Vintage Thingmaker toys were pretty basic – but so fun. Fill a mold with colorful plastic goo, then heat it up. The result: rubber bugs… and flowers, dragons, monsters, cars and more.
Vintage toys & old-fashioned games
Retro pool toys like these plastic inflatables made summer twice as fun when you could float and play and create pretend worlds right in the swimming pool!
Pull the ring and hear her talk: See the 1960s talking dolls, from Chatty Cathy to Mrs. Beasley, that ruled toy chests for a decade.
Model planes went from carved balsa wood to plastic kits sold at Woolworth’s, and the shift changed how a whole generation of kids spent their afternoons.
1970s Playskool toys like Dressy Bessy, Tyke Bike & Alphie didn’t happen by accident — here’s the story behind the brand that taught a generation through play.
Mr Potato Head started with real vegetables and push-pins in 1952 — and became the first toy ever advertised on TV. Here’s the full story behind the famous spud.
Jigsaw puzzles: The fun & addictive fad that took over American living rooms — more than once (1908)
Jigsaw puzzles swept America not once but twice — first in 1908, then again in the Great Depression. Here’s the wild history behind the hobby.
Rocky and Bullwinkle debuted in 1959 as a kids’ cartoon – and spent five seasons smuggling Cold War satire past network censors. Here’s the full story.
The Hoppity Hop was just an inflated ball with a handle — and it sold 300,000 units in months. Here’s the history behind one of the ’60s biggest toy crazes.
Wacky Packages were the sticker craze that outperformed baseball cards in 1973. Here’s the full story behind the parody packs that kids couldn’t get enough of.
Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down — and they’ve been proving it since 1971. Here’s the full history of this classic Hasbro toy.
The Toys R Us catalog was serious business for 80s kids. Flip through the 1986 Out of this World Toy Book and holiday catalogs from ’87 and ’88.
For years, curious kids have loved experimenting with vintage chemistry sets and science kits like these with countless things to explore!
80s arcade games took over America one quarter at a time. See the vintage ads & photos that capture that golden era of Pac-Man, Space Invaders & more.
Dungeons & Dragons changed how a generation played — and socialized. See vintage ads, photos and original articles from the game’s heyday.
The range of 1950s board games surprises people — cold war strategy to Candy Land. See the vintage ads and box art from a prolific decade of family game night.
Rolling hoops were a go-to childhood obsession for generations — here’s the fascinating history behind this classic outdoor toy.
These cute vintage 60s dolls seemed to offer something for everyone – from the mod Swingy doll to more traditional baby dolls, and mini doll sets to talking toys!
The Pet Rock concept traces the 1975 fad that made millions — and now includes its 2026 comeback sparked by Taylor Swift’s Opalite video.
The basic concept hasn’t changed much in 100 years, but vintage Erector Sets like these are still popular, still inspiring creativity, and still being used to build everything from mini roller coasters to motorized robots.
Do you remember Shrinky Dinks? They were DIY crafts that could be made by coloring on a plastic sheet, cutting out the various shapes, and then shrinking them down using heat.
Here, see a dozen old-fashioned classic board games that are freshly-made, but look just like you remember… or, at least, pretty close.
Dive into the nostalgia of 80s toys! From Transformers to Strawberry Shortcake, explore the iconic playthings that made the 1980s a decade of fun.
Reminisce about the world of 1960s toys — when kids had talking dolls, moon missions, and toys that taught them how to build, steer and imagine.
Did you know that Silly Putty was originally marketed to adults? Read on for more interesting tidbits about this fun and magical stuff!
Smokey Bear, the friendly brown bear that said, ‘Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires,’ was a powerful force in stopping forest fires. Here’s his story.
See how Lionel Trains captured the imagination of 1950s kids with smoke, whistles and Magne-Traction power. Relive the golden age of toy railroads.
Take a trip back to 1980s video games, when home consoles filled family rooms with joysticks, cartridges and pixelated adventures.
Remember that little toy from the 70s where you pressed on the back with your finger and it changed colors? Find out about Space Fidgits here.
Cracker Jack became a pop culture icon with its caramel popcorn, peanuts and surprise prizes. See how this vintage snack won America’s heart.
Step back in time with 80s Playskool toy sets, from Candy Land Kids to Sesame Street playhouses, and see the classic toys that fueled hours of fun.
Some of the most iconic 80s school supplies have been revitalized for a new generation (assuming they ever went away in the first place). Here are some of our sentimental faves that you can buy new even now!
Far out! Check out these vintage portable radios – like the Panasonic Toot-A-Loop and others from the seventies that came in crazy shapes and colors.
Incredible Edibles, the candy-making Thingmaker counterpart, said that their Sooper Gooper would mold sugarless liquid Gobble Degoop into chewy gumdrop-like morsels in 4 flavors. Here’s how it worked.
Vintage Fisher-Price Little People made their debut in the 1950s, and they have been insanely popular with kids ever since! Let’s reminisce.
50 years ago, the coolest vintage banana seat bikes for kids also had bright colors, high handlebars and slick rear tires. Check ’em out here!
Old playgrounds were risky, thrilling and full of sharp edges — see how kids from the past played hard and (mostly) survived.
Whether for a day at the beach or in the pool, these inflatable vintage pool floats and loungers gave people of all ages a new way to enjoy the water.
Find out how to make some sweet vintage Easter egg crafts for spring – everything from bunny-decorated eggs to lacquered lace eggshells.
Who remembers Peter Coddle, Shoot the Hat, and Snap? They were antique board games that provided hours of entertainment before radio and TV. Find out more here!
The original vintage Slinky toy was an all-metal spring that thrilled kids by ‘walking’ down stairs. Invented by accident back in the forties, it’s one of the classic toys that has stood the test of time.
The vintage Spirograph toys let you create millions of colorful, startlingly beautiful extraordinarily intricate designs in infinite variety – all you needed were pens, paper and the kit’s plastic gears and wheels. Take a look!
In the early 1950s, an atomic energy lab kit for kids hit the toy store shelves. The thing was *actually radioactive*. The set had real uranium ore, and children could conduct real scientific experiments. Here’s what they were like!
Take a look back at some of the most popular vintage 1970s cereals that we loved – including many discontinued products we still miss. (And don’t forget about the free toys that were inside kids’ cereal boxes!)
We found a treasure trove of letters to Santa dating back to the 1930s (and they are adorable!). Come see what kids were asking for back in the day.
This collection of vintage Pier 1 Christmas ads shows the great variety of gifts, home decor, and Christmas decorations they had available through the second half of the 20th century.
On these pictures of Christmas trees in the 70s, cuddly creatures, lace, ribbons, flowers, Santas and toys, were all radiantly spotlighted with the gleam of shining ornaments. Take a look back here, and get a little retro inspo for your holidays!
What did many of our grandparents and great-grandparents look most forward to getting for Christmas? In many cases, trains – like these vintage American Flyer train sets!
Adapted from an article that ran in Better Homes & Gardens print magazine back in December 1970, this cute craft how-to for “colossal Christmas balls”
Who remembers these popular vintage Fisher Price baby toys from the 70s and 80s — iconic, durable and full of fun. Check out our nostalgic collection!
What were vintage Magic Slate Paper Savers about? Think of them like a really low-tech tablet – you could draw and then erase… and do it over and over.
Remember having fun in vintage playhouses & forts like these? Take a look back at some of these retro play structures through the decades, from the ’50s through the ’80s!
Vintage View-Master reels offered a trip into another dimension – ‘with stereo color pictures so real, you’ll feel you are actually part of the scene!’ Take a look!
After hitting the market in the early 1980s, it didn’t take long for the Rubik’s Cube to become one of the most popular toys ever. Here’s a look back!
Tiddlywinks (originally Tiddle-dy Winks) seems like a simple kids’ game… but there’s a lot more to it! Find out about it – including how to play – here.
Unbelievably enchanting and ever-changing, the Wham-O Magic Window toy created countless designs, landscapes, seascapes, birds and butterflies as the crystals fly, slide and erupt into one pattern after another.
The old Sears Wish Book catalog was perfectly named – it was where kids and adults alike would dream about all the things that Santa (or a special elf) might bring for Christmas. Find out its history here!
Check out this fascinating collection of 1970s Christmas photos and magazine clips, showcasing the unique holiday spirit and trends of the era.
Back in the late sixties, a small company started selling these vintage Make-A-Plate kits, which were a huge hit with kids, parents and teachers. What better gift for mom or grandma than a one-of-a-kind melamine plate featuring a child’s artwork?
Old toys collectively reflect the fun & creativity that drove playtime way back when, and we have collected dozens of photo examples for your nostalgic enjoyment!
These fun vintage mechanical rides – including the ubiquitous coin-operated horse – made millions of kids smile.
Explore the history and enduring appeal of Wonder Horses, the iconic ride-on spring rocking horse toys that galloped into the hearts of children from the 1950s to the 1980s!
3D covers with lenticular printing made these vintage Puppet Storybooks from the 60s & 70s super fun
With 3D lenticular printing on the covers and full-color stop-motion animation-like illustrations, these vintage Puppet Storybooks were irresistible to kids!
Mood rings were incredibly popular pieces of jewelry in the mid-1970s – a colorful fad. So did the rings actually work? What do the mood ring colors mean? Find out here!
When teddy bears hit the market, the craze for these soft, comforting companions was instant and universal. Here’s a look back at the remarkable history of the teddy bear, and see lots of adorable versions through the years.
Do you recall playing with vintage clicker and Clacker toys trend of the early 60s and 70s. Inexpensive and fun hard plastic balls on strings, their popularity spread like wildfire over the course of just a few years.
The Raggedy Ann doll, in her humble glory, has stood the test of time. Let’s take a look back at her history!
Making a splash in 1970, Avon Small World dolls weren’t your ordinary collectibles. See what made them so extra special!
Barbie wasn’t just a doll – she had an empire! Look back at vintage Barbie play sets, complete with friends and family, fabulous dollhouses, pools, pets… and lots and lots of fashionable vintage Barbie clothes.
Roy Rogers was a name that transcended the man himself, becoming synonymous with a bygone era of optimism and adventure.
If you were a kid during the 70s & 80s, be prepared for a wave of nostalgia from this collection of vintage Mattel toys for little kids, including See n Say & those little yellow shopping carts!
Take a look back at these vintage Lego toys from the 20th century!
This catalog of household goods was published to help people ‘spend’ the gift stamps they had earned at the grocery store — much like the better-known Green Stamps.
Remember the joy of opening a fresh set of these magic markers and felt-tip pens? Here are some retro brands you might remember!
Let’s take a dive into the nostalgic maze of the original Pac-Man game – plus see point values and scoring, plus home and arcade version of the OG and his family, including Ms and Baby Pac Man!
‘Suzy Homemaker’ was the name of a vintage line of toy appliances that encouraged girls to play by cleaning and cooking… just like mom!
The party favorite – more fun than throwing custard pie! Wham-O Silly String shoots a plastic stream of plastic string 1/4 mile long!
These vintage Thermos ads from the 1950s, 60s and 70s feature designs so iconic, you might find the ones you used to have!
Intellivision gaming systems from the 80s were supposed to be more realistic than anything else available at the time. You may be surprised to see (or remember) how simplistic and pixelated the games really were!
Vintage Tonka trucks and construction vehicles: From bulldozers, diggers, dump trucks, trenchers and shovels — these toys have been produced since 1947.
Introduced in the late 1970s, Underoos were a popular brand of colorful children’s underwear featuring characters from popular franchises like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Star Wars.
Cabbage Patch Kids were a popular line of dolls created by American art student and illustrator Xavier Roberts in the late 1970s. By the time
Hot on the heels of the flower child era, back in 1974, Mattel introduced a set of toys that were sort of the anti-Barbie: The Sunshine Family dolls.
Some hardware stores in the 70s used to stock tons of great toys and Christmas gifts for kids – like dolls and trucks, bikes and ride-on horses, car sets and craft kits. Take a look!
“Just add water!” they said. Discover the real story behind Sea-Monkeys, the brine shrimp that fooled generations of kids.
Here, take a look back at some of the game pieces, cards, and several game boards for the vintage Candy Land game. Which ones do you remember most?
The chance to take a trip through the aisles of Toys R Us in the 1990s is over forever, but you can join us in reminiscing with this collection of the toys and games kids wanted back then!
Billions of 80s stickers were collected by millions of kids – and appeared on everything from binders to books, cassette tapes to sticker collection albums. Do you recognize any of these vintage stickers?
How exactly did they repair antique dolls back in the 1950s and before – in the days before toys and dolls were made of plastic? Here’s a look at what went into doll construction and restoration!
Over the years and across the miles, a tricycle has been a rite of pedaling passage for generations of toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our collection of vintage pictures of old trikes
See a dozen cute vintage play kitchens – toys for kids who wanted to pretend to cook, and have fun with mini appliances and plastic food.
The old VTech PreComputer 1000 from the 80s was a small 3-in-1 computer ‘teacher’ that helped kids learn touch typing and basic computer programming – plus had a 3500-word dictionary, and knew more than 1000 facts
Liddle Kiddles were tiny vinyl dolls with rooted, brushable hair, and were adorable and fun in a pocket size. No surprise they are considered collectible these days!
Anyone obsessed with vintage Strawberry Shortcake probably dreamed of these pieces of sugary sweet delight featuring their favorite gal – dolls and toys, of course, but also bedding, wallpaper, roller skates and more.
For decades after their introduction in 1963, Easy-Bake Ovens showed up on wish lists for Santa and for birthdays, and millions of them were sold. Take a look back!
Press the Clock-A-Word lever and new group of letters appears – the clock starts ticking and you try make the longest possible word fast.
Called ‘the world’s greatest toy catalog,’ vintage FAO Schwarz toy catalogs like this gives you a peek at what children of all ages loved to play with back in the sixties.
Remember apple head dolls – the early American craft with folk art roots that became popular again in the ’60s and ’70s? Find out how to make these shrunken apple dolls, and more about the art of dollmaking.
