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08.12.07 by Widge @ 6:48 am  A little known fact is that long after child labor laws were passed to keep kids from toiling down at mill week in, week out, for tuppence every six months, children were still used in the construction industry. And yes, it's common knowledge that using them en masse as foundations or structural support beams was outlawed in 1940, but they were still being used to operate heavy machinery up until 1949. Here, in this bit from Popular Mechanics in 1950, we see how construction companies did an end-run on those laws by creating a "Child-size bulldozer" which "looks and works like the real thing." Oh, it sure did. For twelve hours a day until the loophole was finally closed in 1955. Of course, even today the iron hand of government keeps a close eye on Tonka trucks just to make sure that they don't get too functional. Still, it took a while for these new federal laws to become enforced properly, so even as late as 1957 you'd see ten-year-old kids wolf whistling at girls as they walked past. This has been another edition of TRUE FACTS...THAT ARE TRUE! Categorized as: Toys
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08.05.07 by Widge @ 6:29 am  Have you ever encountered something that's just an apparent perfect hybrid of the two reactions "Jesus H. Christ, that's sick!" and "Sweet Christmas, that's freaking hysterical!" Well, Haminal is that thing. He's the canned ham animal: smaller, tastier, boneless and conveniently can-shaped. And yes, that's the can he comes in. The website has t-shirts and a book along with the plushie you see up top. Dan Goodsell gave us the headsup. Categorized as: Toys
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07.24.07 by Widge @ 9:43 pm  Wal-Mart will soon be selling religious action figures. Those pictured are Samson and Goliath doing battle...which, you know, makes no sense considering that it was David who fought Goliath and it was a pair of scissors that fought Samson, if I'm remembering correctly. But maybe this is the Bible geek equivalent of the Juggernaut vs. the Blob. I have no idea. You know, they're making a big deal that kids need alternatives to Spider-Man and such, but I've got news for these people. Kids have imaginations. If I had these two figures, well, they look a helluva lot like Gilgamesh and Hercules from Avengers fame to me. If I had had these when I was a kid, they'd be fighting alongside any Marvel figures I could get my hands on. And here's something else...there are Star Wars Transformers now, yes? Let's get some Bible Transformers. How cool would that be, huh? Noah is both Noah and the ark! David is both David and the sling, with the stone being the equivalent of a Laserbeak! Sodom and Gomorrah are the equivalent of Unicron! Genius! Somebody pay me! Categorized as: Toys
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07.18.07 by Widge @ 2:44 am  Oh hell, this is some awesome stuff. Brass Goggles clues us into the work of the diabolical Doktor A, who takes vinyl figures and manipulates them into really cool bits: like this one of Mr. H.G. Wells and his time machine. I dig it. Now we just need a David Warner/Jack the Ripper toy to go along with it and we're set. Make sure you go check out all his toys. I think my favorite, though, is the steampunky goodness that is "Sir Cuthbert Pinkerly-Wormsborough at the Helm of Her Majesties Ironclad Defender." It's an earthworm. In a top hat. In what must be a borrowing tank. Death from below FTW. Categorized as: Toys
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07.14.07 by Widge @ 5:09 am  Well, we're making history this month. The Mystery Box has been going on for years now. Each month, tons of you maniacs line up to win a box that's filled with...well, that's just it. You don't even know what you're winning. And yet...you enter anyway. Thus proving what contest-crazed whackjobs you all are. And we salute you. However, July 2007 marks the first month that we here at Needcoffee HQ have had the decision as to what goes into the Mystery Box taken out of our hands. That's right, instead, those fine madmen at Toy Vault have stepped in and sent us a box of mystery swag from their offices. Who is Toy Vault? Bah. Who is Toy Vault. The makers of fine Cthulhu plush toys, Godzilla plush toys, and tons more, that's who. Now...we're not saying what's in the box. The contents of this mystery box rest entirely in their hands. But if you win, know that you will win the Toy Vault Mystery Box, with swag handpicked from their base of operations. Anyway, just thought you'd like to know. So go enter already. And wander about the Toy Vault site once you're done, why don't you? Categorized as: Contests and Toys
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07.03.07 by Widge @ 1:20 am  All of the stuff at Take-G Toys' website looks pretty nifty, but these wooden robot toys rock ass. Imagine a world where, instead of using Lincoln Logs to make buildings, you could use them to make mecha--and you'd have a lot of this sort of stuff going on. Categorized as: Toys
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06.17.07 by Widge @ 12:25 am  Yet again I poke my head into the Needcoffee Swag Contest and instead of pulling out a bloody stump (even though that's a great party trick) I pull out...three Kingdom Come action figures, based on Alex Ross' designs. This prize pack has Green Lantern, Hawkman and Wonder Woman. They're going for around $15 a shot, and I haven't taken them out of their boxes. The Hawkman one's top has popped open, but that's about it. Our spare swag is a cure for some extra shelf space at your place. So enter and win. You can do so after the break. Categorized as: Contests and Toys
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06.08.07 by Widge @ 5:32 am   Say what you want about Civil War. I know I have. But there is something to be said for seeing the (temporarily) late Captain America in limited edition bust form. They're limited to 2000 in number and they're a $50 value. Well, here's the drill. We've partnered up with Diamond Select Toys yet again and there's one of these busts in it for you if you win. Now, I'll say this here and make it loud and clear because we're doing something different on this contest, just like the last contest with Diamond Select. Part of the deal is by entering, your e-mail address and name will be given to Diamond Select Toys so they can add you to their marketing list. They won't sell or redistribute them, they just want them for themselves. That's a fair cop. But there's no opt-out. If you're not comfortable with that, just flat don't enter. Cool? Cool. Categorized as: Comics and Contests and Toys
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05.07.07 by Widge @ 3:41 am  It's just the way of the world. As time passes, even the most cherished bits of magic and speculation are replaced by the icy cold stare of science's headlight. We once thought the Earth was the center of the universe. Scratch that. We once thought that Mars was covered in whacked out Edgar Rice Burroughsian life. Forget it. We once thought that all you need is love. Nope--you have to have caffeine, too. And now, another one bites the dust. Hanttula has taken the oracle by which many people (including Congress, it seems) lived their lives, and put it under the knife. Not for the faint of heart, I assure you. Found via Digg. Categorized as: Toys
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05.03.07 by Widge @ 3:46 pm  Phillipe Starck gives an interesting explanation for this strange mutant plush beast (you have to dig to find it...look under "Goods"): A surreal toy, TeddyBearBand stimulates the imagination, considerabily more than any mere plush bear. It removes love and friendship from the realm of disposable emotions. Which is all well and good for a designer to say, but here's what the disposable emotions are replaced with: Kid: Mommy, Teddy can't walk. Mom: Why's that, honey? Kid: (bursts into tears) Because when he does he steps on Bunny! You know it's true. You know it, so don't deny it. But that's what happens when you give a kid something that looks like Anton Arcane was made CEO of Gund. Categorized as: Toys
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