What has amazed me is how many of these things myself and my sister got. I was 6 and she was 8. We had no idea of their value and things were tight back in the day. We were very lucky and i think Dad deserves some recognition this year.
Putting circles round the stuff we wanted was kind of like a version of a Santa list. Always hoped mum or dad would read it and see what we liked the best.
Same here. Pity it's no longer made. The only thing children have now is the Smyths catelogue, which is like an upmarket Toys R Us selling overpriced toys like £300 for a Lego Harry Potter set.
Fortunately my mum and dad despite being lower class got me a atari with over 20 games (tho many were s/hand they were all mostly in boxes in new condition as it wasnt that old at the time, had played on a kids for age before Xmas. And she got me other sruff too..they spoiled us at xmas as my mum put money aside tne entire year and had catalogue too.😮😊😊
I always wanted a Big Trax. Christmas catalogues bring back so many memories! Used to spend ages looking through them all. Better days compared to the screens of today
I had the family treehouse 🌳 I was 9 Years old at the time and I remember I would take it with me to my grandparents house whenever I went there with my mum. I loved playing with it and carrying it around with me where ever I went.
I’m the same age as you and absolutely loved this nostalgic look through the old Argos catalog. Fascinating to see things that I’d long forgotten, makes me wonder just how many of our memories are still there if we’re simply reminded enough.
So many memories definitely still there. I've lost count of how many times I've seen something and it's reminded me of something I hadn't thought about for decades.
I used to love the Argos catalogue (and yes I did like the jewellery section!) But I love what you say about old computers. I still have my first (a BBC Micro model B, which my father stole from Birmingham University for my Christmas present when I was 6) an an Atari too, given to me by a friend when he wanted to get rid of it! And they both still work, along with a Videopac which another friend gave me along with about 20 games. I love old computers especially if you can work out how to get them up and running again (which isn't too hard with a bit of research) but my BBC will always have the foremost place in my heart. I took it with me when I left home thirty years ago, and it's been with me ever since!
A fabulous trip down memory lane with some of the best toys ever released (year wise). It was great to see my favourite toy ‘Race and Chase’ from Matchbox selling for £31.99. Thanks for the upload.
My parents always tried there best to get me really good christmas presents - looking at this really makes me appreciate just how much they bought and done for me. Bigtrak was one of my favourites, but the Lima trainset built up by dad was brilliant - the best christmas ever that one.
This is honestly the best video I have ever seen. Slam bam Sam and everything. I had that too. Actually remember what it felt like to put the bits back on
Fantastic review I remember doing the same with the catalogues circling and wanting waiting thinking I hope I get everything never the case thanks again Steve for this brings back so many great memories 👍
Nice 👍 I remember getting the Evel Kneivel stunt bike at a jumble sale in the early 80s lol Worked perfectly. Seeing that horror make up box again brought back so many memories as well. Lot of the stuff did. I had the pines battery moto police trike as well in 1980 when i was 3. Ive seen pics of me on it on Christmas day dressed like a copper 😆
Sounds like a cute photo.😊 I think my horror make-up kit might have been a jumble sale purchase, now I think about it. Might explain why I couldn't get good results. That, and I probably wasn't great at applying the make-up.
@@RetroSpectives I was in Castleford a couple days ago in one charity shop I picked up the game Simon it’s mainly a display piece what an interesting find.
That brought back a LOT of memories. Obviously my parents did all their Christmas present shopping at Argos in 1980 and 1981 as I had many of the toys on those pages.
Big thanks for memories been 81 these toys kept going on sale for many years. Been summer its Xmas, my birthday in January which sharing with my twin brother i was hoping parent do joint present like Mr Frosty n Test Match but none of those, oh well been naughty n sent to bed. We listened to cricket on radio, and sweat it out without something ice cold LOL.
71 child here, I agree with most of your picks. I had the Action Man Training Tower and it was awesome. We had them going way further with our own string.
I had eivel kenieval and the loop loop and hulk and action man everythjng...star wars everything..walkie tslkies ...looking at this i see how lucky i was considering we were lower class..my mum always treat me well. Dad used to get jealous of we kids me.and brotner.😊
ahhh wow.....added to my watch later list, I'm gonna get nostalgic in the last week before Chrimbo and watch this then, looks great, please keep up your great work, cheers.
Will do. Planning to keep making videos as long as I'm physically (and mentally) able, lol. This was the longest video I've done at over half an hour. Never planned for it to be that long, it just ended up that way. Was hoping that wouldn't put people off.
I had Turn The Terrible Tank. I recall having years of fun with it, up to and including the disassembling my toys to see how they work phase of my boyhood.
I remember getting a big track. I think a bit later on, I also the trailer that went with it. I managed to program it to go from, the sofa in the lounge to the kitchen. I would get my mum to put a can of pop or a chocolate bar in it or something, then press the button to send it back . Back in the 80’s, this seemed so futuristic as a kid. A great toy and also sneakily educational at the same time. Great days and this is a great channel 👍
I had tin can alley. Best Xmas present ever. Set myself up in my hallway in the evening while my parent’s watched the tv. Loved it. Thanks, great memory.
Brilliant video Steve, I used to love looking through the pages of my mum's catalogues, Littlewoods and Grattan, I knew I wouldn't get anything expensive but loved looking at what was out there! I was always happy with what I did get at Christmas. I recognised the fisher price record player and TV set, we had those two back in the 70's, seeing them in the Argos catalogue shows that they were still available at the dawn of the 80's. All the best Steve, and have a very merry Christmas.👍🏻🎄
And to you too! Looking up at my nutcracker soldier advent countdown ornament on the mantlepiece right now, we have 20 days to go! Hope you and your family/friends have a lovely Christmas time.
@@RetroSpectives I forgot to mention that I didn't get an Evel Knievel, I got Barry Sheenes Step -on-it, in fact I still have it boxed in my garage. Used to have great fun, revving it up with my foot and releasing it at what seemed 100mph, and watch him crash into the skirting boards! Great memories.😄
Hello Steve, this video absolutely took me back so many thanks. I was born in 73 and over several Christmas's I had a few of those items featured in the catalogue. In no particular order I was extremely lucky to have: Computer Battleship Bigtrak TCR 4 Jam Car Special set Matchbox Streak (loved that) Evil Knievel Slam Bam Sam Lego 744 Electricity & Magnetism set Bontempi organ Cheers again, Rob.
@@RetroSpectives i think I was 10 or 11 when I got it. I don't remember having issues with it. I built the windmill on xmas day, on boxing day we drove down from Yorkshire to Leicestershire to see my auntie and uncle and I lost some pieces there..... i was gutted. Never let other kids play with your lego.... lesson learnt lol. I got the mighty car chassis a couple of years later. Extremely happy xmas as I also got a mamod traction engine to but dad built that :( Elf n safety I guess.
@@lookupparagliding I must have been about six when I got my set. I felt useless when I couldn't put it together. Good advice on the other kids playing with your stuff. I was stung a few times over the years.
As always, another fantastic video. You put so much thought and hard work into creating your videos, and this one's clearly resonated with a lot of people.
Wow this video has brought back so many happy memories!!! I was born in 74 and got the Palitoy Police car and the Evel Knievel stunt bike for Christmas in 1980!!! Probably my favourite toys as a kid. I loved that police car and played with it until it basically fell apart!!!
I used to have a Simon Says. Many happy memories spending hours looking through Argos catalogues. Get to about 1984, and the Argos catalogue was full of pages of Transformers. They were the only toy in town back then.
We could never afford any of this stuff when I was a kid, but I used to enjoy flipping through the catalogue with my brother while we would wonder at the amazing toys and games in there
Wait that part guitar and part keyboard it all most looks a guitar hero rhythm game, maybe that's where they got the idea for? And these catalogues i never seen before, seems here in Australia some of us was not aloud to see when i was a kid or some of us i am 52 years old and don't really remember some of these toys.
We had many of these. We had a fantastic time with computer battleships, simon, big trak, micronauts, TCR and scalextric. I've still got my Star Bird and Star Wars electronic game. Both still working perfectly. I was taught to appreciate the value of things and look after them.
Had that top page TCR set, from a jumble sale for a bout 2 quid if i remember rightly, was in almost unused condition, was brilliant, over taking and a jam car to upset the apple cart. Something my mum could never have afforded at the time, so really chuffed to pick up so for almost nothing. My mates had Scalectrix, but they loved the TCR I had. Brilliant upload, many thanks, brings back the memories this one!
@@RetroSpectives was moment of joy, had to walk about 2 miles with it in my hands and was a big thing to carry for a small lad, I remember the polystyrene bits coming off like snowflakes from the packaging, then getting in the house and building it up hoping it worked. it was perfect, and had many a race with mates and against the jam car, good times! Your upload has made me remember that time and savour it, many thanks"
I remember the blisters on my finger too. A friend had this game and his father got extra balls to make the game even faster. The pain was worth it though.
With my birthday & Christmas being so close I always got a “joint” present. Got Evel Knievel bike one year, my dad & friend broke it Boxing Day. Got Race & Chase… Didn’t work so had to wait until January for a replacement. My Bionic man was also broken..🤦♂️ Never liked Christmas. 😂
I used to get the catalogue to ask my gran for toys at Christmas every year when the latest stuff was in it, but the first time I was introduced to The Argos catalogue was when The Real Ghostbusters toys, The Boglins etc were first available.
Great memories, I remember being disappointed with Mr Frosty, the ice crusher turning handle was missing from the box, but did have fun with my Evil Knievel stunt bike
I remember loving my Homepride Baking Set as a child! Mum used to help me make things , I just love seeing it here and I had the badge factory and Simon! The Sindys shower set I adored and the small towels were cute! It worked when you put batteries in the back which sprayed the water 😊 Also loved my fisher price ride on truck and the playskool pram
I've always wanted a badge maker, and still do. I've looked up how much they are and it's about £70 for a pro-level badge press. It would have to be proper pin badges though. I remember a lot of those old toy badge makers produced badges with plastic clips on the back. Do you remember if the Big Badge Factory was like that?
Great throw back! The one toy I remember well from about this time (but not in this catalogue) was the Space Command Belt. A utility belt with a laser gun with accompanying variety of sounds and a walkie talkie that simply worked as a microphone. Played it to death! Of the examples featured in the video, the ones that stand out for me that I was lucky enough to own are, Tin Can Alley and theEvel Knieval stunt bike. Both were outstanding fun.
I got that Lego 744 set for Christmas in 1980. I was six and wheels were it! I don't remember building the windmill or the weird steam engine thing, but the crane and scanner vehicle were a lot of fun. Vaguely remember batteries being borrowed from a portable cassette player. Always remember those batteries folks!!
Great watching this. I was born in 76 so had lots of toys mentioned here and always loved it when my mum got the new Argos or Kay's Catalogue. PS if anyone has a PS5 try the game TREN as it's a nostalgic puzzle game featuring a BRIO style train track. It's brilliant!
Kays and Grattan, my Mum had. Quite a few of the less-affordable things I had were bought on 52 week plans. It's how I got my £500 Amiga computer when I was 16 and on part-time job wages.
The Corgi Movie vision in Techmoan's video belongs to me. It was mine when I was a kid and I sent it to him to do a video on. He kindy spent a bit of time (far too much) getting it up and running again and it now sits on the shelf in my 'man cave' amongst several other toys from the era. Tomy did a version of the 'Big Loader' several years later which was pretty much identical (I remember buying it for my Dad as a gift as he worked on a building site). EDIT: I've spoken to him and he's still got it in the attic! I'll have to get that from him!
He may have spent a long time on it, but the result was a great little historical video about how the thing worked. I loved watching that. Also amazing that your dad still has that toy. It must have meant a lot to him.
All I wanted was lego technics. Sand buggies with spiked wheels, aero wings and spring suspension was all the rage, but radio controlled ones are very expensive. I do remember having the matchbox with track set making double loops, that was amazing. I used to try and make transformers with lego technics with techniques and ways to mimick the way how transformer toys slide and fold where in the mid 80's lego introduced bending hinges, joints and round edged plates.
Slightly jealous. I think my dad might have liked the idea of it too, but I guess the price put them off. Still, I wasn't short of toys so I can't complain.
Galaxy Invader 1000? I did a video about those, one of my early vids. The one on the shelf is an ebay purchase - lost my original years ago. First 'video game' device I ever owned as a child.
Class I saw race and chase on one of the pages, my friend had that, I thought it was awesome. Remember computer battleships, nightmare inputting your ship locations before you started playing 😂. Great video enjoyed it.
Superb video. We must be about the same age as I was also 6 during most of 1980. At this point, Action Man was my thing! But saying that, a LOT of different things stirred memories. This sort of stuff is amazing, it brings memories back that I have not even accessed for probably 40 years! Thanks for the video.
Me and my brother had so much fun with BigTrak. Trying to program it just right to solve a course was quite rewarding. I still have it and I know it still works. Its a bit scuffed of course.
I would love to find an old copy of the Kays catelogue from the 80s and 90s just to have a look at the things I used to look at when we used to get Kays. But for some reason scans in pdf of those catelogues seem to be very hard to find online, you can find nearly every Argos online from the 70s, 80s and 90s (although ones from the 2000s seem to be rare for some reason; maybe the nostalgia factor wasn't quite the same compared to the 80s and 90s so noone has bothered with them). I've looked on sites like archive/wayback machine but couldn't find anything (people selling them on ebay will be selling them for silly money). Maybe noone has bothered to scan pages in because they were so big. I bet the last ever Argos catelogue is worth a few bob or two now.
I think it's probably because the catalogues were so thick - much harder to keep open for scanning. You'd have to cut out each page to scan it, and there are SO many pages. Makes sense less people would be willing to do the digital conversion. You can get Kays catalogues on ebay though - might be worth a look there. As for the last Argos catalogue - wife and I kept one for posterity! 😁
Most of the toys I remember, I had a lot of them, but when I saw horror make-up I got goosebumps cos I'd forget all about that, definitely never worked but I do remember it 😁
For those of you who never got a Mr Frosty, look up rotary cheese graters. It's exactly the same mechanism without the snowman front. Every time I grate some cheese I think of my Mr Frosty! 😂
Yes, Mr Frosty was a disappointment. You were supposed to crank a handle to crush the ice in the grater thing, but the handle was flimsy and really hard to turn unless you first smashed up the ice yourself, which kind of defeated the object.
TCR all the way! Very happy memories of the Star Bird, too... I asked Santa for just the comparatively cheap Command Base, since it was basically some bits of cardboard slotted together, I knew Santa wasn't particularly well-off, and I had loads of other space-themed toys I could populate it with. But he brought me the actual Star Bird as well!
Lots of great memories here, I'd forgotten how cool our toys were back then. We had to use our imagination with no (or limited) computer games (although I'm a big computer game fan 🙂). Happy Days!
I used to spend a LOT of time on my computer beck then (ZX Spectrum), but also spent a lot of time playing outside too. Mostly, I'm glad we didn't have mobile phones to distract us. It would have been a very different childhood.
Brilliant memories for a 55 year old.
They don’t make em like they used to 😀👍🏻
You got five years on me. Same era though.
@ Thanks for that fella 😂
@@billgordon6489 well we are the same!
56 nearly 57 Bill. So sad these days have gone. You don't think at the time that you'd yearn for those days again 45 years later!
@ Spot on bud and yearn I do 😊
I was 8 when I first saw these pages; I'm now 52 and seeing them again is really very nice.
Thank you.
Really does bring out the child in us, doesn't it?
What has amazed me is how many of these things myself and my sister got. I was 6 and she was 8. We had no idea of their value and things were tight back in the day. We were very lucky and i think Dad deserves some recognition this year.
My mum deserves credit for this too. Speaking about it years later, she admits to going without so my sister and I could have nice things. Bless her.
I remember back in those days as a kid, as soon as the summer holidays finished the Argos catalogue was glued to me till Christmas!
Putting circles round the stuff we wanted was kind of like a version of a Santa list. Always hoped mum or dad would read it and see what we liked the best.
Same here. Pity it's no longer made. The only thing children have now is the Smyths catelogue, which is like an upmarket Toys R Us selling overpriced toys like £300 for a Lego Harry Potter set.
Fortunately my mum and dad despite being lower class got me a atari with over 20 games (tho many were s/hand they were all mostly in boxes in new condition as it wasnt that old at the time, had played on a kids for age before Xmas. And she got me other sruff too..they spoiled us at xmas as my mum put money aside tne entire year and had catalogue too.😮😊😊
The mail order catalogues were always handy if you couldn't afford to pay for things up-front. Had a few things like that over the years.
I always wanted a Big Trax.
Christmas catalogues bring back so many memories! Used to spend ages looking through them all.
Better days compared to the screens of today
Definitely.
Can smell the pages and paper texture…😮
🤣 - I get exactly the same! Memory and the senses are a funny thing.
I had Tin Can Alley, absolutely loved it.
Always sounded like it would be a LOT of fun.
Wish i could go back to the 80s😊👍
Ditto. I'd take lots of photos & video footage then come back and start a historical UA-cam channel. 😂
I had the family treehouse 🌳 I was 9 Years old at the time and I remember I would take it with me to my grandparents house whenever I went there with my mum. I loved playing with it and carrying it around with me where ever I went.
I've always liked the idea of playsets that can be closed and carried around.
I had one too. I still have the little dog😂 nearly 40 years later. My birthday is 27th December, and got it when I was 10.
I’m the same age as you and absolutely loved this nostalgic look through the old Argos catalog. Fascinating to see things that I’d long forgotten, makes me wonder just how many of our memories are still there if we’re simply reminded enough.
So many memories definitely still there. I've lost count of how many times I've seen something and it's reminded me of something I hadn't thought about for decades.
Great video mate - took me back to my childhood, very nostalgic and well made. Thank you for the upload.😁
Thanks .. and thanks for viewing! 🎅👍
Thank you for this. I had and still have so many of these amazing toys.
Always a pleasure. On a side note - I was given the modern version of "Simon" this Christmas. It's every bit as good as the original.
@ That’s good to know as my vintage Simon stopped working many years ago. Thanks again
I had many hours of fun playing with Simon Says…and the joy I felt when I got all the way through and heard that double ring.
I literally just got one today for Christmas (the modern version). It's a fitting tribute and very similar to the original.
I used to love the Argos catalogue (and yes I did like the jewellery section!) But I love what you say about old computers. I still have my first (a BBC Micro model B, which my father stole from Birmingham University for my Christmas present when I was 6) an an Atari too, given to me by a friend when he wanted to get rid of it! And they both still work, along with a Videopac which another friend gave me along with about 20 games. I love old computers especially if you can work out how to get them up and running again (which isn't too hard with a bit of research) but my BBC will always have the foremost place in my heart. I took it with me when I left home thirty years ago, and it's been with me ever since!
*and
My step-son collects for his Videopac. The games seem similar in style to the Atari VCS.
Wow, flashback Christmas 1980 and getting the race and chase. One of the best presents I remember getting.
nice one. I had the big track and starbird and my sister had girls world. such fond happy times
A fabulous trip down memory lane with some of the best toys ever released (year wise). It was great to see my favourite toy ‘Race and Chase’ from Matchbox selling for £31.99. Thanks for the upload.
I have a similar Scalextric set now (didn't as a child).
My parents always tried there best to get me really good christmas presents - looking at this really makes me appreciate just how much they bought and done for me. Bigtrak was one of my favourites, but the Lima trainset built up by dad was brilliant - the best christmas ever that one.
Train sets .. always a classic present.
This is honestly the best video I have ever seen. Slam bam Sam and everything. I had that too. Actually remember what it felt like to put the bits back on
Yeah, I remember my step-son having the Crash Test Dummies version of that kind of toy. It was always good fun.
Love your vlog, so many happy childhood memories, had lots of toys like you mate Paul 💙
My favourite was Simon too Didn't know there was a new version Might have to buy one
I believe it's a Smyths toy store exclusive. I'm after one myself.
Fantastic review I remember doing the same with the catalogues circling and wanting waiting thinking I hope I get everything never the case thanks again Steve for this brings back so many great memories 👍
Glad you enjoyed! It does seem to be one of those core memories that pretty much everyone has. Made for a good video, as it turns out.
Ah, the Big Trak. Man I used that thing every day for MONTHS, sneaking up on our cat, my mom and dad, and my little brother. That was a great machine.
I suspect the people who didn't enjoy it probably didn't get as 'creative' as you did with it? Does sound like good fun.
Such a trip down memory lane
Nice 👍 I remember getting the Evel Kneivel stunt bike at a jumble sale in the early 80s lol Worked perfectly. Seeing that horror make up box again brought back so many memories as well. Lot of the stuff did. I had the pines battery moto police trike as well in 1980 when i was 3. Ive seen pics of me on it on Christmas day dressed like a copper 😆
Sounds like a cute photo.😊 I think my horror make-up kit might have been a jumble sale purchase, now I think about it. Might explain why I couldn't get good results. That, and I probably wasn't great at applying the make-up.
@@RetroSpectives Lol yeah i heard you mention. Great vid 👍
@@RetroSpectives
I was in Castleford a couple days ago in one charity shop I picked up the game Simon it’s mainly a display piece what an interesting find.
That brought back a LOT of memories. Obviously my parents did all their Christmas present shopping at Argos in 1980 and 1981 as I had many of the toys on those pages.
It's kind of a shame what's happening with Argos now; consigned to the back of supermarkets. Seems to be going the way of Woolworths.
Big thanks for memories been 81 these toys kept going on sale for many years. Been summer its Xmas, my birthday in January which sharing with my twin brother i was hoping parent do joint present like Mr Frosty n Test Match but none of those, oh well been naughty n sent to bed. We listened to cricket on radio, and sweat it out without something ice cold LOL.
71 child here, I agree with most of your picks. I had the Action Man Training Tower and it was awesome. We had them going way further with our own string.
Sound like a lot of fun! 🙂
I had eivel kenieval and the loop loop and hulk and action man everythjng...star wars everything..walkie tslkies ...looking at this i see how lucky i was considering we were lower class..my mum always treat me well. Dad used to get jealous of we kids me.and brotner.😊
ahhh wow.....added to my watch later list, I'm gonna get nostalgic in the last week before Chrimbo and watch this then, looks great, please keep up your great work, cheers.
Will do. Planning to keep making videos as long as I'm physically (and mentally) able, lol. This was the longest video I've done at over half an hour. Never planned for it to be that long, it just ended up that way. Was hoping that wouldn't put people off.
I remember getting a Pac Man game watch for Xmas in 1982 . love it .
Electronic Detective, Computer Battleship and Striker, wow, they awoken some long forgotten memories!
These old catalogue pages are great for reawakening forgotten memories, I always find. Nostalgia in a bottle!
Happy memories!
To treasure, for sure. Merry Christmas! 🎅🏽
@@RetroSpectives Merry Christmas!
I had Turn The Terrible Tank. I recall having years of fun with it, up to and including the disassembling my toys to see how they work phase of my boyhood.
Hmm.. I have to admit, I had a phase like the too. Opened up a few of my old mechanical toys.
I remember getting a big track. I think a bit later on, I also the trailer that went with it. I managed to program it to go from, the sofa in the lounge to the kitchen. I would get my mum to put a can of pop or a chocolate bar in it or something, then press the button to send it back .
Back in the 80’s, this seemed so futuristic as a kid. A great toy and also sneakily educational at the same time. Great days and this is a great channel 👍
Kind of like a precursor to those coding tutorials that are made for kids these days.
My sister had the piano and I had the ironing board and loved it 😂
I had tin can alley. Best Xmas present ever. Set myself up in my hallway in the evening while my parent’s watched the tv. Loved it. Thanks, great memory.
Perfect balance of peace for the parents and noisy fun for the kids. Love it!
Went through lots of batteries with that one ❤
Spot on, LOVE this thank you.
🎅👍
Brilliant video Steve, I used to love looking through the pages of my mum's catalogues, Littlewoods and Grattan, I knew I wouldn't get anything expensive but loved looking at what was out there! I was always happy with what I did get at Christmas. I recognised the fisher price record player and TV set, we had those two back in the 70's, seeing them in the Argos catalogue shows that they were still available at the dawn of the 80's. All the best Steve, and have a very merry Christmas.👍🏻🎄
And to you too! Looking up at my nutcracker soldier advent countdown ornament on the mantlepiece right now, we have 20 days to go! Hope you and your family/friends have a lovely Christmas time.
@@RetroSpectives I forgot to mention that I didn't get an Evel Knievel, I got Barry Sheenes Step -on-it, in fact I still have it boxed in my garage. Used to have great fun, revving it up with my foot and releasing it at what seemed 100mph, and watch him crash into the skirting boards! Great memories.😄
Yes, those Fisher Price toys were strong and lasted for years. They were everywhere back then.
Was lucky enough to have Tin Can Alley. Looked on eBay and see them retailing for £300 now.
😲
Wow we gave tin can alley away when we moved.
Hello Steve, this video absolutely took me back so many thanks.
I was born in 73 and over several Christmas's I had a few of those items featured in the catalogue. In no particular order I was extremely lucky to have:
Computer Battleship
Bigtrak
TCR 4 Jam Car Special set
Matchbox Streak (loved that)
Evil Knievel
Slam Bam Sam
Lego 744
Electricity & Magnetism set
Bontempi organ
Cheers again,
Rob.
I presume you had better luck with that Lego set than I did? 😂
@@RetroSpectives i think I was 10 or 11 when I got it. I don't remember having issues with it. I built the windmill on xmas day, on boxing day we drove down from Yorkshire to Leicestershire to see my auntie and uncle and I lost some pieces there..... i was gutted. Never let other kids play with your lego.... lesson learnt lol.
I got the mighty car chassis a couple of years later. Extremely happy xmas as I also got a mamod traction engine to but dad built that :(
Elf n safety I guess.
@@lookupparagliding I must have been about six when I got my set. I felt useless when I couldn't put it together. Good advice on the other kids playing with your stuff. I was stung a few times over the years.
As always, another fantastic video. You put so much thought and hard work into creating your videos, and this one's clearly resonated with a lot of people.
Tell me about it! I've been quite taken aback. It's already overtaken my most popular video in views, and that took two years to get there. 🤷🏽♂️
@RetroSpectives It's well-deserved recognition, Steve.
Still got sindy
I still have mine too
Still got mine too
Had many of these as hand me downstairs from the neighbour,I loved chutes away and am so tempted to find one again
It'd be interesting to see if there are still any working models out there.
@RetroSpectives eBay, between £30-40 seems attainable.Took me years to find it's name out
Wow this video has brought back so many happy memories!!! I was born in 74 and got the Palitoy Police car and the Evel Knievel stunt bike for Christmas in 1980!!! Probably my favourite toys as a kid. I loved that police car and played with it until it basically fell apart!!!
I'm a 1974 baby too!
I used to have a Simon Says. Many happy memories spending hours looking through Argos catalogues. Get to about 1984, and the Argos catalogue was full of pages of Transformers. They were the only toy in town back then.
It's funny, I was never really interested in Transformers and I don't really know why. My step-son (now 40) has always loved them.
Happy memories.
We could never afford any of this stuff when I was a kid, but I used to enjoy flipping through the catalogue with my brother while we would wonder at the amazing toys and games in there
Sister and I were lucky enough to get SOME of the things we wanted. Everything else in the catalogue .. imagination made up for the rest. 🤗
Wait that part guitar and part keyboard it all most looks a guitar hero rhythm game, maybe that's where they got the idea for? And these catalogues i never seen before, seems here in Australia some of us was not aloud to see when i was a kid or some of us i am 52 years old and don't really remember some of these toys.
Probably had different kinds of toys in different countries, or maybe it just boils down to the advertising being less prominent?
For me, I always said that the Evil Knievel Stunt Cycle was the best toy ever made. Biased maybe as I absolutely loved it.
I reckon I just didn't have the skills to work it properly. That being said, I never got a chance to properly practice with one. That's my excuse! 🤫
I always wanted it but unfortunately was told “Santa can’t afford it, pick something cheaper” 😂
That's a real shame as it was something special. It was a lot cheaper back then as an original sells for a small Fortune these days 🙂
One of my favourite toys,played it to death
Wow so glad i stummbled on your channel.Really took me back and brought toys back that i'd forgot about.Keep up the good work👍
Thanks .. will do. 🙂
I was in the first year at secondary school. I remember my auntie sending me an empire strikes back softback.
From memory now, 1980 I'd have been in my second year of primary school.
We were so lucky to have these 😊
i loved Crossfire.... youre the same age as me too. well done sir
👴👍
Ditto!
Remember getting blisters from the trigger! lol
Loved that! I still have Crossfire and remember the blisters!
Glad it wasn't just me then.
As soon as you mentioned Crossfire my mind went to the blisters. Had a lot of fun.
We had many of these. We had a fantastic time with computer battleships, simon, big trak, micronauts, TCR and scalextric. I've still got my Star Bird and Star Wars electronic game. Both still working perfectly. I was taught to appreciate the value of things and look after them.
That's a good lesson to learn.
Had that top page TCR set, from a jumble sale for a bout 2 quid if i remember rightly, was in almost unused condition, was brilliant, over taking and a jam car to upset the apple cart. Something my mum could never have afforded at the time, so really chuffed to pick up so for almost nothing. My mates had Scalectrix, but they loved the TCR I had. Brilliant upload, many thanks, brings back the memories this one!
That was an amazing, lucky find at the jumble sale. I had a few toys & games from those over the years, but nothing in the league of a TCR.
@@RetroSpectives was moment of joy, had to walk about 2 miles with it in my hands and was a big thing to carry for a small lad, I remember the polystyrene bits coming off like snowflakes from the packaging, then getting in the house and building it up hoping it worked. it was perfect, and had many a race with mates and against the jam car, good times! Your upload has made me remember that time and savour it,
many thanks"
In 1980 I was already reading about the Commodore VIC-20, the first "home computer". SO I was saving for that...!
Few years later for me - got my first computer (Speccy 48k) in 1983.
I bought Simon for my son last year, legends never die
I have the modern version on my Christmas list. Fingers crossed. 🫰
Your video has simply made me smile 👍🏻👍🏻 still got my race n chase, slam bam Sam my grandparents got me 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Now I’m looking at Argos books 🤣🤣
It's really lovely still having stuff from childhood, especially when it still works 40 years later.
@ I loved my race n chase, then I tried my mates TCR And now I’ve about 15 of them
To set up one day… still got my dukes of hazard barn buster
I remember the blisters on my finger too. A friend had this game and his father got extra balls to make the game even faster. The pain was worth it though.
I've been wondering if I was being a little over-zealous with the trigger.
With my birthday & Christmas being so close I always got a “joint” present.
Got Evel Knievel bike one year, my dad & friend broke it Boxing Day.
Got Race & Chase…
Didn’t work so had to wait until January for a replacement.
My Bionic man was also broken..🤦♂️
Never liked Christmas. 😂
Sounds pretty tragic. Hope it goes better for you this year. 😄👍
Great memories!
I used to get the catalogue to ask my gran for toys at Christmas every year when the latest stuff was in it, but the first time I was introduced to The Argos catalogue was when The Real Ghostbusters toys, The Boglins etc were first available.
Still some great toy from that era too.
Great memories, I remember being disappointed with Mr Frosty, the ice crusher turning handle was missing from the box, but did have fun with my Evil Knievel stunt bike
Missing parts .. always guttingly disappointing, especially if it's Christmas morning.
Wow..I can smell the catalogue.
Totally!! I know exactly what you mean. 😂
We had computer battleship and LOVED every minute of it!
Same here. Very popular in our family back then.
Wow definitely brings memories some very iconic items i would of been 3 so unfortunately cqnt remember what i got
Probably clothes at that age. 😆
Yep most likely lol
I also had BigTrack. It doubled as a vehicle for my action man stuff.
I remember loving my Homepride Baking Set as a child! Mum used to help me make things , I just love seeing it here and I had the badge factory and Simon! The Sindys shower set I adored and the small towels were cute! It worked when you put batteries in the back which sprayed the water 😊
Also loved my fisher price ride on truck and the playskool pram
I've always wanted a badge maker, and still do. I've looked up how much they are and it's about £70 for a pro-level badge press. It would have to be proper pin badges though. I remember a lot of those old toy badge makers produced badges with plastic clips on the back. Do you remember if the Big Badge Factory was like that?
Beautiful memories xmas 1980s
Oh wow, what a blast from the past. An Atari for £99. I used to memorise this and the Kays catalogue. Thanks for this.
My pleasure!
I had the Starbird, action man training tower, big trak... Great memories
Great throw back! The one toy I remember well from about this time (but not in this catalogue) was the Space Command Belt. A utility belt with a laser gun with accompanying variety of sounds and a walkie talkie that simply worked as a microphone. Played it to death! Of the examples featured in the video, the ones that stand out for me that I was lucky enough to own are, Tin Can Alley and theEvel Knieval stunt bike. Both were outstanding fun.
I've never heard of the Space Command Belt. I looked it up and there are loads on ebay.
I got that Lego 744 set for Christmas in 1980. I was six and wheels were it! I don't remember building the windmill or the weird steam engine thing, but the crane and scanner vehicle were a lot of fun. Vaguely remember batteries being borrowed from a portable cassette player. Always remember those batteries folks!!
Very important for Christmas Day. Nothing more disappointing than getting a new toy and having no batteries on Christmas Morning.
This is so evocative I can smell the catalogue.
Funny what memories can do to the senses. 😊
Great watching this. I was born in 76 so had lots of toys mentioned here and always loved it when my mum got the new Argos or Kay's Catalogue.
PS if anyone has a PS5 try the game TREN as it's a nostalgic puzzle game featuring a BRIO style train track. It's brilliant!
I love that there's always a crossover between the decades when you read these kinds of catalogues.
Love the pullover
Has to be done, really. 😂👍
It was Grattan and Argos catalogues in my house, that’s all my Mum used!
Kays and Grattan, my Mum had. Quite a few of the less-affordable things I had were bought on 52 week plans. It's how I got my £500 Amiga computer when I was 16 and on part-time job wages.
The Corgi Movie vision in Techmoan's video belongs to me. It was mine when I was a kid and I sent it to him to do a video on. He kindy spent a bit of time (far too much) getting it up and running again and it now sits on the shelf in my 'man cave' amongst several other toys from the era.
Tomy did a version of the 'Big Loader' several years later which was pretty much identical (I remember buying it for my Dad as a gift as he worked on a building site). EDIT: I've spoken to him and he's still got it in the attic! I'll have to get that from him!
He may have spent a long time on it, but the result was a great little historical video about how the thing worked. I loved watching that. Also amazing that your dad still has that toy. It must have meant a lot to him.
Awesome
All I wanted was lego technics. Sand buggies with spiked wheels, aero wings and spring suspension was all the rage, but radio controlled ones are very expensive. I do remember having the matchbox with track set making double loops, that was amazing. I used to try and make transformers with lego technics with techniques and ways to mimick the way how transformer toys slide and fold where in the mid 80's lego introduced bending hinges, joints and round edged plates.
I think the creativity toys are among some of the best, in hindsight, for sparking kids' imaginations.
I had a Tin Can Alley as a kid...one of the best presents I ever got.
Slightly jealous. I think my dad might have liked the idea of it too, but I guess the price put them off. Still, I wasn't short of toys so I can't complain.
Wow. I had one of those space invader type games on the shelf behind you.
Galaxy Invader 1000? I did a video about those, one of my early vids. The one on the shelf is an ebay purchase - lost my original years ago. First 'video game' device I ever owned as a child.
My mum was a Littlewoods catalog agent when I was a kid. The 70s
Class I saw race and chase on one of the pages, my friend had that, I thought it was awesome.
Remember computer battleships, nightmare inputting your ship locations before you started playing 😂.
Great video enjoyed it.
Oh yeah! I'd forgotten about that laborious punching in of all the locations. Used to persevere with it though - the game was so fun to play.
I had a Bigtrak, can't believe the price, £40 back then was loads! Thanks dad!
I still have my race and chase on top of the wardrobe from being given in 1980
Funnily enough, I have a Scalextric Crash & Bash set on my wardrobe. Wife bought it for me as a birthday present a few years back.
Superb video. We must be about the same age as I was also 6 during most of 1980. At this point, Action Man was my thing! But saying that, a LOT of different things stirred memories. This sort of stuff is amazing, it brings memories back that I have not even accessed for probably 40 years! Thanks for the video.
You're welcome, and it's true - it's amazing he many memories are just tucked away in there, waiting to be unlocked.
Me and my brother had so much fun with BigTrak.
Trying to program it just right to solve a course was quite rewarding. I still have it and I know it still works. Its a bit scuffed of course.
I always imagined getting the best from a BigTrak by setting courses. I never had one but I would have done the same as you by the sound of it.
Aahh electronic detective, had that for Xmas 1980! Great fun!
You might like this, then: ua-cam.com/video/FKnxuZQIUI8/v-deo.html
I would love to find an old copy of the Kays catelogue from the 80s and 90s just to have a look at the things I used to look at when we used to get Kays. But for some reason scans in pdf of those catelogues seem to be very hard to find online, you can find nearly every Argos online from the 70s, 80s and 90s (although ones from the 2000s seem to be rare for some reason; maybe the nostalgia factor wasn't quite the same compared to the 80s and 90s so noone has bothered with them). I've looked on sites like archive/wayback machine but couldn't find anything (people selling them on ebay will be selling them for silly money). Maybe noone has bothered to scan pages in because they were so big. I bet the last ever Argos catelogue is worth a few bob or two now.
I think it's probably because the catalogues were so thick - much harder to keep open for scanning. You'd have to cut out each page to scan it, and there are SO many pages. Makes sense less people would be willing to do the digital conversion.
You can get Kays catalogues on ebay though - might be worth a look there.
As for the last Argos catalogue - wife and I kept one for posterity! 😁
Most of the toys I remember, I had a lot of them, but when I saw horror make-up I got goosebumps cos I'd forget all about that, definitely never worked but I do remember it 😁
There were a few toys on these pages I'd forgotten about. Remembered though as soon as they came into sight.
I had one better than the training tower for my action men, it was called my bedroom window😁
I remember having some kind of toy soldier with a parachute. That went out the bedroom window quite a few times.
Great memories 👌 ❤️ ♥️
For those of you who never got a Mr Frosty, look up rotary cheese graters. It's exactly the same mechanism without the snowman front. Every time I grate some cheese I think of my Mr Frosty! 😂
That's a proper life hack, that! I'm getting a rotary cheese grater .. 😁
Yes, Mr Frosty was a disappointment. You were supposed to crank a handle to crush the ice in the grater thing, but the handle was flimsy and really hard to turn unless you first smashed up the ice yourself, which kind of defeated the object.
Would absolutely love to see a 90s version of this.
I'm planning to gradually move towards 90s stuff so that might be a good idea.
TCR all the way! Very happy memories of the Star Bird, too... I asked Santa for just the comparatively cheap Command Base, since it was basically some bits of cardboard slotted together, I knew Santa wasn't particularly well-off, and I had loads of other space-themed toys I could populate it with. But he brought me the actual Star Bird as well!
They say if you don't ask, you don't get, but in your case it worked out just perfect! 😁👍
You were a good kid, asking for the cheaper present! You deserved that Starbird that you also received!
Lots of great memories here, I'd forgotten how cool our toys were back then. We had to use our imagination with no (or limited) computer games (although I'm a big computer game fan 🙂). Happy Days!
I used to spend a LOT of time on my computer beck then (ZX Spectrum), but also spent a lot of time playing outside too. Mostly, I'm glad we didn't have mobile phones to distract us. It would have been a very different childhood.