Mail Order Monday - Time to Get Medeival

Medieval War Machine toy (1956)

The days of hard fighting, bitter battles...and poor personal hygiene.

By no means am I an expert of medieval war machines, but I can't say I've ever seen one designed like this. I'm familiar with the standard seige weapons: catapult, ballista and trebuchet. Don't let anyone tell you playing D&D isn't somewhat educational, kids. I know this is only a toy but unless there is some unseen way to adjust the angle of the spear it doesn't seem like there's much control over it except maybe how hard it launches. And if you're flinging giant metal spears, you probably want them going as fast as possible.

This ad really sells the catapult as the be-all, end-all weapon to destroy all your enemies. If you're fighting an enemy that is going to be wiped out by this one siege weapon, you probably didn't need it in the first place. Maybe figures back inthe '50s would get flattened by it, but the figures of the '80s would probably burn it to the tabletop.

They could have at least included some paper targets or plastic figures. On the other hand, what more could you want for $1.25 other than something to torment the family pet and/or siblings from across the room?

Mail Order Monday - Jet Rocket Set (1956)

This particular toy was offered by Honor House, a big name in the comic ad mail order business.

Although this 1956 ad mentions this is a new scientific toy, the "science rocket" has stood the test of time and is still being made today. I can vividly remember one of these rockets I had which had a red plastic dome and white lower body to it. The white plastic was opaque and made the fins a little more bendy. I'm guessing in the early models that were made from translucent red plastic the fins were not so bendy and probably broke on hard landings..

For those not familiar with this toy, you fill the rocket to a line with water. You then attach a small hand pump to the base of the rocket, latch it in place and pump it full of air. Now I'm pretty sure the actual instructions gave some kind of advisory as to how much air you should pump in to it but we always pumped it until there was so much air inside that we couldn't work the pump anymore (ie: maximum thrust mode). Aim up at the sky (very important!) and release the latch holding the rocket in place.

Actual mail order rocket still in original box (year unknown)

What happens next is pure science, but I don't know the actual words behind it. Suffice it to say that water + air pressure + forced point of release = launching rocket. Like any flying toy, these would sometimes end up on the roof, yours or your neighbors! There is also a good chance of getting sprayed by the "rocket fuel" as it launches which makes this a good summer toy.

You can make one of these at home, presuming you have a hand-held air pump.