Posted 13 years ago
Love.anyth…
(25 items)
I had searched and searched for any data on my Etch-a-Sketch. Not one looked at all like mine. I contacted Ohio Art in Ohio who had manufactured the toy originally in the U.S. and sent them copies of the original box it had arrived in. My Mom had sent away for it for Christmas that year. Ohio Art informed me that it was one of the first off the line Etch-a-Sketches manufactured in 1960 and told me I indeed had a real antique. It still works.
I hope they (Ohio Art) sent you a letter you can use to prove what you're saying, that would make this unique. I think I would ask them for that sort of letter for your own use..maybe notarized ?
My correspondence with Ohio Art was merely through e-mails and via Linda Cuellar who is the Executive Assistant to the Chairman, CEO and President of Ohio Arts (at least that's what her title read). The pictures I sent her were more exact and pinpointed than the one I posted above. I printed out all the correspondence and have placed it in the box. I frankly am not interested in any value on the etch-a-sketch, it certainly is more sentimental to me as a toy from my childhood. Thank you for your comment. I fully agree with you that for any other purposes, I'd go the next step and request that documentation.
sewingfool - duly noted. In my excitement to share my old toy I misused the word, as apparently did Ohio Arts. Thank you for your comment. L.a.o.
sewingfool, the term is applied at different ages to different items, cars for example, my qualify in 50 years. My friend used to say that in the England 1oo KM is a long distance and in the United States 100 years is a long time !
Somethings that are 100 years old in England are just considered to be old..........
The first versions contain a metallic powder that is very explosive. When we were kids my brother and I had one. Eventually it got damaged and the face glass was cracked. In the back we had a row of metal garbage cans on a wooden 2x4 rack to which the lid handles were tied with plastic clothes line. My brother had some small fire crackers and we inserted one half way into the cracked glass, lit the fuse, dropped it into the can and put the lid on. After waiting what seemed like forever we thought the fuse went out since we never heard a bang and then suddenly there was a roar like a jet, the lid went flying off tearing the clothes line and there was a 3 foot wide, 20 foot tall gyser of fire which lasted a good ten seconds. Scared the day lights out of us since we were across the alley from the fire house. Luck was with us and no one saw it or got hurt.
We have one, it would have been purchased in the id to late 70's, has been thru 3 kids now, wonder if we should let # 4 play with ??? It works great.
Militarist - Wow, it sounds like you and your brother did get off quite lucky. I read that comment to my husband and he said it was something he and his younger brother would have done, too. Dare devils! I had heard years later that the "silver" inside was comprised of harmful material behind the glass (the later models I believe had clear plastic frontings). I even heard mercury. My husband thought magnesium and now that you tell me your story, that sounds more plausible. Thank you for commenting. L.a.o.
sbancroft - I think the later etch-a-sketches were made much more safely than the originals, down to the clear hard front and material inside. It always seems any prototype is modified as time goes by. Like meds, its only after you've taken them for years, they find hideous after effects. I guess it was the same with the etch-a-sketch back in the early 60's - glass front and combustible material inside - not such a good idea. I hope #4 enjoys it like his siblings. I don't think I'll let my future grandchildren play with my old one though for safety reasons. Thank you so much for your interest. L.a.o.
Thank you everyone: Hunter, officialfuel, RonM, AuntieQ18 and Zatsoc. I appreciate you all looking, loving and liking. Lao