Toy Nostalgia (Part 1)

Many vintage toys from decades ago seem to have cross-generational appeal, inspiring fascination amongst the children of today whilst conjuring up magical memories for grown-ups now in their thirties and beyond. Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic toys from the 1980s and 1990s in our Toy Nostalgia Blog Part 1.

1. TEDDY RUXPIN

80s favourite Teddy Ruxpin was a talking bear that inspired fear and joy in equal measure. The bear moved his mouth and eyes whilst reading out stories from tapes placed inside his back. Teddy remains so popular that he recently underwent a makeover and was given LCD eyes, entertaining and terrifying a whole new generation of fans.

2. FISHER PRICE TAPE RECORDER

Whilst we’re on the subject of cassette tapes, the Fisher-Price tape player was amongst the objects most commonly seen in kids’ bedrooms during the eighties and nineties. As with many toys of its era, the item has been modernised by many amateur hobbyists over the years, with one grown-up owner famously turning his into a Bluetooth-enabled device.

3. MY LITTLE PONY

My Little Pony was first produced in 1981 and is one of the most iconic kids' toys of its age, known for its distinctive symbols and colourful body. The toy peaked in popularity in 1990 and was discontinued a year later, but made a brief comeback in 1997 before being removed from shelves again in 1999. However, a 2003 revival proved more successful, with the My Little Pony still popular with young kids.

4. RUBIK’S CUBE

The Rubik’s Cube combination puzzle left kids and adults everywhere scratching their heads in the world of games and puzzles. The multicoloured puzzle originated in Hungary and was originally known as the Magic Cube before being bought by Ideal Toy Corp. The toy is apparently the biggest-selling in the world and required players to return each face to a single colour by twisting its parts continuously until the right outcome was reached.

5. TAMAGOTCHI

Tamagotchis were virtual pets who lived their lives on the screens of small pocket-friendly devices. The object of the game was to nurture your pet, keep it alive and play with it to keep it happy, disciplining it when necessary. The Tamagotchi was created in Japan, peaking in popularity between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

6. POWER RANGERS FIGURES

7. GAME BOY

8. TALKBOY

Famously featuring in the Home Alone movies, Talkboy was a portable variable-speed cassette recorder and player first manufactured by Tiger Electronics. The original device was released on the same day Home Alone 2 opened in cinemas in December 1992, with several spin-offs being produced over the years, including the Deluxe Talkboy and pink-coloured Talkgirl. Technology and toys have changed drastically since then, with new inventions such as Virtual Reality Smart Phone Headsets, PlayStation and Smart TV all paving the way.