Toys Of My Christmas Past – My Top Five

This was a mini bowling alley – about three feet long with a bowler at one end. You’d place a small bowling ball in his hand and aim for the pins. At the other end was a mechanical pin setter. You’d have to set the pins by hand into the slots, then after the first shot you’d wind the crank to activate the pinsetter for your second shot. It would also return the ball just like a real bowling alley. I had hours of fun with the Bowl-A-Matic.

This was a board game that featured milkmen making their rounds for the day and all the obstacles they would encounter along the way. The point of the game was to deliver all your milk and successfully navigate thru all the trouble spots. I don’t know what it was about this game but my best friend and I would play this game over and over. It brings back a lot of great memories.

This was real surprise. I couldn’t believe I got a full size, 5-speed bike. It had fenders, a cushion seat and derailleur gears. When I saw that by the tree I just sat there for a few minutes with my mouth wide open. I couldn’t wait to get it outside. Luckily it was a mild winter and within days I was riding thru the neighborhood.

One of my all-time favorite toys. You could construct modern buildings with plastic girders and wall panels. With some sets you could build highways with overpasses and exit ramps. I had a blast.

I still have most of my collection. Police cars, fire trucks, dump trucks, bulldozers, tractors, boat and trailer, numerous makes and models of cars. These were metal toys made by a company in England and small enough to fit in a matchbox. I could amuse myself for hours.