Name That List, #20

What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.

A telephone powered by the sun's rays which transmits sound waves for hundreds of feet
A kit for assembling an atomic radiation detector
A flying saucer that floats on a magnetic field
An assembly kit for a turboprop engine that really works
A typewriter that signals in Morse code
A back-yard roller coaster
An HO scale electric auto set
Giant-size dolls that not only walk, but talk

Answer: These were all toys on display at the 57th annual American Toy Fair in New York City, March 1960. (Source: Newsweek, Mar 21, 1960). I found a picture (below) of a prototype of the typewriter that signalled in Morse Code (via Modern Mechanix). But what, I wonder, were those giant walking, talking dolls?

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Tue Feb 26, 2013
Category: Name That List

Comments

I missed. I'd seen where some dude had built a 'coster in his back yard a couple of years ago and thought that was it.... It wasn't.

However, Alex, give this outfit a shout about those dolls, they've been around since 1916. The Toy Industry Assn., Inc.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/26/13 at 10:37 AM

I though Hammacher-Schlemmer Christmas specials for the customer who has everything, including more money than one person ever needed.

Posted by ScoutC on 02/26/13 at 07:46 PM

My Guess was toys available for order from comic books or from collecting Bazooka Joe wrappers.

Posted by Billy on 02/27/13 at 04:00 AM

Thought it was your childhood toys Alex. The doll made me wonder, but we don't judge 'round here. 😉

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 02/28/13 at 08:54 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.