The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 071 Mattel's Thingmaker - Did The Fun Outweigh The Danger?

Did you love the smell of burnt electricity and "Plastigoop" in the morning? If you grew up in the late '60s, injury was part of the "kid contract," and nothing signed that contract quite like the Mattel Thingmaker. In this episode of The Mid Century Vault, Philip Mershon dives into the legendary—and infamous—DIY toy that turned children into miniature manufacturers. From the "alchemy" of turning liquid plastic into Creepy Crawlers to the 350 degree heating unit that sat open on your bedroom floor, we’re exploring why this toy was a masterpiece of mid-century creative fun and a nightmare for modern safety inspectors. We’re opening the vault to discuss: The Plastigoop Magic: How Mattel hooked a generation on "The Razor and Blades" business model. Creeple People & Fright Factory: The expansion of the Thingmaker universe. The Burn Factor: Why injury from operating a miniature stove was considered a "rite of passage." The Toxic Truth: Were those acrid fumes actually dangerous? Are you still sporting a scar from your original Thingmaker? Which kit was your favorite? Let’s swap survival stories in the comments! #Mattel #CreepyCrawlers #VintageToys #Thingmaker #60sChildhood #ToyHistory #Plastigoop