Vintage Toys & Games

Anne D. Williams – puzzle historian, collector, published author, and professor – writes about the history and appeal of jigsaw puzzles.

Released in 1965 by Kenner, Jet-Strike Bowling tested the skills of amateur bowlers outside of the bowling alley.

Tony Temple – arcade game historian, collector, and writer – explains why so many classic video games are set in space.

Trouble is a simple “roll-and-move” board game for 2 to 4 players that features the Pop-O-Matic, a small, clear plastic dome housing a single die.

Parker Brothers’ Construct-o-Straws combined multi-coloured drinking straws with red plastic connectors to create an easy-to-use construction set for children of all ages.

The 1964 Johnny Seven toy line of playsets and facsimiles of military equipment from Topper Toys was marketed exclusively to boys.

Released in 1971 by Parker Brothers, Gnip Gnop isn’t one of those games you could play quietly with a friend in the wee hours of the morning while your parents were sleeping – a fact I can attest to from personal experience!

Released in 1969, each tool was a working metal and plastic replica of the electric-powered tools kids might have seen on the workbench at home in the garage or basement.

Introduced by Ideal in 1962, the Tammy doll was the company’s competitive answer to Mattel’s Barbie. The Tammy Tea Set is one of the activity sets that Ideal marketed as part of the Tammy toy line.

Before becoming one of the most prolific toy design & engineering firms, Marvin Glass & Associates dabbled in the design of novelty toys that were acquired and sold by various toy companies throughout the 1950s. One such example is The Kiddie Koo Koo Clock from Topper Toys.

How do you measure success? Answering this ambitious question is the object of Careers, a classic “roll-and-move” board game first released in 1955 by Parker Brothers.

Released in 1963 by Topper Toys, Penny Brite was presented as a more wholesome alternative to Mattel’s Barbie Doll.

Frame-tray puzzles are aimed at young puzzlers and were often advertised as helping children develop coordination and motor control.

Released in 1973, the Blue Streak Freight Train set from Lionel is one example of why Lionel Trains were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2006. These comprehensive train sets remain popular with collectors and train enthusiasts to this day.

As iconic toy company Mego returns, we reflect on the impact it had on a generation.

In 1971, Argo Industries launched a line of Junior Chef “See-It” toys that included the See-It-Bake Oven.

Released in 2002 by Hasbro, the Queasy Bake Mixerator was a blender designed to complement the Queasy Bake Cookerator.

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.