Toys That Time Forgot Volume One

[JayC]

Do you remember back in the early 1980s, playing with all of the toys based on the sci-fi fantasy film Krull produced by Knickerbocker Toys? What about the Masters Of The Universe meets Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots line that was Hasbro’s Tribes range in the early 1990s? Or all of those ReSaurus-made action figures and role-play accessories based on the break out video game Oddworld in 1997? No? Well, that’s because they were never made. But would it shock you to learn that each of these examples were well on their way to being produced?

Stories like these are more prevalent than one might think. Each have a separate, unique set of circumstances with a single common thread — the majority of them have gone untold. A new book, TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT, aims to shine a light on some of the more interesting, higher profile boys toys and action figure projects that made it all the way through to prototype stage, but for whatever reasons never made it to retailers. Some of the stories are funny. Some are painful. Most are well worth documenting.

Written and complied by journalist Blake Wright, the 200-plus page hard cover book will take an in-depth look at over 20 instances of toy lines that suffered these type of fates. Stories are supplemented with supporting photographs of the production process, existing prototypes, control drawings used to create the sculpts, concept sketches and more. The stories (and supplemental materials) have come straight from the men and women that lived them — from inventors and sculptors to project managers and toy company executives. You can pre-order this book now at BigBadToyStore.com.

[sXeblues]

I’ve always loved and been fascinated by stuff like this... Sit me down in front of anything from an old Sears Catalog, to an issue of ToyFare magazine, to books about Star Wars and other such toys, from back in the day — with plenty of pictures of those toys, to fall alongside their writen story — and I’m completely captivated. Same with movie production concept art books and such, which books about those toys of old basically are, themselves. This one sounds like a winner, as well.

[MLs4life]

Uh... cool I guess. 

[FASVB]

That's interesting. In on hand we have things like Toys that Made us on Netflix talking about the classics that everybody knows and this book approaches the stuff that you probably totally forgot or never even know that existed.

Very interesting initiative. For toy collectors and enthusiasts, a great item to have. 

[ShemShem]

Sounds really interesting.

[JoeRhyno]

I've heard about this on a podcast, nice to see pics of it, would be fun to look through and see some of the stuff that never made it out there.

[Fanboy]

I'm curious to see exactly what toys almost made it out. 

[JoJoJim]

Looks interesting.

[hoomanbean]

Wonder what kinda toys got red lighted.

[FlameOn]

Good thing MLs made it.