In 1976, Dinky Toys produced the first die-cast metal version of the USS Enterprise. This model fired plastic discs and included a plastic shuttle craft.

“Hang around for another game, Dad?”

In 1961, Mattel released Blaze, a talking horse that wasn’t named Mr. Ed!

“Boba Fett’s on my trail!”

This 1958 catalogue from FIsher-Price reveals that it had started incorporating plastic into its manufacturing process, paving the way for more vibrant design options.

A 1989 print advertisement for Call the Plumber from Tiger Games.

“It keeps you on the move.”

For a large part of the 20th century, Transogram Toys and Games produced an array of toys, games, outdoor sports sets, and kid-sized furniture. This dealer catalog from 1961 illustrates the company’s diverse product offerings.

An ad from 1978 for the Expert Builder Series from LEGO. The new LEGO sets included moveable parts that made models “more realistic and more fun.”

“Tommy, you had a rough time out there.”

In 1989, Mattel released a new line of He-Man action figures to coincide with the release of The New Adventures of He-Man, a new animated series starring everyone’s favorite defender of the planet Eternia.

“Frankenstein is in a foul temper.”