When I was a child, I had lots of Corgi and Dinky toy cars, along with TV series merchandise like the Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet toys, also made by Dinky. What fascinated me about these toys, apart their excellent build quality, was their functionality: doors, bonnets (hoods) and boots (trunks) opened, seats folded, windows wound-down, and some even had working rear indicator lights. And no doubt Toys aimed at girls, also had intricate details and functional parts, making play immersive for everyone.
The Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet toys were just as intricate. The Thunderbird 2 toy had a detachable pod with a door that opened to reveal the Mole, a smaller vehicle used for drilling underground in the TV series. And the Captain Scarlet SPV vehicle toy similarly had functioning parts, mirroring those in the TV series
I also had an Action Man (known in the USA as GI Joe), an action figure with movable limbs: arms, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles could all be moved. It came with detailed clothing covering military, naval and adventure themes, all with functional buttons and zips. Also available as adjuncts were accessories like weapons, tools, walkie-talkies and various other items of adventure equipment.
No longer are such well-crafted and detailed toys available, apart from the occasional collectors’ re-issues, which can be expensive. Modern toy cars, found in Tesco or other supermarkets, are mostly cast in a single mould. They have no functioning parts, and all a child can do is roll them across the floor. Action Man, discontinued around 2006, and had already changed dramatically by then: a muscle-bound physique had replaced the former realistic human form, limb mobility was limited and clothing options were few.
Much of this change comes down to safety regulations, production costs and the speed of modern manufacturing, which make intricate design prohibitive. But I can’t help but feel regret that the tactile joy of interacting with a well-crafted, functional toy has largely vanished.
Modern toys might be safer and cheaper, but the magic of a toy that works like the real thing has long gone.
