Vintage Advertising

Before digital photography became commonplace, Fisher-Price offered children, ages 5 and up, a camera that used 110 film cartridges.

Before the advent of digital publishing, toy companies like Kenner typically produced ad mats for retailers to use to advertise their product lines.

Kenner’s 1973 advertisement for the Give-A-Show Projector promoted new entertainment options for the toy’s 14th anniversary.

When loaded with beads, Jewel Magic produced “oodles of baubles ‘n bangles” at the turn of its handle.

An advertisement from 1982 for tabletop arcade games from Coleco.

Released in 1976 from Tomy, Mr. Mouth was a tiddledywinks-influenced game of skill and coordination for children ages 5 and up.

A mashup of educational toy, creative design tool, mathematics lesson, and arts-and-crafts project, Spirograph was first marketed in the UK and migrated stateside in 1966.

Rev ‘N Roar mimicked the function of a manual transmission, allowing kids to shift from first to fourth gear to get their car on the road.

“Olympic-size skittle bowl, it’s like having a bowling alley in your backyard or playroom.”