Sentimental Journey

[Skip Wolfe]

Monte Davis writes:
>Robby Robot, a completely pre-digital gray & red plastic robot about 
>18
>inches tall. A wire-wound cable led to a pistol-shaped grip with a 
>crank
>that drove his wheels, and (I think) a trigger that caused him to turn 
>as
>he rolled. As he proceeded, his battery-powered eyes blinked and he 
>chanted
>scratchily: "I am Robby Robot, mech-an-i-cal man/ Drive me and steer 
>me
>wher-ev-er you can."

Robbie is always the first toy that pops into my head when I think of my
childhood.  I saw one at the (now defunct) Atlanta Toy Museum a few years
ago.

Also, O-gauge Lionel trains with the little pills you put in the
smokestack to make smoke, the unrealistic 3-rail tracks,  the cattle car
with the little cows that jiggle up (or down) the ramp, and the myriad
snap-together Plasticville buildings.

Tinker Toys.

Chemistry sets (Chem-craft I think was the brand), that came in a metal
case, and had, among the other chemicals, TANNIC ACID.  Wow -- I'm
working with _real acid_!