Astro Base by the Ideal Toy Corporation 1960

Рет қаралды 13,840

dezurtdude

Күн бұрын

A really cool and vintage Ideal Toys Astro Base.

Пікірлер: 38

@kindheart4you 9 жыл бұрын

I received one of these from my uncle for Christmas when I was 8 years old and I kept it in working order until I was a senior in high school. By then, some of the parts, mechanisms and electrical connections had just worn out from use. This was one of the best toys I ever received. My uncle just passed away last week, 55 years later, and I still remember how happy he made me with with his generosity and his thoughtfulness. Thanks Leonard for all the wonderful memories. You are the best!

@rickydevil32 6 жыл бұрын

I am now 67 and I was 9 yrs old when I received this. I remember my entire 1960 Christmas like it was just yesterday due only to my Mother and this magnificent and wonderful "Toy" made by the Ideal Corp which back then made a line of absolutely terrific toys. My mother was working in a factory back then, not making much $$ and she was a member of an "Aerospace & Machinists" union. Because of this she received a free membership to a store in the St.Louis, MO named "G.E.M."....and/or pronounced "GEM"....I still recall what it stood for- "Government Employees Market" ( kind of like a Costco today only scaled way down then )which was located back in 1960 way out near Page Ave in STL...and back in 1960 then the city/community had hardly grown that far out to there and this huge store was kind of out there by itself it seemed. My Mother was very well informed by me ( oh my gosh was she..lol ) of what I wanted my Santa Mother to bring me this Christmas. The store had this toy and I went over to the shelf that had them and just stood there and may have been foaming at the mouth probably while staring at this toy ( they had one out of the box for display ). Later, as I was walking down to find my Mother I spotted her with this great big box that said "Astro Base" at the "LAYAWAY" window......YES, she was putting it in Layaway!........ and then she would have to make weekly payments on it till paid off. THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT.....making weekly payments on a $19.95 toy ( considered pretty expensive for any toy in 1960 ) till paid....TODAY that would be laughable....times certainly have changed. She was back then hard pressed for money as were many folks during that era, in fact there were not nearly the number, the gap was huge of people who had money/no money compared with today! On the ride home I felt guilty that I had spotted her holding my what was to be my Christmas surprise and I told her so because I knew she wanted it to be a huge Christmas surprise for me too, the guilt I felt made me tell her I saw her. She said she just did see me looking at her for a brief second while she was holding that box......and I then cried a bit because even at only 9 yrs old...... believe it or not...... I knew that was a big $$ expensive sacrifice she was making for me.... her only child....to have the best Christmas of ever in his life. Very Precious people in our lives are like an ultra fine exquisite antique.....they are our foundation and yet are still just a very few and they too, forever grow ever more precious over time and for me.....my Mother, who has now gone home....... will always be that special one for me. Oh, how I wish I could have both back and it would be Christmas 1960.....if only for a day. Sorry this was so long.

@ryanbarker5217 4 жыл бұрын

twenty bucks back then is almost $175 today. nice story. you mother spent the money wisely then.

@robertpappadake9018 3 жыл бұрын

Same here. 69 and whenever I recall childhood Christmases, especially with the grandkids, I always picture this toy. I too wish I could remember what became of it.

@624radicalham 3 жыл бұрын

That has to be one of the most beautiful comments I have read on KZbin. Thank you for sharing that precious memory

@davidk4145 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful story - thank you

@henrykujawa4427 2 жыл бұрын

Korvette's department store used to have the biggest toy department, and in the 60s, they had one entire long glass display cabinet with nothing but SCI-FI toys. I never got ahold of most of those, but would have loved to, and often used to just love "window shopping". It wouldn't surprise me if this or something like it was there when I was really young.

@marclerner3971 3 жыл бұрын

Got this for the holidays, also in 1960. It was the best toy I ever got. Period. I’m 68 now, and there it is.... alive again! If you practiced with it, you could lower the astronaut into the car.

@tommiller9743 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely loved my Astro Base

@rickr7599 9 ай бұрын

The 'IDEAL'.... Toy Co back in 1960 become known for making great quality durable toys & I had a few of them as a kid. Now 73, yet I recall every single one of them. The king to me was, 'The Astro Base'....it js the best & most fun toy I ever had. The TV commericals on Saturday mornings for this toy.... garnered ALL my attention for a 9 yr old. All my friends wanted to play with it all the time. The real "Space Race' was a big deal to America vs the USSR back then thus the reason for these space toys coming out. It was $19.95...which was not a cheap toy in 1960. I also had a toy by Ideal named "Countdown"....another motorized space toy that launched diff types of missles with a timer 'countdown' in it till launch. Both of these toys came with the same yet optional choice to purchase the 'Space Helmet' to wear while playing. I did not want it...looked to much like a very younger kids toy...of course at then age of 9.... I considered myself to be an older kid 😄. I did not realize back then that 1960 was in middle of the best years of Americana ever had.....to this day. I do realize it now. I was soo very fortunate to grow up in that era...IT WAS A WOW!!... IN EVERYTHING!.... DECADE...it was so very special....cannot ever explain it to others....you would have to live it to know it. EVERYONE truly cared about each other in those days! I could live in that decade forever..& be quite content.

@gespecht 5 жыл бұрын

Still have mine. Wish it was in new condition, but we wore it out...... Too much fun in 1960

@gespecht 5 жыл бұрын

I've been waiting since 1960 to storm area 51

@MichaelKrick-hn2tu 2 ай бұрын

Just tooooo coooooool ! ( love it )

@rudymartin7617 12 жыл бұрын

I had this toy back in the day...received it for Christmas. It was great. Better than any ipod!!!!

@dkseale 11 жыл бұрын

What a trip to see this toy again. Got it when I was 8. Best Christmas ever.

@glennallaire 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video

@prestonsmith4419 5 жыл бұрын

This toy made this the best Christmas ever when I found it under my tree. I don't remember it being this noisy, but maybe it's because I was 10 at the time.

@thebird55 11 жыл бұрын

I have frequently wondered what happened to the one I got when I was five. After listening to this video, I think my parents probably intentionally left it in Colorado when we moved a few months after I got it for Christmas, in '60.

@PeanutGT7899 4 жыл бұрын

Super cool!

@dannyrusso8279 9 жыл бұрын

Wow, great to see this. Definitely my favorite toy as a kid.

@garyroberti5973 8 жыл бұрын

+Danny Troy Mine as well. I thought this was science fiction stuff when I got this for Christmas!!

@KrustyKlown 8 жыл бұрын

+Danny Troy .. same here! Space & rockets were so exciting for kids back then ...

@wildmanatm 6 жыл бұрын

Me too, I wore one out and dad bought me another. He was WW2 P-51 pilot and I soloed at 14.

@WolverinePete 4 жыл бұрын

1960's Toys were the best.

@DaveNT9E 11 жыл бұрын

I had one of these as well when I was 6. From the noise that it makes I don't think my parents would have let me play with it for more that a few minutes. : )

@lovderr52 12 жыл бұрын

I got this toy for Christmas in 1960 when I was eight years old. I saw one in a collectible toys book and the selling price was $8.95!! Loved this toy.