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What items do you recall that were once....but are no more?

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NutmegCT said:
Lincoln Logs and American Bricks!

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I had a Lincoln Log set just like that! I can still remember the smell of the wood in that set. I also had a "Vac-U-Form plastic moulding system. It heated up (very hot) a sheet of plastic, then you closed a lid and pressed the softened plastic sheet onto some shape and made your own plastic toys.

Screenshot 2026-02-25 at 7.29.08 AM.jpeg
 
We also had a Mould Master.I remember getting burned by the
hot goo that you used to make into rubber bugs.
Did any have a Flexi Flier? I didn't,but one of the neighborhood
kids did.It was basicly a snow sled with wheels,& before they had so many
lawyers.
 
Man, I don't think I have the original cardboard boxes for any of my toys these days. My Lincoln logs and Lego are both in plastic tubs.
 
My wife was into Avon years ago, and she bought me a new Avon car or car-related bottle with after shave/cologne bottle every time a new one came out. I think I have about 80 bottles, the VW bug is the oldest, most of them have never been opened, and in the original boxes. All packed away, and have no idea what to do with them. Some guy a few years ago wanted to appraise them, but needless to say, I didn't take him up on it then, but I should have! I have to get rid of a bunch of stuff and in the process of getting things organized. :rolleyes2:
 
I don't think they're worth much.My Mom gave me some
of them,but have no idea where they went to.
I seem to remember that there was a Red MG TC.
 
My mom was recently given two boxes full of those Avon bottles. I got a steam engine bottle, still full of aftershave, for Christmas.
 
And here, ladies and gentlemen - my very own 1956 Geniac! A mechanical, programmable, "calculating engine" that actually worked. Could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and do complex computations like ... hmmm, can't remember. Ran on a single D cell.



Geniac.JPG
 
What about the one that melted plastic and you created your own bugs? You could also use a goo and create edible bug. Incredible Edibles.

We had an old Lincoln Log set of my dad's. Came in a wooden box. We also had his Erector Set. Both of these were from the late 30's early 40's.

Spent many a day with my older brother building things.
 
wow - forgot about the balsa kits. I used to built and fly rubber band powered planes all through junior high. Until one scratched the principal's car anyway ....
 
I was wandering down the model aisle of hobby Lobby the other day, waiting on my daughter, and saw a few balsa airplanes for sale. They were near the model rockets.
 
Basil said:
This picture prompted me to ask, "what items from days past were once common and in some cases necessary, that are no longer around?"

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How about a wire recorder machine.
My dad brought one home, it was probably an antique then back in 1950s.
I can say only that it did work but not High Fidelity.
We eventually got a tape recorder, reel to reel.
 
Gliderman8 said:
I also miss building balsa airplane kits and the Cox gas engines I used to fly them.
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I had the American Boy kit. I think that's what it was called.
Flat fuselage and flat wing with the Cox 0.049 ci. engine.
It was the one with wires and hand controller where it flew around in a circle.
After weeks of assembly, paint and engine testing we launched it.
It made an immediate climb and loop and nosedived into the ground.
The engine and prop survived so we mounted it on a stand.
Love the sound and fury of that little motor.
My next door neighbor had a basement full of RC planes, some completed some not.
I didn't think model airplanes could be that large.
Also couldn't comprehend flying one and doing an immediate climb and loop and nosedive into the ground.
 
AngliaGT said:
We used to buy kites that we'd put together & fly.
They were 10 cents.
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We had them too.
Lots of overhead wires on our street.
We also had a hard time getting the tails to stabilize the rig.
If we ever got the tails right and found a way between the wires I don't recall.
 
equiprx said:
We had them too.
Lots of overhead wires on our street.
We also had a hard time getting the tails to stabilize the rig.
If we ever got the tails right and found a way between the wires I don't recall.
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made tennis ball cannons out of three steel soda cans; used lighter fluid. I guess potato cannons are the current equivalent. Remember cap guns and cap rockets? I see they're available on ebay.
 
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