As a team of makers, doers and creative thinkers we love our gadgets, toys and technology at Pd-m. We recently took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about some of our most memorable toys as children.
Our diverse team spans the decades from growing up in the 60s to the noughties and while some toys have stood the test of time (Lego being the obvious one) there are others that have since been ousted by the advance of digital technology.
Chemistry set
Nick Bramley, Business Development
“As a toy I cannot see past Lego. There is a reason why in 2000 it was named Toy of the Century. When I was a kid in the 60s and 70s it wasn't nearly as sophisticated with all the motors and tech found in today’s Lego kits. But nevertheless you could play for hours, just building and letting your imagination run free.
Back when I was ten I remember receiving a toy for Christmas, which kids would most certainly not get today and would horrify their parents, and that’s a chemistry set with chemicals that were probably toxic. I remember being in my bedroom one day, mixing a concoction of these chemicals in a test tube with no thought process other than ‘oh, that's a nice bright colour.’
As I began heating it up over the bunsen burner that ran off methylated spirits, the cork stopper blew off and the whole thing exploded upwards and burst yellow and orange liquid all over my ceiling and wall. To the day we moved out of that house we could not paint over the mark it made. Thinking back, it’s crazy that I was left to my own devices with all those chemicals! I’m sure you won’t get anything like that these days.”
Subbuteo
Richard Hall, Managing Director
“While there weren’t many gadgets around when I was growing up in the 70s, a memorable toy from my childhood is the table football game Subbuteo.
It was basically a fabric football pitch that you’d unravel, lay on a completely flat surface, iron if there were any creases, set up your two football teams - a red and a blue team - that had counterweights, bring in the massive football and place on the goals. You could also buy extra accessories like stadium seating and floodlights.
It was an immersive, tactile experience that involved a decent dollop of imagination to be able to set up the different scenarios for your football teams and then skill to be able to play.
I have fond memories of playing it with my siblings however, I'm sure it was frustrating too as there was a fair bit of preparation before you could actually start playing the game. Not to mention then having to pack it all away again afterwards. But that's the tricks that memory plays on you. And to this day, I can still remember the strap line and jingle.
Today kids can play games like these at a switch of a button. It’s probably the analogue version of FIFA, which is played on the Xbox.”
Sindy doll (with extendable hair)
Julia Van Zelst, Accountant
“As a very young kid, one of my most precious possessions was a Sindy doll that had extendable hair. You’d push her stomach and her hair would extend and then on her back was a way to wind it up again. I loved it because I could make all sorts of different hairstyles.
As an older child, I remember my Nana buying me a Philips Transistor radio, which was leather clad with the tuning dials on the top. It also had one wired earpiece so that I could listen without disturbing my mum or dad. Whilst my Nana used hers to listen to Radio 4 and the World Service, I would often hide under the bed covers at night and tune into Radio Luxembourg to listen to 60s and 70s pop music until god knows what time. As it was based in Luxembourg they could get away with playing the music and not worrying about licenses. Memorably, I remember listening to Radio Luxembourg in the bath when they announced that Elvis had died.”
Lego
Tim Flood, Product Designer
“I was always into mechanical stuff. There was, of course, Lego, but also model making and things like radio controlled cars. Being an inquisitive kid, I also enjoyed taking toys apart and then either modifying them or putting them back together again. My dad and I would often build and modify Lego together.
I remember us making lots of Star Wars figures like AT-ATs. Similarly with my own kids, I’ve played Lego with them, and a lot of those Lego bricks were mine or passed down to me from older family members. And hopefully, it will get passed on to the next generation as it’s a toy that seems to be timeless and has universal appeal.”
Tomagotchi
Beth Sanderson, Product Designer
“The first thing that came to my mind was the Tamagotchi, that small digital pet on a key ring. By today’s standards it seems so archaic with its three buttons and simple design. But I loved that simplicity and have many good memories of playing it and looking after my pets. It was a bit of a novelty that you could take it every where with you but you didn’t feel too distracted by it. I miss that as technology today that you carry in your pocket, like you smart phone, is so distracting. Tomagotchi is probably still around but I imagine it’s far more techie.
Another memorable toy is Playmobil. I would spend ages playing on my own or with my older brother although, as older brothers often do, he would break it up or throw it at me. I think my parents still have all my old Playmobil characters and houses.”
Nintendo games console
Pippa Bridges, Product Designer
“For me it’s the Nintendo Gamecube or Nintendo Wii. I have so many great memories of playing with my siblings, parents and even grandparents. It would bring us together and we’d have an enjoyable time. My brother and I would play Game Cube the most, specifically on Saturday mornings. He had a small telly in his bedroom and after we’d watched the children’s breakfast programme The Saturday Show we’d play on the Game Cube for an hour or until mum came in and told us to stop.
Our Nintendo Wii at the time had a sensor on it, so it could pick up where you are and where your hands are. So we’d play tennis or bowling all together as a family, which was fun. I remember when Guitar Hero first came out, my grandmother, who must have been 80 at the time, playing the guitar. That is a great memory.”
In summary
Having all come from different backgrounds and our ages spanning the decades, there’s a huge variety in the toys and gadgets we played with as kids. Certainly technology has advanced, but one thing that stands out is the tactile experience of play and also immersing yourself in it, whether it’s building Lego, competing in table football or playing Nintendo Wii - we get lost in the play. And, as they say, play is essential for creativity!