Tag: 1970-1980

Item Reference: 002047
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Folding painted blackboard effect card from Courtier Arts Limited. Features illustration of blackboard and schoolboy wearing a Dunce cap breaking through. There is a message on the front of the card written in chalk. The blackboard is able to stand alone like an easel.
Date: 1970
Further Information:  The ‘Phil’ to whom the card is addressed is likely the contributor of the artefact to the archive.
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Item Reference: 002030
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Pink kaleidoscope with whell action. Clear plastic wheel attachment with small multi-coloured plastic pieces within and pink plastic attachment to tube. Tube of kaleidoscope has a peeling printed sticker with the word ‘kaleidoscope’ and colourful patterns, though is largely pink. The peeling reveals a cardboard tube.
Date: c. late 1970s-1980s
Further Information: 
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Item Reference: 002028
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Small pink kaleidoscope with animal design pattern. Kaleidosope is wrapped in a lacquered paper with repeating design of cartoon sheep, elephants, lions, and pigs. The kaleidoscope does not feature a twistable end cap. Have an end cell with small plastic multicoloured pieces.
Date: c. 1970s
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Item Reference: 002025
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Red plastic kaleidoscope with small end cell with multi-coloured plastic pieces within and clear plastic cap. The kaleidoscope features no design or brand/manufacture information.
Date: c. 1970s
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Item Reference: 002024
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Simple pink plastic kaleidoscope in conical shape, with a small end cell with multi-coloured plastic and clear plastic cap. Kaleidoscope has star detailing as a pattern as well as manufacturer information. A Simex/Simm and Söhne. Made in West Germany
Date: c. 1970s
Further Information:  Simex began as an offshoot of German brand Simm and Söhne.
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Item Reference: 002023
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Red plastic kaleidoscope with wheel action, marketed as ‘The Amazing Wonder Wheel’. Red plastic casing with Simex branding and clear plastic wheel attachment with small multi-coloured plastic pieces within. Tube of the kaleidoscope has a printed sticker with branding on it, as well as illustration and Berwick branding. Made in England with parts from West Germany.
Date: 1975-1986
Further Information:  Simex was a West German company that specialised in the manufacture of plastic toys, and by 1975 was able to produce moulds. As their logo is on the plastic body of the kaleidoscope, this is where the ‘parts West German’ mentioned on the label would be. Berwick on the other hand was a popular manufacturer of toys in Britain and has registered trademarks with the British Intellectual Property Office. Simex still operates, primarily creating packaging for cosmetics brands and Berwick is now a dead trademark with regards to the manufacture of toys and to Berwick Toys Company Ltd. has been in liquidation since 1986.
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Item Reference: 002022
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Tin kaleidoscope with the pattern of children riding a train through a valley with blue sky. The twistable end cell is red plastic with colourful plastic pieces within. The pattern is lithographed. Produced by WH Smith
Date: c. mid-1970s
Further Information:  Features the cube logo introduced in 1973, though the design of the kaleidosope is similar to many pre-1973 products.
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Item Reference: 002021
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Blue tin kaleidoscope with colourful circle patterns. The twistable end cell has a blue plastic cap with colourful plastic pieces within. The pattern is lithographed. Produced by Chad Valley and made in England.
Date: 1970s
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Item Reference: 002020
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Red plastic Standard Frisbee created as part of a promotional deal with Lucozade. Comes with instructions and slip to receive more Frisbees as part of the deal.
Date: 1974
Further Information:  33p in 1974 in the equivalent of just over £3 in June 2024
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