THE COOLEST TOY EVER MADE

It was the coolest toy ever and way before its time. It was kind of like a “nerf” mobile ground to air rocket launcher, but “nerfs” would not be invented for many years. The missiles would not pass safety standards today, but they were not loaded with explosives. The problem would be that they were hard plastic with a rubber tip. They were fired by pounding a rubber bulb that was attached with a rubber hose to the rocket mount. The burst of air would “ignite” the rocket causing it to fly toward the target.

The target was a ping pong ball floating on a column of air from a fan powered with batteries. The sighting system was made of mirrors that allowed you to look through the end of the launcher and would let you target the floating ball by moving the launcher up and down with a knob and gear mechanism. It was so sophisticated and yet was made of materials that were inexpensive. I’ve never seen another one like it.

I had learned to hit the target consistently by mid-afternoon on Christmas, but there was an unforeseen vulnerability when you were on the floor and there were older brothers nearby playing with other toys.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the attack came. In military terminology (they love to describe things with acrostics), I was overwhelmed by a T.O.M.M.Y. - Take Out Mobile Missile Yahoo. Across the launcher and over my back, we crashed to the ground. I began to cry for reinforcements (with lots of tears). Mother and Dad saved the day with skillful hands and some Elmer’s glue.

I don’t know whatever happened to that fabulous toy, but I will never forget that Christmas of 1956.