[Michael Piziak]

(4) My first computer, a Sinclair ZX-81 (I think it was branded "Timex" in the USA) bought for my 11th birthday (at my request)... I learned to program on this (playing computer games was never really my "thing"), and because of the incredibly-limited 1K of RAM (of which around half was available for code and data), coding efficiency was a necessity. It served as an amazing introduction to what would become my early career... so, whilst I was having a lot of fun and didn't think about the educational aspect, it was indeed an education

Thanks for the reply &

Amazing at what starts off as a fun hobby in our youth can turn into a career !

[ChrisPlatt]

Mine was from around when I was 8 or 10. I got a Secret Sam attache case with all the spy kit, including a camera that would take pictures while the case was closed. I felt so 007 !

My Man from U.N.C.L.E. camera turned into a pistol and the portable radio into a rifle.

Chris

[Michael Piziak]

I had a collection of Bossons Heads that my parents bought me when I was very young. I remember especially the Sardinian fisherman and the pirate (with a parrot on his shoulder). I don't know what happened to them but wish I still had them.

This is the first I've heard of the Bosson heads. I did a quick Google and I think they are made in northern U.K. (?)
They are very realistic looking and I can see how they can be quite collectible. I do wander how much $ some of them auction for...

[ChrisPlatt]

I would love to have a classic Parker Brothers "Sea Diver" cartesian diving bell toy/game from my youth.
I must not be the only one as their prices on eBay are astronomical.

https://www.samstoybox.com/toys/SeaDiver.html

I see there's a pretty good knockoff called CLAWSOME available on Amazon...

Chris

[Michael Piziak]

I have read all of your replies and find it very cool to read what you guys/gals had as children and the memorable stories about them!
I'm actually a bit surprised that no cameras/stories were posted - smiles!

Keep em coming!

Besides the Apple 2 computer, I would like to add the electric Tyco racing car set. Days after Christmas, my Uncle made it around and brought me one. It was one of my favorite memories to this day. I have browsed the auction site and almost pulled the trigger, a few times, on buying another one. The company still makes them new, and they are quite expensive new now a days...

[gofour3]

Early teens electric football, late teens disco....

Phil.

[BigMackCam]

Early teens electric football, late teens disco....

Phil.

You looked fabulous in that disco suit, Phil

[timb64]

You looked fabulous in that disco suit, Phil

……and there was me thinking red really was his colour

[Riggomatic]

Great post, Michael

... orange flexible plastic track - I think it was by Matchbox, or perhaps Hotwheels...

My brother and I usually ended up with one piece of track in each hand, flailing them in a wild whoosh of orange blurs, sometimes making contact with the satisfying crack .

[ChrisPlatt]

My brother and I usually ended up with one piece of track in each hand, flailing them in a wild whoosh of orange blurs, sometimes making contact with the satisfying crack .

The Mattel Hot Wheels track was orange, not sure about the Matchbox.

Though I preferred Hot Wheels, if you removed the clear plastic cover on the ramp of the Johnny Lightning 500 race track set you could launch the cars into space!

Early teens electric football...

Boy that thing made a racket!

Players in my electric football game invariably ended up running around in circles.
Looked more like a square dance than a football game.

The little spring-loaded white metal kicker was cool!

I inherited the game and never had an original "ball".
I would fold up a foil chewing gum wrapper...

Chris

[Michael Piziak]

Early teens electric football, late teens disco....

Phil.

Mad do remember the electric football game!
I wonder if a kid every truly made a successful forward pass! LOL!

---------- Post added 06-08-22 at 07:36 PM ----------

The Mattel Hot Wheels track was orange, not sure about the Matchbox.

Though I preferred Hot Wheels, if you removed the clear plastic cover on the ramp of the Johnny Lightning 500 race track set you could launch the cars into space!





Boy that thing made a racket!

Players in my electric football game invariably ended up running around in circles.
Looked more like a square dance than a football game.

The little spring-loaded white metal kicker was cool!

I inherited the game and never had an original "ball".
I would fold up a foil chewing gum wrapper...

Chris

I think Bill Belichick obtains some of his key plays, each year, from that thing!

[bigted]

Now everyone will know where my forum name comes from.

Big Ted was given to my Mum when she was 2 years old. He was a Christmas present from her father (my grandfather). She named him Big Ted and the name remained when he was passed down to me. This year Big Ted is eligiable for retirement as he is now 73 years old. He has had replacement paws - at least twice and replacement eyes also twice. The last time was because my younger brother threw him from the top bunk of our bunk beds. My Mum believes his original eye colour was brown He's presumed to be Irish and it is thought that any tags he might have had were lost when the paws were replaced for the first time. His nose has had some cosmetic surgery and his growler is silent. In fact I don't ever remember him growling. He now sits quietly in my bedroom.

[gofour3]

Boy that thing made a racket!

Players in my electric football game invariably ended up running around in circles.
Looked more like a square dance than a football game.

The little spring-loaded white metal kicker was cool!

I inherited the game and never had an original "ball".
I would fold up a foil chewing gum wrapper...

Mad do remember the electric football game!
I wonder if a kid every truly made a successful forward pass! LOL!

Yeah not the easiest game to master as a kid, but we still had lots of fun playing it! If I remember correctly you could "sort of" control a players movement by bending the brushes under the base???

Phil.

---------- Post added 08-06-22 at 20:58 ----------

You looked fabulous in that disco suit, Phil

……and there was me thinking red really was his colour

I actually had a friend that looked like John Travolta and wore a three piece white suit to discos.

I was more mundane and stuck to dark blue and grey.

Fun times.

Phil.

[ChrisPlatt]

I had a nok hockey game as well.

My friends family had the way-cooler Bobby Hull Hockey Game where the players were controlled by rods.

In college like many of my dormmates I got pretty good at foosball aka table soccer...

Chris

[bobD]

For my 12th birthday a set of Marples carving chisels....50 years on still use them.
Things were built to last....fathers chose great gifts.

Marples Wood Carving Set - Mahogany Handles - 153 - Review