After being acquired by Universal Toys, 1983 kicked off a new era of ownership for the brand and a 30th-anniversary celebration.

“Mr. Arcade, I need help. My husband won’t come home.”

In 1974, Mattel released Spinwelder, a welding toy that children used to construct various vehicles.

For more than 75 years, Wham-O has been a ubiquitous guest at family barbecues and outdoor playtime. This Sports Are Fun! mini-catalogue from the 1960s showcases the breadth of the company’s sporting and outdoor product lines at the time.

“…before you match ’em you have to catch ’em.”

Released in 1966 from Mattel, Flea Circus was a three-dimensional skill game where players score points by making magnetic fleas perform a series of circus tricks.

“What do you do when it’s all up to you?”

Fright Factory was another addition to Mattel’s Thingmaker line that allowed children to create horror movie-esque props at home.

At its peak, Reliable Toys was one of the largest toy makers in Canada.

“It’s a wacky smash.”

In 1965, Gilbert Toys introduced four new Erector sets, offering between 150 and 450 pieces and a slew of new build ideas.

“It’s a car that runs on air, no batteries or gas in there.”