New Catalogs: Irwin 1995, Irwin 1997, Invicta 1980

We are adding lots of catalogs to the Preserve catalog archive! In order to make it easy to see what's new, I'll do periodic update posts here with a sample of the new books. Here's the latest!

Irwin Toys 1995 (Spawn and Techno Zoids!)


Irwin Toys 1997 (check out that stencil cut!) (Reboot toys!)


Invicta 1980 (A wild German catalog)

Posted by charlie on September 10th 2021, 08:26 AM
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Play Meter Magazine - June 01, 1985

While I am busy building out the modest Play Meter magazine archive here at the Preserve, I am already finding the spectacular information that I had hoped to see in these important vintage artifacts. To see what I mean, have a look at the June 01, 1985 Spring Buyers' Guide!



What would be in a Buyer's Guide from 1985, you ask? Well, page after page of the 'new machines' that operators were being enticed to add to their routes and arcades, to get that quarter! Click the images below for larger views - spectacular.







And, if you wanted perhaps to see the prices that operators were paying for these machines, look no further than the classified section at the back of the book!




Posted by charlie on August 2nd 2021, 06:00 AM
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Captain Power VHS #2 - Final Stand (1987)

Did you know that there were six volumes of Captain Power episodes, released on beautiful VHS tapes by Hi-TOPS in 1987? There sure were! And it's hi-time that we add them to the Preserve! Here is a personal favorite, Final Stand which was a chance for fan-favorite (at least this fan) Sven-Ole Thorsen to really shine. Also includes the episodes "Pariah" and "Abyss". The rest of the series, coming soon!




Posted by charlie on June 10th 2021, 06:41 PM
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1984 Fisher-Price Toy Fair Catalog

This catalog is 1984. What an incredible cover! While way shorter than the mammoth Fisher-Price catalogs that would become standard a decade later, this one is full as usual with fun and exciting products. Be sure to check out the big Construx section at the end!



I think I actually had every one of these sets - most excellent.




Posted by charlie on May 18th 2021, 06:12 AM
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1980 Selchow & Righter Toy Fair Catalog

In 1980, not only did Selchow & Righter, who you may recognize as the company behind both Scrabble and Parcheesi, introduce their famous logo, but they also unleashed a whole host of retro-tastic electronic games to compliment their more traditional offerings.



Behold the Scrabble Sensor! The "first space-age word game"!



And do be sure to check out their comments on the beautiful new (for 1980) logo!




Posted by charlie on April 23rd 2021, 09:05 PM
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Toy Fair Catalog - Hello Kitty 1983

I know there are a lot of Hello Kitty fans out there, and hopefully some of them find their way to this cool 1983 catalog! Released under the Child Guidance company, it heralds a new line of products for this famous character for the first time. While history will tell us that Hello Kitty first came to the USA in 1976, this seems to be pretty early still in the introduction of this cat to these shores, so will probably be of interest to a fan or collector!




Posted by charlie on April 18th 2021, 05:46 PM
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1984 Arrow Industries Toy Fair Catalog

Arrow Industries, what have they done that I might think is particularly cool? Well, since it was 1984, the greatest year, you can bet that even the most obscure catalog will have something super cool.



And you of course would be right! If you had this gumball machine, you were living your best life in 1984. And if you have it in 2021, then it will make pandemic lockdown just that much more bearable!



Also, check out the delightful teaser page for the upcoming Gremlins gumball dispenser. Can you imagine how fantastic it would have been to attend the 1985 Toy Fair!?
"We promise, you won't be disappointed!"



Since we live in the future, we don't have to wait until Toy Fair 1984, we are actually able to buy a mint on card Stripe gumball dispenser from Arrow Industries, complete with vintage gumballs, for $27! Will wonders never cease!




Posted by charlie on April 13th 2021, 07:14 PM
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1986 Galt Toys Catalog

I was sold on this 1986 Galt Toys catalog based on the beautiful cover design alone. These guys really had 1986 figured out! To then realize that this catalog is a 150th anniversary issue was really fascinating.



Remarkably, the parent company to Galt Toys, which was Galt Educational, was started in 1836 in Manchester, UK. Rarely do we see a toy company with quite such a distant pedigree! This original company sold classroom equipment, and it wasn't until the much more recent 1961 that Galt Toys was formed as a new division within the company. Then, they were able to bring us a whole array of fun crafting products, to the benefit of preschools everywhere!




Posted by charlie on April 5th 2021, 10:03 PM
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2002 Irwin Toy Catalog

A little research into the history of Irwin Toy Limited shows that this catalog from 2002 was an interesting moment in the final period of this long running company. Having been founded in 1926, they fell on hard times in 2001 and were purchased. So, this "it's all new!" slogan was at least an effort by the new owners to make a go of it, hopefully. As so often happens, however, they were then liquidated in 2003, and assets sold off, including their original Toronto factory. Interestingly, it was converted into condos called the "Toy Factory Lofts" which remain in high demand to this day!



While the company may have been on hard times, their product assortment that year is sure to delight and amaze any Dragon Ball Z fans out there! See the full listing for another page of awesomeness!



Oh, and let's not overlook that they had an incredible line of Thunderbirds toys as well. Check out that Tracy Island playset!



Well, this is why we do this work here at the Preserve. Because there are interesting stories to tell, and these toy lines that many people worked hard to produce every year deserve to be remembered.


Posted by charlie on April 2nd 2021, 10:15 PM
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1987 Tomy Toy Fair Catalog

Here is a real gem, absolutely packed with cool products! No foolin'!



I can almost guarantee that if you were of a certain age in the '80s you had one of these little stand-alone driving games. These things are iconic. And, on the opposing page, their R.A.T.S. line which looks fantastic, and which I actually didn't have!



And how about this for fantastic - Omnibot and his brethern!



But wait, there is also an incredible section of Zoids! Check out those figures.



I had one of those kid-size ATVs, but check out Armstrong there! Holy moley!



This really is an exceptional set of products from Tomy, making 1987 a memorable year for all of us. Subsequent catalogs of theirs, even the following year, seemed to change tone significantly, so thankfully we can all review and cherish this one!


Posted by charlie on April 1st 2021, 08:27 AM
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