Kusan 1979 Toy Fair Catalog

Here is a fun one, full of 1979 goodness. The Kusan catalog from the last gasp of the 70s features stuff that I was getting as a wee toddler, and some of these items actually ring a bell. Keep an eye out for the "Sonic Fazer" and NOT HAN SOLO on the display!




Posted by charlie on July 26th 2025, 11:02 PM
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Hi-Ho Products Brand 1982 Catalog

There are so many toy catalogs here at the Preserve, still waiting to see the light of day, and many of them probably are lost forever unless they get posted here! I will re-double my efforts to Preserve these to keep the archive growing. Here is a 1982 catalog from Hi-Ho Products Brand, a division of ISB Industrial Safety Belt! I think I even recognize a few of the items in there, but it's pretty obscure for sure.




Posted by charlie on July 24th 2025, 07:54 AM
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Playthings Magazine Archive

You know what's exciting? Starting an archive of Playthings Magazine. These old issues from the 1980s are simply incredible. Each month has amazing data and insight into the companies that were busy making our favorite toys at the time, and I am thrilled to start to make available that content. The Strong Museum has a full collection, and hopefully they will one day do the same!




Posted by charlie on July 10th 2025, 10:09 PM
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1980 Pressman Toy Fair Catalog

So it's a little bashed up, but the 1980 Pressman toy fair catalog has joined the Preserve! I think that Pressman is, for some reason, the largest gallery I have of company catalogs, so I am always excited to continue to expand that coverage. Be sure to check out what Family Game Night looked like at the very start of The Greatest Decade!




Posted by charlie on July 4th 2025, 12:02 AM
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Press Release: The Dogs Are Barking at Douglas

KEENE, NH March 2024

Press Release: KEENE, NH March 2024 The kennels are bursting with new puppies at Douglas Company this time of year. Lots of new breed specific pups are looking for a home, and they will be scooped up quickly, so don’t wait! There are 15 new Dogs in all. Click through for the full press release!  Read More
Posted by charlie on March 15th 2024, 05:04 PM
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Press Release: It’s Raining Minis at Douglas

KEENE, NH February 2024

Press Release: It's not quite spring, but it is raining Mini Cats and Dogs at Douglas Company. The plush toy maker and lifestyle gift creator has six all new Minis to introduce for 2024. There are three new kittens and three new dogs. Each stands 6" tall!  Read More
Posted by charlie on February 23rd 2024, 08:42 AM
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Toy & Hobby World Magazine March/April 1994

Do you know what is excellent? Toy & Hobby World magazine, that is what! I only recently became familiar with this informative publication, and encourage you to enjoy the March/April 1994 issue, while I search for additional copies to post!




Posted by charlie on July 22nd 2023, 06:15 PM
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Toy Fair Catalog - Tonka 1985, GoBots!

It was 1985, and according to Tonka, "The Magic is Here!"

A lot of people tend to make unfavorable comparisons between the Transformers and GoBots lines, but I find there is a place in my heart for them both, as I suspect is a common feeling for those who grew up at that time. In fact, my very first ever 'transforming toys' I ever saw or heard of were given to me by my dad. Seeing Pumper and Spay-C flipped a switch in my head..."you mean, they change from robot to vehicle, and back?!". And thus began a life long obsession.

This was not the first year for GoBots, so it's fun to see how they were expanding the product line in this 1985 catalog, and all of the 'later season' figures that are now a little harder to track down. Flip through the pages and enjoy!












Posted by charlie on January 24th 2023, 12:32 PM
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Mego 1976 Toy Fair Catalog

The Mego brand is a fan favorite if you grew up in the 1970s. With many popular licenses of the day, like Wizard of Oz, Star Trek and let's not forget Starsky & Hutch (!) there was a little something for everyone. Throw in consistently great cloth goods, and an incredible variety of playsets for nearly all lines and this was one highly productive company who knew their audience!

I was able to recently obtain the 1976 product catalog, and these old Mego catalogs are not easy to get a hold of. Please check out the excellent products it contains, and here is a sampling of the coolness!



Starsky & Hutch!

Fortress of Solitude!

Of Course Star Trek!


Posted by charlie on December 28th 2022, 05:41 PM
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1979 Schaper Toy Fair Catalog

Check out this spectacular 1979 Schaper catalog! This one is full of cool products that I admit I'm largely unfamiliar with, and had a great time learning about them through this book. That, of course, is the whole point of this project!



There really is something different about products from the mid '70s until about the early '80s. It feels like they had some truly cool technology that was a little earlier than it seems it should have been, then we sort of regress back into basic articulated figures for the '80s and beyond, as home video games took over. I like to attribute this to the huge group of Apollo engineers who left the program after the 1969 moon landing and the program ramped down, many of whom perhaps became designers at other companies, like our toy industry. It's a pet theory of mine, but might have some truth to it!

I mean, check out this black hole game

And how about this voice controlled Corvette?

And whatever is going on with this crazy bulldozer farm!

Lots more coolness to see here, be sure to have a look!


Posted by charlie on September 12th 2022, 08:18 PM
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