSTRAWom minus berry> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:27AM (#4831358)
    I have all their records.

    And I play their video game.

    Read the comic books.

    And enjoy their iced coffee.

  • Real Vintage Toys (Score:3, Interesting)

    by denisonbigred (611860) <nbn2@NosPAM.cornell.edu> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:29AM (#4831365)
    If you want to see some truely vintage toys google for "Buddy-L Trucks." My Grandfather developed a collection which my mother no has, that dates back to pre WW2, consisting of Buddy L trucks and old train collections. To put it in perspective, afer his death, my grandmother was offered sever hundred thousand dollars for a chunck of the collection by mulotiple museums.

  • Old. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by iamdrscience (541136) <{michaelmtripp} {at} {gmail.com}> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:34AM (#4831377) Homepage
    I remember seeing those pictures from consumer reports at least 4 years ago. Finally, I've beaten the Slashdot curve!
    • I remember seeing them then too... via Slashdot! You haven't beaten the Slashdot curve, it's merely curved into a complete circle.

  • Flaming Nerf Ball? (Score:5, Funny)

    by A non moose cow (610391) <terralos@hotmail.com> on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:36AM (#4831390) Journal
    The nerf ball failed because it caught fire after being exposed to a lit match?

    I guess they also condemned:
    1. coloring books
    2. jigsaw puzzles
    3. the hair on childrens heads

    Why didn't they just condemn matches?
    • Why didn't they just condemn matches?

      This is probably good thing. They fire test kids pajamas, too, as well the ought. Probably few things made E.M. doctors sicker than trying to peel melted pajamas off of screaming children
      • They fire test kids pajamas, too, as well the ought. Probably few things made E.M. doctors sicker than trying to peel melted pajamas off of screaming children

        There's a difference: It's a lot harder to get out of flaming pajamas than it is to drop a Nerf Ball that's on fire. Simple reflex will protect the kid from burning Nerf Balls.

    • I think the issue is that it can't be that difficult to add something to the synthetic stuff to make it flame-retardant.

      Of course, that might just eliminate the possibility of it being non-carciogenic. :-)

  • Ah but they missed (Score:3, Insightful)

    by syntap (242090) on Saturday December 07 2002, @01:36AM (#4831391)
    Lawn darts and Merlin! How could they ? Actually they should have thrown in the Atari 2600 (Christmas 1977) in the 1970-1980 archive. Where would we be without the 2600?

  • A car for the price of 100 pens! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Galvatron (115029) on Saturday December 07 2002, @03:27AM (#4831645)
    Have a look at this [consumerreports.org]. Down near the bottom, there are two successive entries, the first about a car, the second about pens. The car in the picture is described as the cheapest American-made car, and cost $1000. The line below that, dated a year later states that the price of ballpoint pens just fell from $9 to $1. So, at the earlier price point, for the price of just slightly more than 100 pens, you could have yourself a new car! Today, of course, you can't get a new car for less than $8,000, but you can have yourself 100 Bics for, what, $2? It really is a striking illustration of how inflation is merely an average, prices on individual items increase or decrease at vastly different rates.
  • A nerf gatling gun that shoots flaming nerf balls? Would be even cooler if the gatling gun had a little piezo speaker built-in that belched out sound effects (" I love the smell of napalm in the morning!" or a cheesy electronic version of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries) as you sprayed your friends with glowing fireballs of death.

  • 1961 Electronic mag (Score:3, Funny)

    by Juln (41313) on Saturday December 07 2002, @04:29AM (#4831755) Homepage Journal
    I read something great in an old radio mag from 1961.
    They were talking about Japan. The article said that sure, Japan can make $50 television sets, and consumers might like that, but they will be upset if that TV breaks, right? And then the article said sure, those Japanese can make cheap stuff and can manufacture it inexpensively - but where they will never catch up is in being able to engineer quality products that appeal to western consumers!
    Ha h, hah. I guess they read that article and sent all their kids to engineering school.

  • Ouch (Score:3, Funny)

    by Ezubaric (464724) on Saturday December 07 2002, @07:55AM (#4832072) Homepage
    I'd hate to be this guy [consumerreports.org].

    One drop of this instant glue formed a bond between man and hammer in five seconds. We called it an instant hazard--and rated it Not Acceptable.

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