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Tinker Toys
by Creative
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Read memories from others. |
This memory was added on: November 7, 2009
I actually still have a set of Giant Tinker Toys. My brother and I used to play with them quite a bit. We would make things and try to get our cats to stay in them.As though the cats really appreciated it. My box is beat up and I'm not quite sure that all of the pieces are there . I'm just sad my sons did not get to play with them when they were younger(since my dad gave them to me when they were older), I'm wondering if my neice and nephew would have as much fun with them as we did growing up. Did not realize just how many people had them as kids. But You don't find too many people who still have theirs.
Autumn's Mom
This memory was added on: May 20, 2007
Tinker toys! Almost as good as my Erector set, maybe even better. I never cut myself on the tinker toys. A few years ago, my mom found a huge set at Costco and bought it for my for Christmas. My son and I fight over it sometimes. *grin* I remember trying to build the biggest tower ever, and being SO happy when I got it to 4 feet tall. Of course, I wan't 4 feet tall until after 10 years old, so maybe that's why I was impressed. Now I want to go home and get them out.
RyAnne
1974
This memory was added on: March 5, 2007
i have tinker toys at my house and i still play with them. i rember when in was little i always used to play with them with my brothers in was the only one who used to build these weird cars and other figures all my brothers would always be building, buildings and houses.
Margaux
1960
This memory was added on: December 27, 2006
We had just about every toy that was on the market in the 60's and 70's and I have many a fond memory of a great childhood and many fantastic childhood memories of Christmases of years gone by. Tinker Toy... one of my favorite of all time, that along with my wooden building blocks and Lincoln Logs. I loved the smell of the Tinker toys wood material. I'd spend hours making all kinds of contraptions. I remember making a windmill device that actually spun when the wind blew on it or a person blew on it.
Roger
This memory was added on: December 26, 2006
Giant Tinker Toys were the best toy ever.I just got my 5yr. old daughter a "Cranium" fort set.It's not the same,but she said it's her favorite toy that Santa brought.
Brian
1969
This memory was added on: December 8, 2006
I remember sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor with my tinker toys while my mother was cooking supper. I'd make all sorts of contraptions and play with them. and I loved the way they smelled.
even today when I'm in a store and I see tinker toys, my mind goes back to those young innocent years of playing.
sherry
1960
This memory was added on: December 2, 2006
I can not believe Tinker Toys are still around I was born in 1976 and they are still around !! how many toys can we say that about?
Matt Ribout
1976
This memory was added on: November 14, 2006
My brothers & I had the large plastic set and spent hours making forts on the upstairs landing. Now my brother & I are trying to find some for his son, especially since he has told him how much fun they are. Best memories. But I can't find the giant tinker toys anywhere! We had the small, wooden ones, too - and they were fun enough, but nothing like the big ones.
Susan
1969
This memory was added on: November 14, 2006
I got the Giant Tinkertoys as a young child or Christmas. I loved trying to make a house with them in the back yard. Recently, my parents got them out of their attic and brought them over to my house. Now my kids are playing with them.
Susan
1965
This memory was added on: November 8, 2006
My church had a set of Giant Tinkertoys when I was a small boy back in the early 70s. My fondest Christmas memory was finding them under the tree when I was 5. Last week, I found them in the old attic. They need some cleanup and many of the connector pieces are broken. Good sets on eBay seem to fetch $200+.
A few years ago, Hasbro (I think) had a notice online that they were going to bring them back. I put gave them my email address to be notified, but never was. I guess they decided not to go through with it...
Scott.
1967
This memory was added on: September 29, 2006
Tinker toys are the best! I remember making odd things - and the same things over and over again: tall ships, the Wright Brother's plane (with engine drive that moved both props with a rubber band), windmills that spun in the A/C, and a swing-wing fighter things that lets the wings fold back.
I made my younger brother sort the pieces into piles according to size to make the building process more efficient. I think the colors for sizes went like this, largest to smallest:
Purple Green Red Blue Yellow Orange
We called the orange ones "tiny-ones."
We got another set that had plastic pieces and plastic wheels, etc. There was a little pill-looking plastic piece that was used to interconnect two of the plastic trains like a train car. My brother swallowed one, and it came out in his poop. I have no idea why my mother was worried about that...
Too much tinker toy development work caused the sockets to become loose, and the sticks would not fit in tight... darn!
But the worst was when you got those pesky large thin wooden disks used for wheels (they had no outer sockets) stick on a stick.... two could get jammed on there together and there was no getting them off.
My Wright Brother's plane needed an angle to get the sticks to go back to the tail, so I just forced it a bit... it worked, but ended up bending (smashing) this tips of the sticks.
Do you remember the tinker toy smell? They didn't taste too bad if you licked them as well... the bare wood parts - was that cedar?
The only other building toy that matched the fun of tinker-toys was that plastic "bridge and girder construction set" - that was awesome!
Sv
1972
This memory was added on: July 15, 2006
I also had the giant tinker toy set, and i still do. Well i have about half of the set left. My 5 year old boyplays with them more than any other toy,by far. It is a great "old school" toy that encourages imagination. I have also been looking for a new set for him.
Kyle
1971
This memory was added on: July 14, 2006
I've been looking for a set of giant tinker toys on and off for a couple of years for my kids. My brother & I used to play with them and noone ever knows what I'm talking about when I mention them. Oh, and I ran screaming down the hallway & jumped into the box and ended up with 6 stitches in the back of my mouth at about 6 or 7 years old, but that was the only bad memory... Still can't believe that neither me or my brother know where they disappeared to... Anyway, if ANYONE knows where I can find some, please e-mail me.
Philip Scoggins
1970
This memory was added on: July 8, 2006
I had the Large tinker toys too. We built forts and made guns with rubber bands and shot paper out them. You could build anything! I am looking for a set now for my daughter who is 3 1/2. If anyone knows where i can get them please e-mail me rungor@gmail.com. Thanks. Those were the best toys!
Rebecca
1973
This memory was added on: June 11, 2006
I had the giant Tinker Toys growing up as well. I got them for Christmas in the early '70. I would love to get any information anyone has on the giant Tinker Toy product. I tried looking the company up awhile back with no success. I use to have the original box and directions, but, after much love from my children I am down to one page of the directions and the box did not survive the last space trip. I remember making every giant, house, crane, airplane, etc. picture in the directions.
John
1964
This memory was added on: June 8, 2006
My father was art director for Questor/Child Guidance in the 60's and 70's. That was most likely the reason my sister and I appeared on the box of Giant Tinker toys and other sets. Good times, fond memories! Now to find some old sets before they all dissapear.
Kris
1968
This memory was added on: June 3, 2006
I shot myself in the eye. Really. I put a rubber band on a purple stick and tried to make a bow and arrow. I still have a sliver of green wood in the white of my eye.
Laura
1963
This memory was added on: May 14, 2006
What I remember most about tinker toys was pieces getting stuck in other pieces and not being able to get them out.
Bob Smith
1963
This memory was added on: April 28, 2006
i had them really young. I alwas wanted to make a car
i was young once
1971
This memory was added on: April 8, 2006
My stepmom has a set of the Giant plastic pieces where the cogs are about 5 or 6 inches big. we posted them on Craig's List here in Seattle. I just found this site as I was looking to find history or value about them. I see Gerry was here only 2 weeks ago and asking for them specifically, so Gerry you can contact me by email. she is hoping they will go to a collector or someone who has a child that will enjoy them. tiki489@hotmail.com
Lorrie
1963
This memory was added on: March 27, 2006
I remember my brother having both tinker toys and lincoln logs but he wouldn't let me play with them when he wasn't around i used to take various parts and hide them from him. somehow, he always knew it was me...
so now, at the age of 45 I have my own set!!
Carolyn
1961
This memory was added on: March 27, 2006
Does anyone out there have the big tinker toys set. My children loved it and I would really like to find one for my grandson
Gerry
This memory was added on: February 23, 2006
Who needs an erector set when tinker toys were available! I remember the real deal wooden ones. I remember the green plastic pieces that were used to make a windmill or propeller. Great times with TToys. Some of my earliest memories are with TToys & Linkin Logs! I can honestly saw I don't ever remember large size or plastic TToys. That must have been a later thing. TToys I played with in mid sixties. I don't remember doing well with the rubberbands? I do remember string for cü
Dan
1959
This memory was added on: February 12, 2006
So amusing finding out that other people made light sabers out of these as well. My older brother and I had a duel and I remember the connector sliding away (orange handle, grey connector, blue 'blade') as I swung. He ended up needing stitches on the forehead, while I ran and hid under my bed. Apart from that I loved these!
Brandon
1969
This memory was added on: February 1, 2006
Oh My GOSH...I am cracking up hearing all of you...because everyone thinks I am crazy when I talk about the giant tinker toys. I wanted to get my son a set of regular ones for christmas and couldn't find them...glad to have found them on ebay. If he plays with them as much as his lincoln logs, it will be GREAT!
Lisa
1970
This memory was added on: January 27, 2006
I had tinker toys but I also had the Giant Tinker Toys. Does anybody remember those? I used to build forts and large cars. Just wondering if they are still available. Please let me know!
Mike O.
1967
This memory was added on: January 25, 2006
I loved them too. To get a set try e-bay. I just found a site www.toobeez.com. They sell something similar.
karen renaldi
1969
This memory was added on: December 16, 2005
Giant Tinker Toys are great for keeping kids occupied forever. We got ours sometime in the mid-70s. Lucky for us, my mom actually kept ours - even though she gave away all our GI Joes and Tonka trucks. My 8-year old daughter loves em. She makes forts and houses and "camps out" for hours in the playroom. They've held up surprisingly well after 30 years.
Bill
1966
This memory was added on: December 13, 2005
Yeah, we had them too. I have to say that this was the biggest in the neighborhood when my brother and i got the giant tinker toys for Christmas, I think it was '79. We would build cars, and play star wars with them. I would love to get these for my boys. They were great weren't they?!
david
1969
This memory was added on: December 3, 2005
In kindergarten, we would have "play time" and instead of heading for the dolls and girl related toys, I would always play with the Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs with the boys.
Lori
1972
This memory was added on: November 4, 2005
Yes!! Giant Tinker Toys! My husband thinks I'm goofy! I'm glad to see that there are others out there that remember these. Our neighbor (at the time) bought a set for my siblings and I. We loved them!! I wish my parents had saved them for the grandchildren. Any leads?
Wendy
1969
This memory was added on: October 7, 2005
We had the giant Tinker Toys as well. When "Star Wars" came out, the big, green tube became a lightsaber and my brothers and I would duel. I have very fond memories of playing Luke and Darth with those. We made a lot of forts with them too. Those were awesome and totally durable and fun.
Sandra
1969
This memory was added on: September 28, 2005
I found a set on e-bay. Couldn't believe them. I guess you just need to check periodically.
Kelly
1972
This memory was added on: September 19, 2005
I am also trying to explain the giants to my spouse! Anyone find a lead? I'd love to get a set.
Adrienne
1970
This memory was added on: September 17, 2005
I tried explaining the giant tinker toys I used to have to my wife. They were so versitile. They made forts, cars, drum sets, swords, etc. I would love to buy some for my daughter. I went to the hasbro website and saw that they don't make them anymore. I was not able to locate any on e-bay either. Any ideas???
M. B.
1971
This memory was added on: August 31, 2005
Not only to I remember the Giant Tinker Toys I am looking for them. Does anyone know where I could acquire a set. I loved those things. They were in our house for years.
Kelly
1972
This memory was added on: August 31, 2005
My sister, brother and I played for hours building forts witht the giant tinker toys. We made cars and tables. THey were great for hours of make believe play. Does anyone know if and where you can still buy them? I want to get a set for my son.
Kim
1964
This memory was added on: August 26, 2005
Hey, not only do I remember giant tinker toys, I still have the original set (minus the cool box) that I played with as a kid! I just built a stand out of them for my 10 year old's electronic keyboard and he thought it was awesome. Certainly gives his room that retro look!
In another 8-10 months my 3 month old will want to play with them. Can't think of another toy that has spanned so many years....
robb
1965
This memory was added on: August 23, 2005
My favorite toy as a kid was my giant tinker-toys. I was able to build everything from airplanes to swords with those multicolored pieces of plastic. If I would have known the impact they would eventually play in my life I would have kept them when I hit my teens. Instead I tossed them out with my other childish toys
like my G.I. Joe with the kung-fu grip or my Six Million Dollar Man with the bionic eye
I sure miss them too!
Rich
1967
This memory was added on: August 4, 2005
I love this site! I just found it...
Tinkertoys...I could spend HOURS playing with them - I never could make the things they had on the paper that came in the canister, but I still had a great time building stuff. So much better than Legos.
I was disappointed to find a few years ago that they are now made of PLASTIC (when buying my nephew a Christmas present - I got him Lincoln Logs instead). What memories! (
Karen
1962
This memory was added on: June 24, 2005
My brother and I had hand me down tinker toys from our older cousins. I loved the smell of the box, the bright unwoodlike colors of the sticks and the round wooden pieces which reminded me of cookies. I still remember the perfect red circle of blood on the bedsheet that formed when my brother jammed it into the inside of his upper lip while bouncing violently on the bed with a tinker toy in each hand. He went from glee to panic in between jumps!
Barry
1969
This memory was added on: June 17, 2005
I had a giant-size version of Tinker Toys. They were huge (the round connectors were as wide as a dinner plate). The tubes were maybe 1 meter long. We built tent-sized forts.
Dusty
1969
This memory was added on: October 4, 2004
I used to try to make club houses with the Tinker Toys... then I would try to make cars and stuff, but I could never really manage to build anything that resembled what I wanted.
Although those years are way behind me, I feel like I've lived through them. I know everything about them anyway... Child of the Sixties... that's what mother calls me!
Mary
1990
This memory was added on: August 27, 2004
As a matter of fact I do remember giant tinker toys. My sister and I had them in the early seventies, and amazingly, she just managed to track down a mint set in original box as a gift for my newborn son. Mindblowing, yes.
Dan Nemeth
1968
This memory was added on: August 9, 2004
I definitely remember those. My sister had them and they were pretty neat. I use to have my sister make a clicker for me out of them. I think they still make them don't they? Here is a real mind blower, does anyone remember the giant tinker toys?
Larry G
1971
This memory was added on: July 22, 2004
This message is for Leslie @ rogers.com. My Son, who is 7, has a set of Tinker Toys.The real deal! Not an imitation. tHese are the genuine wooden pieces, just like the one's we had when we were kids... I get all "misty eyed", when I think about alot of these toys and games. So much has changed in 20-25 years, that I fear for alot of Children in the future. Noone knows what it's like to use your mind building skyscrapers using blocks and wood chips and NOT a computer. Actually using their brains, NOT the computer's brain! And the action figures?! Gosh! Where do I begin...? Everything was so simple back then. And now? Everything is SO complex...Makes my head hurt to think about it... I'm glad to know my Son thinks that the toys I had were "cool". Not to mention...He STILL thinks his Dad's cool too...
j.Love
1973
This memory was added on: July 11, 2004
What a great toy!!! We played with them whenever we could! And it was for GIRLS as well as boys!!!so we didn't miss out on a fantastic toy to play with.
Terry-Lynn Wood
1959
This memory was added on: July 4, 2004
Definitly a favorite. Today I think K'Nex Classic are vastly superior.
In 1989 I went shopping for some construction toys. I was shocked, there was nothing much but Legos, which I quite dislike. Plenty of shelf space for war toys though. Very sad.
Kiddo
1957
This memory was added on: June 21, 2004
I'm also a big fan of this toy. I got my Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs from my cousin, who was entering his teen years and wasn't interested in them anymore. Since they were really durable, I had to hand them down to my younger cousins once my grandma decided I was too old to play with them (family tradition?). Now I have two sons (ages 6 and 4) and they have their own Tinker Toys (made of wood, not plastic) and Lincoln Logs, and they won't have to give them away to anyone.
Gabbi
1967
This memory was added on: May 11, 2004
I had several sets of tinker toys and spent hours with them. Also had the lincoln logs and an erector set. Found them a few years ago when my own kids were growing up. Today, My grand kids are playing with them and I hope they will be passed on and on forever.
Rob
1956
This memory was added on: July 14, 2003
I agree Joe, I loved lincoln logs too!
Jerry
1967
This memory was added on: July 12, 2003
I still argue to this day that TinkerToys and Lincoln Logs and The Erector sets are the best toys any kid coiuld have ever played with.
HeyJoe
1964
This memory was added on: July 3, 2003
I used to love these things. Only had one bad experience....during kindergarden, another kid had used the rest of the set to make a gun. I wanted to play with it also, but he wouldn't let me. I finally grabbed it from him and poked him in the eye with it. The teacher drug me by my throat to the corner, where I had to stay for the rest of class. Oh, well, in 1970 teachers could get away with that.....
John
1964
This memory was added on: June 24, 2003
I agree about the ferris wheel, NOTHING better.. ahhh what a great toy that was! hours and hours of keeping me quiet..
DR
1968
This memory was added on: June 21, 2003
I loved the concept of Tinker Toys, however I'd put them together and then couldn't take them apart (I was only 5 though). My five year old recently received them as a gift (they are actually available in wood again now) and they are very cool. My five year old isn't as interested in them as my nine year old is, she doesn't have much luck getting them apart either. My nine year old has built the ferris wheel and lots of other cool stuff though.
Ceci
1972
This memory was added on: June 11, 2003
I LOVED playing with my Tinker Toys! (And Lincoln Logs too.) I never actually had them, but my grandparents did. So every time I visited them I asked to play with them. I think they were amazed at what a 4 year old girl could build, but maybe they just pretended to be amazed. I think they belonged to my Uncle when he was younger, because when he stopped by he could build the wildest gadgets, wheels and cars I had ever seen. And they usually worked!
Tracy Drane
1966
This memory was added on: May 30, 2003
I LOVED this toy so much. I wish it was still around for my daughter to enjoy but all I have found are plastic imitations :O(
Leslie
1964
This memory was added on: May 15, 2003
One of the best toys ever invented! You could use your imagination to build everything from an atom to a zoo. I credit this toy (along with Lincoln Logs & Erector sets) for starting me out on my first steps towards becoming an aeronautical engineer. I'll put Tinker Toys up against any video game anytime and any day.
Ed
1961
This memory was added on: May 14, 2003
If I had a kid, he or she would have lots and lots of Tinker Toys. I loved it and used it for years. There is nothing cooler than making a Tinker Toy ferris wheel. NOTHING.
Chris Conner
1966
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