Ask Me Help Desk - Building toys of the 1960's

Building toys of the 1960's

I was wandering if anyone remembers a construction toy called toggle blocks that was sold in the 1960's. I had some of these but cannot find a reference to them anywhere on the net. I would like to know who manufactured them. THANKS

Are you sure it was called toggle blocks? Very early 70's I had a construction set called bristle blocks. Maybe?

See # 57 at the link below:

M&A Television Commercials Toys and Games

Toggel Blocks were made by Mattel.

HI and yes I recall them vividly. They where colorful blocks. Blue and Green push pins/spikes. Red and Yellow roughtly 1 inch cubed blocks, with holes on 5 of the sides and a spike on another. Red panels black wheels etc. Using rubber bands the wheels could be cranked up.

There where yellow parts to squeeze and push air through tubes to move items you built and the list goes on. I played with this in the late 60's early 70's.

I believe it was a Mattle Toy.

As mentioned above, the blocks were about 1" cube. Hexagonal holes in the center of each panel. Either one or two pins that mated with the holes of other blocks and accessories. The two-pin blocks had pins on opposite sides. One of the hole panels was hinged.

The hinge was simply a piece of the plastic that allowed the panel to flex open on one side. It snapped closed requiring using another block to pry it open. The plastic used was very durable, I do not rember any of the hinges ever breaking due to over flexing. The hing set these blocks apart from Lego's since now your creations could move.

I'm surprised there is so little on the Internet about Toggle Blocks. The were sold in sets nobered 100, 200,. 500. There may have been others but I remember begging for the deluxe 500 set with the wind up spring motor.

I got the set, but my 4 year old brother managed to break the motor Christmas morning before I ever touched it. Everything else was extermely durable. This would have been around 1969.

Yes - a more complete description of the blocks, like you I am surprised there is not more info and that Mattel could not sell more. I still have mine packed away. I am sure they are all in perfect shape.

Been looking myself. I still have one of the figures. Has a nuts and bolts body.

I wish they made them again. I played with mine for hours & hours. This is the first time I found anything on the internet about them. I thought I must have imagined them. I look at Garage/Estate sales for them, but have never been lucky enough to find them.

Here's an update.

1) They were called TOG'L Blocks. There were a lot of sites when I searched on the correct name. I never would have remembered that.

2) Mattle is bring them back in a fashion.

3) This site has a lot of pictures and descriptions
tog'l site

I have a set of these from the 1960s. Lots of sticks, panels and cubes in great shape. I'm surprised they're so hard to come by. Mine have survived well.

I remember them. I even went to a market trial for them, to see if children would like them.
I thought they were boring, compared to other building toys of the time. I don't think they
Lasted long on the market.

Remember this very well, the name was just "Toggle" I vividly remember the TV commercial demonstrating the hinged plastic blocks that came with the set. I was about 10 years old, didn't have 10 bucks to buy the set

I am surprised to find this site! My grandchildren are playing with my 500piece(well almost,LOL)set right now.Togg'le toys were made by Mattel toys in the late 60's,and my family has been playing with them ever since.I would love to buy any parts that may still be around.Still a GREAT toy,the kids play for hours!

Yes, I had these too, probably around 1968 or '69. My brother and I would build cars out of them, and have demolition derbies, smashing them into each other until pieces would fly off and they wouldn't roll. Great fun!!

I was a big Toggles fan as well. Seems like every other toy in the world's all over the net but these. What?

I absolutely loved my Toggles!! I played with them for hours upon hours (and I'm a girl)!!
I think they should bring them back. They were awesome. I'm sure that the tiny parts (hinged blocks, wheels, metal axles, etc) would be considered a hazard in today's world (not to mention the plastic).

LOL, I remember always asking for LEGOs as a kid and always getting toggels instead... they must have been cheaper!

These Tog'l blocks or Toggle blocks by Mattel were a favorite toy of my children in the 70's. I thought the plastic would get brittle with age but apparently it didn't. Yes, Mattel should begin making them again. They have more versatility for creative innovation than the Lego blocks have with their cube shape and hinges. Please, Mattel, bring them back. We don't understand why you stopped making them!

I'm a grandmother now and I would love to be able to give a set of these to my grandkids!

Does anyone have any Tog'l blocks they would sell? Perhaps you have some in storage that you would sell.

Yes, my siblings and I has some. There were cubes in different colors with hinges on them. Each side had either a peg or a hole. There were also triangle shaped pieces, rods, tires and gears. We also had a brick size block that had housed a wind up engine to make motorized figures. I recall we made a little robot. With the engine we were able to make the robot move across the floor.

They were spelled Tog'l. Google that, and you'll be happy to find lots of neat pictures and stuff. Wish I could buy a set.

All of the posts above could have been written by me! I got a set every christmas for about 4 or 5 years. There were so many of them,I was able to build a life size man that had moving arms ans legs! They were also way worse to step on than legos could EVER be!! LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilliAnn789009

Does anyone have any Tog'l blocks they would sell? Perhaps you have some in storage that you would sell.

If you are still looking to buy some, I have a big box! Probably 200-350 pieces.