Automotive (and other) toys from our childhood

[Tom Geiger]

The good old days... 1962 Sears Christmas "Wishbook"...

Ever notice that the Sears catalog never referenced manufacturer?

[unclescott58]

I don't believe regular darts were directly marketed toward small children. Lawn darts were marketed as a toy.

I had darts and dart board as a kid. I was 7 or 8 when I got one. Metal points. Not suction cups.

[unclescott58]

The good old days... 1962 Sears Christmas "Wishbook"...

Anybody know anything about the "Motorized Thunderbird" or the "Hot Rod's V-8 engine has visable parts"? It would be interesting to see and know more about those two. The "Turn Crank...see it work" sounds interesting too.

[SfanGoch]

The engines are the old Renwal kits. The "Motorized Thunderbird" was part of the Cam-A-Matic series manufactured by ITC (Ideal Toy Company). Read about it HERE.

[Foxer]

Ever notice that the Sears catalog never referenced manufacturer?

Maybe because they didn't want to be associated with typical uses, like at our plumbingless lake cabin

[Xingu]

I had darts and dart board as a kid. I was 7 or 8 when I got one. Metal points. Not suction cups.

Harry showed the ad for regular darts that were clearly marketed as toys. I just don't remember ever seeing them.

[unclescott58]

The engines are the old Renwal kits. The "Motorized Thunderbird" was part of the Cam-A-Matic series manufactured by ITC (Ideal Toy Company). Read about it HERE.

Another interesting article. It brings up questions. But, answers a lot. They claim the Thunderbird to be a '56. Where is continental spare? And ITC kits I do remember seeing, in the case of the cars, did not look all that good in person. I don't  remember them, being as accurate as say, an AMT kit of the same time. I would like to see some of these ITC kits photographed, if anybody still has any.

As far the engines, the Visable V8 and posiably the aircraft engine are Renwall. The slant six is Revell. The Phantom Mustang, Monogram. The Bobtail "T" is either Monogram or Lindberg. I'm leaning toward Lindberg on that one. But, I have no idea about the "Turn Crank" chassis shown, or the "Hot Rod" with the engine with visable parts. How good were they? Or how crude were they? The Turn Crank chassis looks pretty crude from the picture. It would be interesting to see better pictures of these items.

Edited May 26, 2016 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

Maybe because they didn't want to be associated with typical uses, like at our plumbingless lake cabin

This I'm not sure I understand. Sears normally sold pretty good stuff. Most under their own house brand names. And the toys shown from their Christmas catalog? I don't see how they would be used in a plumbingless lake cabin, directly?

[unclescott58]

Harry showed the ad for regular darts that were clearly marketed as toys. I just don't remember ever seeing them.

Somehow I have a memory of getting a dart stuck in my leg. I don't remember it well. I don't know how it happened or why? And I don't remember any long term consequences. 

[SfanGoch]

Somehow I have a memory of getting a dart stuck in my leg. I don't remember it well. I don't know how it happened or why? And I don't remember any long term consequences. 

I never stepped foot in Minnesota until February 1987. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

[SfanGoch]

Anybody know anything about the "Motorized Thunderbird" or the "Hot Rod's V-8 engine has visable parts"? It would be interesting to see and know more about those two. The "Turn Crank...see it work" sounds interesting too.

ITC Ford Thunderbird

[Harry P.]

I never stepped foot in Minnesota until February 1987.

I've still never set foot in Minnesota. And don't ever intend to...

[Snake45]

I've never "stepped foot" anywhere.

I have, of course set foot in many places.

But maybe that's a subject for that other thread.

[Mike_G]

I had a dream one time where this guy was throwing darts at me and one hit me right in the elbow, which hurt like heck. He continued to throw darts at me with me dodging them until his supply was exhausted and the darts were stuck in the ground all around me- I gathered them up and had them all in one hand forming a big round circle of darts, which flew from my hand like they were rocket-propelled and hit him in the head and neck. Then I flew away.

 

[Harry P.]

I had a dream one time where this guy was throwing darts at me and one hit me right in the elbow, which hurt like heck. He continued to throw darts at me with me dodging them until his supply was exhausted and the darts were stuck in the ground all around me- I gathered them up and had them all in one hand forming a big round circle of darts, which flew from my hand like they were rocket-propelled and hit him in the head and neck. Then I flew away.

Just curious, but before that dream were you smoking anything?

[SfanGoch]

I've never "stepped foot" anywhere.

I have, of course set foot in many places.

But maybe that's a subject for that other thread.

I never heard of that either until I went to Minneapolis. Some gomer told me that he'd never "step foot" in Brooklyn because we're all criminals.  

[SfanGoch]

Just curious, but before that dream were you smoking anything?

Smoking Monkey Cigarettes have been linked to such experiences.

[Mike_G]

Just curious, but before that dream were you smoking anything?

Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[SfanGoch]

Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

It depends on what one's perception of "ordinary" is.

[Roadrunner]

I had a dream one time where this guy was throwing darts at me and one hit me right in the elbow, which hurt like heck. He continued to throw darts at me with me dodging them until his supply was exhausted and the darts were stuck in the ground all around me- I gathered them up and had them all in one hand forming a big round circle of darts, which flew from my hand like they were rocket-propelled and hit him in the head and neck. Then I flew away.

Sounds like a bowl of bad chili to me.

[SfanGoch]

Sounds like a bowl of bad chili to me.

Bad clams can do it too.

[unclescott58]

Smoking Monkey Cigarettes have been linked to such experiences.

I think smoking monkeys themselves, have been linked to such experiences. That and died banana peels.

[unclescott58]

I never stepped foot in Minnesota until February 1987. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

By the way, did I say that it happen Minnesota? You may still be guilty!

[unclescott58]

ITC Ford Thunderbird

Lookking at the box art, the thing looks more like a '57 Tbird. Rather than a '56. Looking at the pictures of the model itself, it looks more like a '55. Again, I don't see a continental spare, which is the easiest way to identify a '56.

[Tom Geiger]

 

 The Bobtail "T" is either Monogram or Lindberg. I'm leaning toward Lindberg on that one. 

Bobtail T is Lindberg.  This is an original kit found at a garage sale in the 1990s for $5.   It sits up top  of my display case along with a Revell Slant Six (the other box)