Favorite Childhood Toy

[Botaskinner]

I used to thread a roll of caps onto a needle, accordion style, then carefully squeeze then into a compact stack, wrap with masking tape then carefully withdraw the needle. A kitchen match head taped on one end with the white part showing and you had an igniter.

1 out of 4 would go off as you pulled the needle out..but if it worked, you had a rudimentary firecracker, but nothing like the real thing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Then came the mass production and refinement of black powder. That also explains where many old toys ended up. In fact, the paint wasn't dried on many WWII aircraft and tank models before they were blown up and set fire to. Most in the basement.

 

[jmc]

It痴 an obsession! I致e found my second favorite childhood toy. It痴 a BuddyL Country Squire station Wagon and TeePee camper. Sure was fun as a kid! Circa 1963? View attachment 600060View attachment 600061View attachment 600062

Good thread, Rob.

Many decades ago, the Scout was made in Ft. Wayne, IN, a few miles from my hometown. They were the best paying place to work in those days and if your parents worked there, and if you were a high school graduate, you probably had a job there too. Lots of labor strife in those days and that couldn't have helped the Scout's prospects. My best friend's dad worked there and then so did he, waiting for a spot to open in the tool and die apprenticeship program. By my friend's account, federal regulations imposed some ethnicity rules and their union stonewalled it until the plant shutdown. He spent the rest of his career working in a grocery store... Don't know what happened to that huge site but if there's not an International Harvester visitor center, there should be.

 

[Industrial Toys]

There were great jobs at International in Ontario Canada. Those guys wouldn't get paid enough apparently and would rob the place blind, including hiding "D" Caterpillar type batteries under the rail cars for later retrival, once outside company limits. All GONE now! People just don't know how good they have it sometimes.

 

[RobS]

Good thread, Rob.

Many decades ago, the Scout was made in Ft. Wayne, IN, a few miles from my hometown. They were the best paying place to work in those days and if your parents worked there, and if you were a high school graduate, you probably had a job there too. Lots of labor strife in those days and that couldn't have helped the Scout's prospects. My best friend's dad worked there and then so did he, waiting for a spot to open in the tool and die apprenticeship program. By my friend's account, federal regulations imposed some ethnicity rules and their union stonewalled it until the plant shutdown. He spent the rest of his career working in a grocery store... Don't know what happened to that huge site but if there's not an International Harvester visitor center, there should be.

There are 2 museums in Auburn, IN. The main one is the Auburn Cord Duesenburg museum but behind it is the National Automotive and Truck Museum. They have a number of International Harvester vehicles but no Scout! I think the IH plant is still there in Fort Wayne, may have become a locomotive repair facility?

 

[jmc]

There were great jobs at International in Ontario Canada. Those guys wouldn't get paid enough apparently and would rob the place blind, including hiding "D" Caterpillar type batteries under the rail cars for later retrival, once outside company limits. All GONE now! People just don't know how good they have it sometimes.

Pretty clever. I think there will always be disenfranchised employees where "sticking it to the man" is a sport. Sometimes, TheMan deserves it.

I worked in an automotive parts warehouse one summer where one of the employees filled orders from "his customers" by smuggling out parts in his cowboy boots. We all had to file past the guard when leaving and the guard would spotcheck lunch pails. Everyone in line knew the scam and watched him sweat but were biased against the company. Just a few can taint the whole labor force.

 

[jmc]

There are 2 museums in Auburn, IN. The main one is the Auburn Cord Duesenburg museum but behind it is the National Automotive and Truck Museum. They have a number of International Harvester vehicles but no Scout! I think the IH plant is still there in Fort Wayne, may have become a locomotive repair facility?

I go right thru there several times a year on my way to E Lansing. Next time, I'll check it out!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I had a neighbor who worked for FORD assembly. He had to have had tens of thousand of dollars in the best tools money can buy. He had the first B&D cordless (commercial) impact guns and drills. All kind of them and chargers. They would take a high quality air hose into the washroom, pull down his overalls, as he would turn around, a helper would wind the hose around him and pull the overalls back on.

 

[MossRoad]

There were great jobs at International in Ontario Canada. Those guys wouldn't get paid enough apparently and would rob the place blind, including hiding "D" Caterpillar type batteries under the rail cars for later retrival, once outside company limits. All GONE now! People just don't know how good they have it sometimes.

International Harvester strike of 1979–8 - Wikipedia

 

[MossRoad]

There are 2 museums in Auburn, IN. The main one is the Auburn Cord Duesenburg museum but behind it is the National Automotive and Truck Museum. They have a number of International Harvester vehicles but no Scout! I think the IH plant is still there in Fort Wayne, may have become a locomotive repair facility?

X2 on the museums. Also, the annual car auction.

Here's a link to the factory. It's still there, with several businesses in the facilities. Also, the International Harvestor clock tower is now a historic place.

Google Maps