Remembering the 70s

A Simpler Time

Category Archives: Toys

Cox Gas Powered Toys

We didn’t get these as gifts, but happened upon them by chance at a garage sale. Someone was selling a whole box of these things.

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 1

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 1

(We had a couple of the blue and yellow planes from above.)

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 2

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 2

(We also had a plane similar to the one in the upper right and we had both dragsters in the lower right.)

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 3

Various Cox Gas Powered Toys from the 70s - part 3

The biggest problem we had with these toys was the fact we did not get them cleaned up enough. When the gas spilled onto the plastic, whatever you didn’t get wiped up, it would cause the plastic to become brittle.  After a couple of years, they were to damaged to play with.

Pretty boring compared to the gas powered options of today. The planes only flew in a circle and the cars only went in a straight line. But it was fun back then.

The Centennial BB Gun from 1975

I am guessing that most boys (and a few girls) had there own “A Christmas Story” when it comes to BB guns. Mine was the “Centennial” BB gun.

The Centennial Lever Action BB Gun from 1975

The Centennial Lever Action BB Gun from 1975

What could you not love about this gun? The gold finish… the plastic walnut grain stock… and lever cocking action just like the Winchesters in the cowboy movies.

Sadly I never received this as a Christmas present but I didn’t complain either because I did get a BB gun. My first one was just like number 9 on this page. I think I was probably around 7 or 8 when I got that BB gun. (Most of us country bumpkins were shooting guns right after we could walk. That was just the way it was back then.)

I also like the “El Dorado” but the “Centennial” was always at the top of my list. I have always loved the way the Winchester rifle looked and felt.

Wonderful Waterfuls from 1979

Water games had a short run of popularity during the70s and early 80s. I remember having a couple of them.

Wonderful Waterfuls from 1979

Wonderful Waterfuls from 1979

When you pushed the button a jet of water would move the objects inside. I am guessing they died out quickly because hand held electronic games were becoming all the craze around this time.

Free Spirit BMX Bikes from 1979

BMXing had become a huge sport where I lived during the late 70s and early 80s.

Free Spirit BMX Bikes from 1979

Free Spirit BMX Bikes from 1979

I never took part in the BMX racing but I do remember my first BMX bike. I traded an old stereo for it. There was a slight problem with the bike and that was the back wheel which had become an imperfect circle from all of the jumping the previous owner did, but I didn’t care. I road that bike everywhere with a slight bob in the tire. :)

Metal Dectector from JCPenny 1974

When I was a kid, I always wanted one of these. Images of me, amassing a mound of coins from my backyard, always seem to pop up when I looked at this ad.

Metal Detector from JCPenny 1974

Metal Detector from JCPenny 1974

Recently I was sitting out in front of a Quick Stop store (which is basically a 7-11) and there was a kid with a metal detector scanning the grass around the parking lot. I kid you not, that kid had a gallon size Ziploc bag that was half full of change.

Maybe I should have gotten one…

Barbie Room Fulls

Barbie Dream House too expensive? No problem, buy one room at a time!

Barbie Room Fulls from 1975

Barbie Room Fulls from 1975

You can choose from the Living Room, Country Kitchen, Studio Bedroom, or the Vanity and Shower set. As an added bonus you can throw in some generic luggage for $2.69!

Logix Electronic Experiment Kit from 1976

This is something I always wanted to try but did not get a chance too. The Logix Electronic Experiment kits looked really cool. I had visions of building short wave radios and power stations running thru my head when I would peruse the Christmas catalogs.

Logix Electronics Experiment Kit 1976

Logix Electronics Experiment Kit 1976

Here are some more experiment kits that Logix produced. The aeronautics kit looks really cool too, but I think the optical one would have bored me fairly quick.

Assorted Logix Experiment Kits from 1976

Assorted Logix Experiment Kits from 1976