Heres another addition to Memory Lane’s Space Toy segments. The three toy companies from the 1970’s are Dinky, Tomy, and Playskool. Although the toys here are simple, they have had a profound effect on youngsters that eventually grew up to become engineers and scientists in the space industry.
1. Star Trek – Enterprise & Klingon D7 Battlecruiser – Dinky Toys
Dinky toys, in the early 1970s’ hey day of Star Trek reruns, created two toys for young Star Trek lovers.
Both the starship enterprise in the Klingon D7 battle cruisers provided lots of fun for space minded kids.
There were even mechanics built into the toys to allow them to shoot small desks simulating firing photon torpedoes.
I never got an Enterprise toy like this as a kid, but I remember seeing the Dinky Enterprise toy for the first time over at my aunt and uncle’s, which immediately sparked my interest in Star Trek, which is a sentiment that I hold to the present day! 🙂
2. Turn The Terrible Tank – Tomy
This game involved a straight track with two players on either end.
Each one had their own “base” that could fire marbles at a moving tank in the middle of the track.
The two “bases” had the names of “Alpha Force” and “Zero Squad”.
By hitting the tank with the marble “blasts”, it would cause it to turn in the direction of the opponent on the opposite end.
Once the tank strikes the “base” of the opponent, the base pops off the track, signifying the end of a round or game. Rather simple game, but memorable one for sure!
3. Space Spinner – Playskool
For avid UFO fans, and young. kids who loved gyroscopes, the Space Spinner was a favorite.
When revving up, it would make an unworldly wearing noise, I can to the stereo typical UFO sightings publicized in the 1970s.
Once at full speed, it can be set on a table, desk or something similar and watch as the saucer spins rapidly, maintaining its orientation along the horizontal axis.
Simple, yet it can prime a kids’ interest into why it stays balanced (e.g. Angular momentum, gyroscopes, etc). Besides scientific and engineering principles behind how these toys work, they should at least inspire children to love technology and Space.
For The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, I’m Gimmick Commander Ben Faltinowski! 🙂
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