Larry Hudson <org### [at] yahoocom> wrote:
> Eero Ahonen wrote:
> > Larry Hudson wrote:
> >
> >>I was born in '37 so I'm also a grumbling old man (more of a curmudgeon
> >>actually).   ;-)   So my childhood was also pre-plastics.  My equivalent
> >>nostalgia is for (all metal) Erector Sets.
> >
> >
> > I have a strange feeling that that name would be considered somewhat
> > weird and/or unsuitable for children's set.
> >
> LOL
>
> Nevertheless, "Erector Sets" as they were called, were very well known
> and popular toy construction sets at that time (late 40's, early 50's or
> so).  I had great fun with mine -- a mid-range set.  Always dreamed of
> having their biggest set, but could never afford it -- or rather, my
> parents couldn't.  ;-)  Of course, earlier than this were the all-wood
> Tinker Toys, also very well-known and popular at the time.
>
> Tinker Toys consisted of a bunch of wooden wheels and rods (dowels) of
> various lengths.  I don't remember any other shapes, but there might
> have been.  The wheels had a hole in their center and eight more around
> the rim where the rods could be inserted to connect them.  The ends of
> the rods had a slight taper and a narrow slit.  This slit gave tnem a
> slight springiness, and could also take other things like strings as
> additional ways of connecting them.
>
> Going by my very imperfect memory, they looked somewhat like the
> attached picture.
>
> Tinkey Toys were more for toddlers and Erector Sets more for "budding
> engineers"  ;-)  Of course, sadly, these days something like an original
> Erector Set could never make it to market -- too dangerous.  Lots of
> nuts and bolts and stuff that could be swallowed, and the pieces were
> thin sheet metal which could cut or poke an eye.  I really pity the
> current younger generation for being so coddled and overprotected.  "In
> my day", sure we got hurt, but that was just a normal part of growing
> up.  And we learned a lot on the way.
>
>       -=- Larry -=-

Yah must have got cut or hurt on the erector set a few times.
Lincoln Logs would be easy CSG for a log cabin.

Airy new age can't compare to Nostalgia Factor. Everything was so right, once
upon a time ...

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