Kodiak Mirror

New Toys Keep up with Times, Recall Past

Toys for Christmas, 1958, are abreast of the times, but the past is not forgotten.

"Youngsters will anticipate the headlines by maneuvering fully-manned rocket ships," says Mel Freud, president of Toy Guidance Council. "Playrooms will reproduce Cape Canaveral's satellite launching equipment in authentic miniature."

"Both girls and boys will be recruited to the role of research scientists by a record number of kits keyed to teach astronomy, agricultural chemistry, mineralogy, entomology and other basic sciences."

"In contrast are an equally varied number of new toys inspired by the pioneer West, executed with authentic detail."

"Career toys, keyed to discovering and developing juvenile aptitudes, play an important role in Santa's new pack. New girder-panel sets, for example, will instruct the young engineer-architect in the art of building super highways. Even the kindergartner will try his hand at suburban development with blocks that reproduce shopping centers and civic centers in every detail."

Santa's pack holds a new kit to intrigue the pre-school set with clock repairing, a miniature version of an industrial tool belt equipped with tools, a battery-operated play drill with interchangeable parts including a furniture buffer, a printing set that prints in two colors with plastic type.

For the junior doctor-nurse team there is a hospital unit on wheels. Photographic experts are recruited from the toddler ranks with a new toy camera which simulates a flash bulb operation by a trigger which clicks against a bell. A tiny blackboard doubles as film.

High-style housewares are in evidence. Kitchen appliances are in matching pastels, junior table service includes carafe sets with wrought iron holders and Western style copper trimmed barbecue utensils.

The young mother can wash baby doll in a bathmaster that hoists the doll in and out of a miniature folding tub by levers.

For young musicians there are a table top electric pipe organ, a twirling baton that lights up, a roll harmonica with changeable player rolls, automatic player drums and a top that changes chords as it spins.

New for the play pen set are soft plastic telephones on suction cup stands and animated pin-up lights. The cradle gym, 1958 style, has music box attachments.

The stuffed animal kingdom features whimsical and sad expressions. The seal is a new addition. Music boxes in zippered pockets are easily removed when wash day comes.

Highlights of toyland's rocket age include a two-stage model that fires 150 feet into the air. There's a motorized satellite that operates on a gyroscopic principle.

The new playroom planetariums project constellations and reproduce solar and lunar phases.

Build-them-yourself scale model rockets, space ships, space stations and missile batteries have been designed from official blueprints.

To make sure the girls take an interest in science, there's a girl's lab technician set.
For a little she and space-minded he: For her it's a camera which simulates a flash bulb operation by a trigger which clicks against a bell; for him an authentic miniature of the trucks used to haul rockets to the Cape Canaveral rocket launching site.

For the professional child: The big Bassett hound is a willing subject for this young nurse's experimental work with bandages and a bagful of first aid equipment. The highway engineer, junior grade, builds a super turnpike and bridge with his new girder panel set.