Mystery-Super-Almond-Inflation Toy

face1990 · 31-01-2012 9:40pm #1

I'm hoping you can help me AHers. I was eating an almond finger when I had a sudden flashback.

Around the mid-90s I remember playing with a sort of soft plastic that came in a tube, like a toothpaste tube. You'd put a little dollop of it on top of a thin straw and then blow in into big bubbles which would stay inflated but slowly dry out & harden.

I've no idea what it was called, or if it was even meant to be blown into bubbles. But I do remember it had an really strong smell of almonds!

So do any of you remember what it was called, and is it still available?
I'm sure it was full of all sorts of horrible chemicals which, combined with it's delicious smell, probably wasn't the best idea for a children's toy. :P
Also, what other bizarre/unsafe toys do you remember?

Dudess · 31-01-2012 9:41pm

face1990 wrote: »

I'm hoping you can help me AHers. I was eating an almond finger when I had a sudden flashback.

Around the mid-90s I remember playing with a sort of soft plastic that came in a tube, like a toothpaste tube. You'd put a little dollop of it on top of a thin straw and then blow in into big bubbles which would stay inflated but slowly dry out & harden.

I've no idea what it was called, or if it was even meant to be blown into bubbles. But I do remember it had an really strong smell of almonds!

So do any of you remember what it was called, and is it still available?
I'm sure it was full of all sorts of horrible chemicals which, combined with it's delicious smell, probably wasn't the best idea for a children's toy. :P

Try the Japan forum.

My name is URL · 31-01-2012 9:42pm

I was eating an almond finger when I had a sudden flashback.

Are you sure it wasn't an acid trip?

face1990 · 31-01-2012 9:44pm

My name is URL wrote: »

Are you sure it wasn't an acid trip?

Probably was. Now that I think of it, almonds don't even have fingers.

El Guapo! · 31-01-2012 9:44pm

Sperm.

Kevin Duffy · 31-01-2012 9:45pm

face1990 wrote: »

Around the mid-90s I remember playing with a sort of soft plastic that came in a tube, like a toothpaste tube. You'd put a little dollop of it on top of a thin straw and then blow in into big bubbles which would stay inflated but slowly dry out & harden.

Show us on the doll where the man touched you.....

WindSock · 31-01-2012 9:46pm

Yeah i had a go of one a few years ago. Turns into a pladtic bubble. Cant remember the name...try the Toys & Games forum, perhaps?

Dudess · 31-01-2012 9:47pm

Had a plastic toy baby's bottle for my doll - the top was just painted on because the fake milk inside was no doubt dodgy... so I chewed a hole in the top and drank a bit. Was rushed to A&E.

I just remember it tasted disgusting. This was in the early 80s.

Gordon · 31-01-2012 9:49pm

face1990 wrote: »

I'm hoping you can help me AHers. I was eating an almond finger when I had a sudden flashback.

Around the mid-90s I remember playing with a sort of soft plastic that came in a tube, like a toothpaste tube. You'd put a little dollop of it on top of a thin straw and then blow in into big bubbles which would stay inflated but slowly dry out & harden.

I've no idea what it was called, or if it was even meant to be blown into bubbles. But I do remember it had an really strong smell of almonds!

So do any of you remember what it was called, and is it still available?
I'm sure it was full of all sorts of horrible chemicals which, combined with it's delicious smell, probably wasn't the best idea for a children's toy. :P
Also, what other bizarre/unsafe toys do you remember?

Know exactly what you mean, strange stuff that was/is.

http://www.hamleys.com/Magic_Plastic_4_Pack_%7C_Hamleys_Toys/839803,default,pd.html

Speedsie · 31-01-2012 9:49pm

I think they were called something like 'Magic Elastic Balloons' - smelt really chemically though. Very odd bubbles were created - kinda like clingfilm.
Strange toy alright.

Speedsie · 31-01-2012 9:50pm

Gordon wrote: »

Know exactly what you mean, strange stuff that was/is.

http://www.hamleys.com/Magic_Plastic_4_Pack_%7C_Hamleys_Toys/839803,default,pd.html

Yep!!!! I think we had them in the early 80s

face1990 · 31-01-2012 9:53pm

Gordon wrote: »

Know exactly what you mean, strange stuff that was/is.

http://www.hamleys.com/Magic_Plastic_4_Pack_%7C_Hamleys_Toys/839803,default,pd.html

That's the one! cheers!

I found a page on wikipedia about a brand called "Super Elastic Bubble Plastic"! (Still think my name for them is better)

Btw, the wikipedia page mentions 'noxious fumes' which collect in the straw :eek:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Elastic_Bubble_Plastic

bonzodog2 · 31-01-2012 10:26pm

I remember stuff like that from the 80s too, which was blue, though the Hamley's ad linked above has 4 colours.

also on ebay

edit: ebay item also in 4 colours !

edit:better value link !

Irish Guitarist · 31-01-2012 11:39pm

face1990 wrote: »

Also, what other bizarre/unsafe toys do you remember?

I used to have loads of Muppet toys when I was a child. Most of them were made of rubber and when one of the arms or legs came off there would be a big wire thing like a coat hanger sticking out. They would look like something from The Terminator.

Ghandee · 31-01-2012 11:49pm

Dunno OP, I do recall an episode from my own childhood though, where me an my buddy Dessie (both prob 9 or 10} where up the back fields when we found a long piece of rubber that resembled a balloon.

Dessie tried to blow it up a few times, and I recall mentioning to him that there was a strange looking liquid inside the balloon.

Undeterred though, Dessie kept trying to blow up this 'balloon', and I can still see it now as he got it half way inflated, only for all the air to fly out the end again, followed by this mysterious liquid that went straight in his mouth, and which Dessie described as 'tasting kind of salty'.

(true story) :pac:

Mystery-Super-Almond-Inflation Toy

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