Mr. Local History’s 2025 Advent Calendar of Memorable Toys/Gifts & Their History

The Etch A Sketch was introduced in the United States by the Ohio Art Company for the 1960 holiday season, selling for about $2.99. Originally invented in France as L’Écran Magique (“The Magic Screen”), it was renamed and heavily promoted through national television advertising—a bold move at the time. The campaign paid off: the Etch A Sketch became an overnight sensation and one of the top-selling toys of Christmas 1960, quickly establishing itself as a staple of American toy culture. Its popularity endured for decades, eventually earning it a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame and solidifying its reputation as one of the most iconic drawing toys ever made.

The Schwinn Sting Ray Lemon Peeler, produced from 1968 through 1973, was part of Schwinn’s popular Krate Series, a lineup of brightly colored muscle bikes that included the Apple Krate in red, Orange Krate in orange, Pea Picker in green, Cotton Picker in white, and the later Gray Ghost in silver. All shared the same standout features that made the series legendary: a springer front fork, ape hanger handlebars, banana seat with tall sissy bar, small 16 inch front wheel, larger 20 inch rear wheel, and a 5 speed Stik Shift that gave kids the feel of riding a mini chopper. The Lemon Peeler, with its vivid yellow frame, was one of the most memorable models, and when new these bikes sold in the $75 to $80 range.

The first Barbie camper, the orange and yellow Mattel Barbie Country Camper, debuted in 1970 as Barbie’s “swinginest camper on wheels,” featuring a pop out tent, foldout furniture and outdoor gear, and originally sold in department store catalogs for about $10 to $12. Today it is a nostalgic favorite among collectors, with well used loose versions typically valued around $25 to $50 and cleaner, more complete or boxed examples ranging from $80 to $100 or more.

Aurora Plastics Corporation introduced its AFX slot car brand in 1961, quickly becoming one of the most popular home racing systems in the US. The AFX Twister with Lap Counter set shown in your image was released around 1975, using Magna-Traction cars and a 10.5 ft figure 8 style track that became a holiday favorite in store catalogs. The set typically sold for about $16 in the mid 1970s. Today, a used but working Twister set usually sells in the $100–$150 range, while clean boxed or near mint examples can reach $250–$350 depending on completeness and condition.

The original Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker set was released in 1964 by Mattel and invented by James Ruddy, who created the idea of heating liquid Plasti Goop in metal molds to make rubbery creatures at home. The first retail price was about $7, and today collectors typically pay $50 to $100 for incomplete sets and $150 to $275 for more complete working sets, with top condition boxed versions sometimes reaching $300 to $400 depending on rarity and accessories.

The Easy Curl Quick Hair Setting Kit was introduced by Kenner in 1968 as a child size hot roller set powered by a single 60 watt light bulb in a thermostatically controlled roller warmer so girls could style their hair like their moms, with room for eight wax filled rollers plus clips and a styling booklet all stored in a compact case. Unlike something like Creepy Crawlers, the toy is credited simply to the Kenner design team rather than a single named inventor in surviving ads and writeups. Contemporary pricing is not clearly documented in the sources, but based on similar Kenner electric toys of the era it likely sold for around $5 in the late 1960s which would be roughly about $45 in todays money by inflation comparison. Today collectors typically pay about $15 to $25 for working but incomplete or well used sets on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, and from about $30 to $50 for boxed or more complete examples on Etsy and other vintage toy sellers, with especially clean complete sets sometimes going a bit higher.

The Kodak Instamatic X 15 Color Outfit was introduced in 1970 as part of Kodaks long running Instamatic line, designed to make photography simple by using the 126 drop in film cartridge and a rotating four sided flash cube that required no batteries. The X 15 kit typically included the camera, a camera strap, a Kodak Color Film 126 cartridge, and at least one Magicube or Flashcube so families could take indoor and outdoor photos right out of the box. The original retail price was about $15 which equals roughly $120 in todays money, and the X 15 quickly became one of the most popular point and shoot cameras of the decade because of its reliability and ease of use. Today collectors usually pay about $20 to $40 for working kits without the box and $50 to $100 for complete boxed outfits in clean condition, with near mint examples sometimes selling higher depending on film, accessories, and display quality.

Born from the old pencil and paper naval guessing game Battleship became a living room classic when Milton Bradley released its plastic board version in 1967. Kids loved calling out coordinates and shouting Hit as red pegs filled the grid and a clean early set today still brings $20 to $60.

When Marx Toys introduced the Big Wheel in 1969 it instantly ruled American sidewalks with its low riding plastic frame and giant front wheel. Sold for about $20 it became a symbol of 1970s childhood and surviving vintage riders today often bring $50 to $150.

Kenner shocked the toy world in 1976 with Stretch Armstrong a muscular hero who stretched like warm taffy thanks to a secret gel created by Jesse Horowitz. Kids pulled him to impossible lengths and originals in good condition now sell for $1,200 to $1,800.

Spin Art kits turned kitchen tables into color filled studios during the 1960s and 1970s as kids dripped paint on spinning cards to make psychedelic masterpieces. The simple craft machines cost just a few $ and vintage sets today typically bring $20 to $60.

The Cabbage Patch frenzy of 1983 began with Xavier Roberts soft sculptures and exploded when Coleco offered adoptable dolls for about $21. Parents camped outside stores and today most original dolls sell for $30 to $60 with rare versions higher.

Robosapien arrived in 2004 feeling like a real robot thanks to scientist Mark Tilden who designed it for WowWee. At about $99 it walked grabbed and entertained its way into top gift lists and collectors now pay $30 to $100 depending on version.

Since 1963 the EZ Bake Oven has given kids their first taste of baking independence letting them make real treats with a warm light bulb. Sold for about $15 it became a rite of passage and vintage ovens now bring $50 to $150.

Marx Toys thrilled kids in 1964 with Red Rocker and Blue Bomber battling for a head popping knockout. Created by Burt Meyer at Marvin Glass the toy became a classic and clean early sets today often fetch $80 to $300.

After Hot Wheels cars debuted in 1968 Mattel released inexpensive carrying cases so kids could bring their prized collections everywhere. Usually about $3 these cases went everywhere with young collectors and vintage examples today sell for $25 to $75.

Invented by John Lloyd Wright around 1916 Lincoln Logs let kids build cabins and forts inspired by architectural ideas from his famous father. Early sets cost about $1 and today vintage boxes often bring $20 to $100.

Lite Bright lit up bedrooms starting in 1967 as kids created glowing art by pressing colored pegs into an illuminated screen. The creative toy cost around $10 and original sets now often sell for $40 to $150.

Operation challenged family game nights from the mid 1960s onward as players tried to remove funny ailments without triggering the buzz. Inventor John Spinello sold his idea for a modest fee and vintage sets today commonly bring $30 to $100.

In 1975 Gary Dahl turned a bar joke into a national fad selling smooth rocks in pet carrier boxes for $3.95. The craze made him a millionaire and boxed originals today often sell for $50 to $150.

Debuting at the 1939 Worlds Fair the View Master brought three dimensional scenes to life through tiny photographic reels. Early viewers cost only a few $ and vintage models today range from $30 to $80 with rare reels higher.

When the Sony Walkman arrived in 1979 it gave teens a brand new sense of freedom by letting them carry their private soundtrack everywhere. The first models cost about $150 and early units today often sell for $300 to $800.

Launched in 1989 for $89.99 the Nintendo Game Boy introduced portable gaming to an entire generation powered by Tetris and Gunpei YoKoi’s clever design. Working originals today typically bring $60 to $150 with pristine sets far above that.