Toys from long ago

[caryc]

We made those, too. But we used match sticks as our projectiles. A successful launch comprised lighting the match while it flew.

We also made match stick shooters. Only ours were made from large thread spools. We used a wide rubber band lengthwise on it with one end covering the spool hole. Then we wrapped more rubber bands around the spool to keep the big rubber band in place. Stick a match in the open hole so it pushed against the rubber band at the back then pull back and fire. They matches would also light if aimed at something like the side walk.

 

[J. Yuma]

We also made match stick shooters. Only ours were made from large thread spools. We used a wide rubber band lengthwise on it with one end covering the spool hole. Then we wrapped more rubber bands around the spool to keep the big rubber band in place. Stick a match in the open hole so it pushed against the rubber band at the back then pull back and fire. They matches would also light if aimed at something like the side walk.

a favorite weapon in the neighborhood, but we lit them before we shot them.

Here's another: straighten out a wire coat hanger. Put a 90' bend on one end so you could twirl it. Put some steel wool on the other end, bend the wire to hold the wool in place. Light the wool with somebody's dad's propane torch, and spin it, looked like a flaming ring at night.

 

[J. Yuma]

This reminds me of when I was a young boy,, and my mom had been wrapping Christmas presents. The empty tubes were scarfed up,, and my buddies & I used them as "mortar" tubes or bazookas in our playing soldiers.

Imagination like that isn't seen enough nowadays.

Here's one we did in "college."
You need STEEL BEER CANS, (seemed like we always had them laying around).
Cut the tops and bottoms out of five of them, tape them end to end (we stole athletic tape from the trainer)
Take the last can, put one hole in the bottom, and 4 or five holes in the top. Tape this one to the bottom of the stack. Squirt a little lighter fluid in that bottom can, drop a tennis ball into the five can tube, and apply a match to the single hole on the bottom can.
Spectacular flame, and the tennis ball was like a rubber bullet.

 

[Randyzzz]

Here's one we did in "college."
You need STEEL BEER CANS, (seemed like we always had them laying around).
Cut the tops and bottoms out of five of them, tape them end to end (we stole athletic tape from the trainer)
Take the last can, put one hole in the bottom, and 4 or five holes in the top. Tape this one to the bottom of the stack. Squirt a little lighter fluid in that bottom can, drop a tennis ball into the five can tube, and apply a match to the single hole on the bottom can.
Spectacular flame, and the tennis ball was like a rubber bullet.

I'm not getting started on all the "pyro" stuff we did as kids. I'm sorta amazed we aren't dead, or seriously maimed, or in jail.

I had started giving examples- but thought better of that. I will say there was no property damage or fires started…

 

[J. Yuma]

I'm not getting started on all the "pyro" stuff we did as kids. I'm sorta amazed we aren't dead, or seriously maimed, or in jail.

I had started giving examples- but thought better of that. I will say there was no property damage or fires started…

I'm guilty,
I assumed that this particular audience has much better judgment than my 19 year old self.
As they say: good judgment comes from experience, unfortunately, experience too often comes from bad judgement.

I will spare the community of all the really scary stuff.

 

[Jeepnik]

I have never, ever in my entire life made any sort of explosive/incendiary device. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. And, because of my age there is absolutely no chance of video every showing up.

 

[NC FNS]

The kid in 8th grade with 3 or 4 less fingers than most of us convinced me to never mess with explosives. At least until I started reloading 8 years ago (yeah, I know, smokeless powder isn't really explosive ).

 

[J. Yuma]

I started loading with a Lee Loader.
After detonating several CCI magnum primers trying, as per instructions, to hammer them home, I purchased a Franklin Arsenal priming tool, $80 (and eventually a Lee single stage press, along with the carbide dies, another $100 or so)
Before the FA primer tool arrived, I took some heavyweight leather I had used to make a cycle seat. I cut a 4"x4" leather patch, put a hole in the center, and slid the ramming tool through it to protect my fingers in case of another detonation. My fingers, all ten of which I still had, were adequately protected from two more detonated primers.

The explosion from those primers reminded me of my youthful follies. Many of my (to be untold in the spirit of public interest) youthful misadventures were as a direct result of my limited funds.

At the ripe old age of 70, an $80 priming tool is no big deal, but at 22, 80 bucks was a week's pay as a "tree removal professional."

 

[JiminMaine]

The kid in 8th grade with 3 or 4 less fingers than most of us convinced me to never mess with explosives. At least until I started reloading 8 years ago (yeah, I know, smokeless powder isn't really explosive ).

It is if you enclose it inside of a piece of pipe with caps on each end. Not that I would know from experience, it's just some thing I heard other kids talking about.

 

[caryc]

It is if you enclose it inside of a piece of pipe with caps on each end. Not that I would know from experience, it's just some thing I heard other kids talking about.

That's how I detonated live primers before I put them in case heads used as medallions in grips. I placed the primer in the remains of the case and held it over a flame with the pliers covering the ends. The case on the left show the dent where a primer detonated.

 

[warren5421]

I grew up in the country with a pony. Went all over the area and leant at about the 4th grade I liked to let the girls ride with their arms around me. Didn't know why at that time but knew by the 6th grade, I was a slow learner. At 78 when out in the Doctor's Buggy I now let the you ladies ride beside me and know why!

 

[Actnbill]

I have never, ever in my entire life made any sort of explosive/incendiary device. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. And, because of my age there is absolutely no chance of video every showing up.

My dad used to yell at me and my brothers when all of his Red Dot seemed to go missing....

 

[HumphreyDaBear]

Erector sets and toxic chemistry sets…guess that explains why I like reloading ammo.

 

[J. Yuma]

Erector sets and toxic chemistry sets…guess that explains why I like reloading ammo.

tinkertoys.
organic, imprecise, but ingenious.

 

[Wvfarrier]

1983
AR style pump action bb gun. I was more excited than when I got my own horse . That thing claimed a ton of squirrel and rabbits.

 

[caryc]

tinkertoys.
organic, imprecise, but ingenious.

How about Lincoln Logs?

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

How about Lincoln Logs?

Those and a tube of pick-up-sticks were about the first toys I remember playing with (born 1948). Followed shortly thereafter by Chinese checkers.

 

[J. Yuma]

How about Lincoln Logs?

My cousins had them. I was (is) an airplane nut. Couldn't make good airplanes from Lincoln Logs.
My favorite was this bird

 

[caryc]

Those and a tube of pick-up-sticks were about the first toys I remember playing with (born 1948). Followed shortly thereafter by Chinese checkers.

Born 1947 for me.

 

[41Dude]

Born 1947 for me.

Watched a TV show called Small town Big deal, might he wrong on name.
They went to the factory in USA where they make Lincoln Logs. Factory was known for making wood cigar tips.
Owner of LL wanted to bring production back to USA. Now made in USA. Fascinating.

Smalltownbigdeal.com