# Your Lost Childhood, Part Two: Things they don't make anymore, but should **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2000, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201 "2000-07-28T14:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/21 "2000-07-28T19:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MagicalSilverKey \* > **Fisher Price’s movie camera thing… My favorite used to be Mickey Mouse and the haunted house.** You know, I never EVER saw another cartridge for one of those. Every F/P camera I found in anyone’s house had only that damn Mickey Mouse cartridge. Musta been the one that came with the toy. I believe I’ve mentioned this one before - Mattel Tuff Stuff Alphabet blocks. Those things were cool. As a matter of fact I think the last time I talked about it I went to look on eBay just for a laugh and found a double set of them up for auction. So now I get to relive that little bit of my childhood again. Whoopee! 😃 Um… Does anyone remember these little windup cars called “Minie Moes”? Seems to me they had a little magnetic wheel on the base that wound up, and they’d truck along anything magnetic with a slow grinding-down sound. Oh yeah. Weebles. Not them dadblasted Tumbling Weebles that looked like an oversized vitamin pill but the real, egg-shaped folk with the tree fort and the boat and whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/22 "2000-07-28T19:41:05Z")
Hoppity-Hops. Big, giant rubber balls with a handle, that you’d sit on and bounce around on until you lost your balance and cracked your head on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/23 "2000-07-28T19:43:23Z")
Anybody know if they still make the Sit-n-Spin? or, as we used to call it, the Super Puke Machine? ---
**Author:** ![Altair\_8800](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Altair\_8800](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Altair_8800)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/24 "2000-07-28T20:14:47Z")
I loved the little Fisher-Price people. They were little peg-shaped plastic people with no arms or legs, just a torso and head. There were piles of playsets–a house, a farm, etc. They still make them, but they make them fatter now. I guess some damn fool kid tried to eat one of the originals and choked on it. “Hey daddy, Santa brung me Fisher-Price mini-people for Christmas! I think I’ll eat one!” –Mad Max, as heard on the John Boy and Billy Big Show ---
**Author:** ![Tweeterbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Tweeterbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tweeterbug)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/25 "2000-07-28T20:25:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody remember Click-Clacks? I was the 6th grade Click-Clack Champ (and I have the permanently dented forearm bones to prove it). I attribute my success laregly to skill, but the click-clacks had something to do with it too - custom made! Years earlier one of my brothers made some resin (fiberglass?) balls and set the end of a metal eye-hook chain into them. He made necklaces out of these things and called them “Teacher Beaters.” (This brother still is a hardcase.) When click-clacks became popular, I took the necklaces, removed the chains, attached a stout cord to the balls and a hard plastic ring for a handle and **viola**. ::rummaging around in drawers:: Hey, I found them! I seem to have lost the skill completely… OWWW! Anyone remember Kiddles? ---
**Author:** ![Baglady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Baglady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baglady)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/26 "2000-07-28T20:32:45Z")
_I_ had a **Talking** Viewmaster viewer!!! Unfortunately it ate up batteries, and wasn’t nearly as portable as its mute sibling. I miss the Playskool Little People that were REAL little. they don’t make them anymore because they’re small enough for toddlers to swallow. Presently my monomania is focused on collecting Playmobil figures. Now THOSE are tres cute! Everybody in this thread gets a Playmobile figure out of Baglady’s bag – everybody pause to reminisce about your childhood!! ---
**Author:** ![horowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@horowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/27 "2000-07-28T21:04:30Z")
Verdi-Birds (I think that’s the name) It was a little helicopter with two remote control levers and attached by a flexible shaft to a center hub. One lever was for altitude/hover the other for forward and reverse velocity. You would fly around in circles and pick up little targets. I also really miss Water Rockets. ---
**Author:** ![horowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@horowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horowitz)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/28 "2000-07-28T21:08:28Z")
Hugo Man of a Thousand Faces. A creepy little bald guy wearing a black robe/shirt thing who had fake hair and stuff you glued on him. I went to my friend’s parent’s house when he was house sitting and they had his old one back in the basement next to the beer fridge. When not expecting him Hugo is very disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/29 "2000-07-28T21:27:02Z")
YAY Little People, I had the barn with the door that moo’ed when opened and the house with the doorbell. I LOVED Little People, almost took my sister’s eye out with the four seater car during a squabble. Sit N’ Spin Rocked!! They still have that Hoppity Hop but it’s called the Big Hop I think, it’s at Wal-Mart. ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/30 "2000-07-28T23:55:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody know if they still make the Sit-n-Spin? > or, as we used to call it, the Super Puke Machine? I always wonder if those burned out in the mid-80s. My mom used to work at a Fisher Big Wheel store as one of the artists that drew advertisements and created displays for the store (commercial artist? I think that’s the right word). From the time I was a baby to about 4 years of age, she’d bring me into work with her sometimes and they’d put me in their ads. I remember being in a Sit-n-Spin ad. If I ever find that I’ll send it out to anyone that wants it. Baby Welfy! I always wanted one but never got it… ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/31 "2000-07-29T00:15:53Z")
Oh yes, Sit’nSpins are still available. We’re on our second. (Our oldest loved it so much she actually wore it out. This would be the child who is taking her friends, for the second year in a row, to an amusement park for her birthday.) The younger kids have been slightly less enthusiastic, so our replacement is still functional. Kiddles: those were the rubbery-plastic dolls with a metal interior framework that allowed you to bend and pose them? And after a while, the metal wire would poke through the palms of their hands in a rather disturbing way? I recall a fairytale series, I believe. I had the sleeping beauty version with the ever closed eyes. She came with a purple plastic divan. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/32 "2000-07-29T01:38:17Z")
Wow! I thought I was the only Wacky Packages nut! I had tons of them. If you want a real blast from the past go here: [http://www2.pair.com/wacky/](http://www2.pair.com/wacky/) Howzabout Mattel’s Big Wheel? I wore out the back wheels (which were hollow) on at least two! They were great for sliding around corners if the road was sandy. Silly Putty (do they still make this?) ---
**Author:** ![Kvallulf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Kvallulf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kvallulf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/33 "2000-07-29T02:29:56Z")
Yes, they still make Big Wheels, in fact, some of them have squirt guns built into the handle bars. What happend to the modle rocket kits? All I can find now are prefab plastic rockets. Half the fun was buidling it, and seeing if it would actually survive. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/34 "2000-07-29T03:30:21Z")
Weebles. I worked with a girl about a year ago who _ **did not know what Weebles were** _! ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/35 "2000-07-29T03:50:00Z")
I was going to post a link to the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle on [etoys.com](http://etoys.com) but its GONE! I found it there around Christmas and was working on my hubby to get me one.Damn!Gotta be quick. I looove weebles.I had the Weebles Circus with the bright orange big top carrying case.Found one on Ebay a while back - it went for $300.00 or so. :eek: Stompers kicked some major butt, even if I did have to steal them from my little brother. Anybody remember the Stomper sized trucks that ran on water? You got this little gas can and used it to put water in the tank of your truck.It’d run for a bit and then it’s need more ‘gas’.Really nifty. I miss the really good race tracks that you could tack up to the wall.And the cars had headlights so you could see them at night.Way cool. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/36 "2000-07-29T05:06:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by horowitz \* > \*\*Verdi-Birds (I think that’s the name) > > It was a little helicopter with two remote control levers and attached by a flexible shaft to a center hub. One lever was for altitude/hover the other for forward and reverse velocity. You would fly around in circles and pick up little targets. > \*\* “Whirly-Birds” is what I believe they were called. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/37 "2000-07-29T06:29:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silver\_Fire \* > **Garbage Patch Kids trading cards. I don’t know if they’re really gone, but I haven’t seen them.** Holy cow!! I used to have a LOT of these! My mom thought they were disgusting and THREW THEM AWAY!!! :mad: AARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! _sigh_ Actually, I don’t really want 'em back. I’m just curious about how much I’d get for 'em on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/38 "2000-07-29T14:19:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup \* > \*\*Hoppity-Hops. Big, giant rubber balls with a handle, that you’d sit on and bounce around on until you lost your balance and cracked your head on the ground. \*\* I still have my Hoppity Hop. After I outgrew it it became the lid to my hamper - fit perfectly - and it stayed over there in the corner of my room at my folks house for years after I moved out. It now resides in their basement…I think I’ll go over there today and dig it out for my kid. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/39 "2000-07-29T14:28:35Z")
Triple Decker Bars. I think Nestle put them out– dark chocolate on the bottem, white chocolate in the middle, and milk chocolate on top. I think New England was the test market for these, cause they weren’t around very long and nobody I meet remembers them. I loved them. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201/40 "2000-07-30T04:43:55Z")
Great, simply great memories! I had alot of those things, like talking view master, sst, and my favorite toy ever, hopity hop! Now I’d like to add my own. Please post if you remember: _Spoon Candy_ It was a pudding only instead of the top getting that pudding skin on it, it turned hard like a candy bar. Circa 1973, I think. _Thick & Frosty_ Gooey glop you kept in the freezer. One tablespoon in a glass of milk turned the milk into a milk shake, no mixer needed. Circa 1970, I think. _Funny Face_ Just like kool Aid, only the characters for each flavor were more fun. Like Rootin-tootin-raspberry. Circa late 60’s. _Crazy Car_ This was an outside toy made of plastic. It was round with two big wheels on the sides. You sat in the middle and cranked the wheels with 2 attached handles. You could manipulate your movements by turning one wheel clock wise while turning the other counter clock wise. You could spin this sucker like a whirling dirvish. I had this about 1969. Kids now days don’t know what they’re missing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-lost-childhood-part-two-things-they-dont-make-anymore-but-should/27201.md?page=3)