In the 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 150,000 children and adults required hospital emergency room treatment annually for toy-related injuries1. Since 1970, about 1,700 toys and other children’s articles had been banned for hazards like small parts, sharp edges and points.
It really was a decade rife with dangerous products that have since been banned or heavily regulated. Here are 25 of the most notorious 1970s innovations that didn’t stand the test of time due to safety concerns.
1. Clacker Balls: The Explosive Toy Craze
Clacker balls, also known as Click Clacks or Ker-Bangers, consisted of two acrylic balls on a string that made a clacking sound when swung together.
The real danger lay in their tendency to shatter on impact, turning into flying shrapnel. This highly addictive toy was eventually recalled due to the explosive hazard it posed.
2. Metal Playgrounds: A Sizzling Summertime Hazard
In the 1970s, playgrounds were dominated by towering metal structures that could reach scorching temperatures in the summer sun. Slides, swings, and merry-go-rounds made of steel were commonplace, often leading to serious burns and injuries.
The shift towards safer, heat-resistant materials in playground equipment reflects a growing awareness of child safety.
3. The Thingmaker: Melting Plastic & Burning Curiosity
Mattel’s Thingmaker allowed children to create small plastic bugs using a hot plate to melt the plastic. While the process was exciting, it was also extremely unsafe, leaving many children burned and scarred.
The game’s involvement of boiling toxic material made it a prime candidate for discontinuation.
4. Swing Bikes: A Balancing Act Gone Wrong
Swing Bikes featured a second steering axis that allowed riders to perform stunts like riding with one wheel on the curb. However, the unusual design made the bikes difficult to control and increased the likelihood of face-planting accidents.
The pursuit of cool tricks often came at the cost of safety.
5. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic: Toxic Fumes & Muscle Spasms
Super Elastic Bubble Plastic seemed harmless enough, allowing kids to blow viscous goo into malleable balloons.
Unbeknownst to many, the goo contained noxious chemicals that could cause dizziness, involuntary muscle twitching, and other adverse effects when inhaled. The toxic nature of this creative toy led to its eventual demise.
6. Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper: Choking Hazard in Disguise
Mattel’s Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper toy featured a firing missile that proved to be a deadly choking hazard.
In 1978, a 4-year-old boy tragically choked to death on the toy, leading to its discontinuation and a lawsuit against Mattel (ref). This incident paved the way for stricter choking hazard warnings on toys.
7. The Slip ‘N Slide: Slippery Slope to Spinal Cord Injuries
The Slip ‘N Slide, a popular summertime activity, was linked to numerous neck and spinal cord injuries due to abrupt stops at the end of the slide.
While it provided a refreshing thrill, the toy was often used by teenagers and adults who were too large for it, leading to severe consequences. The Slip ‘N Slide’s comeback in the early 2000s was short-lived as safety concerns persisted.
8. Jarts: Lawn Darts’ Equally Dangerous Cousin
Jarts, similar to lawn darts, were large, sharp-tipped projectiles thrown at targets. In the eight years leading up to their U.S. ban in 1988, Jarts sent over 6,100 people to the hospital.
The death of a 7-year-old girl in California was the final straw that led to the prohibition of this hazardous game.
9. Flammable Children’s Sleepwear: A Nightmarish Oversight
In the early 1970s, children’s sleepwear was often made from highly flammable materials.
Tragic incidents of children suffering severe burns led to stricter flammability standards and regulations requiring flame-resistant fabrics. This change significantly reduced fire-related injuries and deaths among children.
10. Moon Shoes: One Small Step for Fun, One Giant Leap for Ankle Injuries
Moon Shoes, designed to simulate the feeling of walking on the moon, featured exposed metal springs that often led to ankle injuries.
While the concept was innovative, the lack of proper safety features made these shoes a hazard. Safer, plastic bungee springs were introduced in the 1990s, but the original design remains a cautionary tale.
11. Snacktime Cabbage Patch Dolls: Chewing Hazard with a Voracious Appetite
The Snacktime Cabbage Patch Dolls, released in the late 1990s, had motorized mouths that could “eat” plastic food. However, the dolls’ insatiable appetite extended to children’s hair and fingers, leading to painful entanglements and injuries.
The dolls were promptly recalled, serving as a reminder that even seemingly innocent toys can pose unexpected risks.
12. CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit: Exposing Kids to Carcinogenic Dust
The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit allowed young aspiring detectives to dust for fingerprints just like their TV heroes.
Unbeknownst to many parents, the fingerprint powder contained tremolite asbestos, a known carcinogen. The kit was swiftly recalled, highlighting the importance of thoroughly testing children’s toys for harmful substances.
13. Aqua Dots: The Craft Toy That Converted Into a Date Rape Drug
Aqua Dots, a popular craft toy, consisted of small beads that could be arranged into designs and fused together with water.
In 2007, it was discovered that the beads contained a chemical that metabolized into GHB, a notorious date rape drug, when ingested (ref). The toy was recalled, and stricter regulations were put in place to prevent similar incidents.
14. Easy-Bake Oven: A Recipe for Burns & Entrapment
The Easy-Bake Oven allowed children to bake small treats using the heat of a lightbulb. While the concept was ingenious, the toy posed burn risks and potential entrapment hazards.
Newer models have been redesigned with enhanced safety features, but the original remains a symbol of the delicate balance between fun and safety in children’s products.
15. Creepy Crawlers: Toxic Fumes & Burn Risks
Creepy Crawlers, a toy that allowed children to create rubbery bugs using molds and a special oven, posed both burn and toxic fume inhalation risks.
The heating element and chemicals used in the process made this toy a double whammy of danger. While the concept was creative, the execution was far from child-friendly.
16. Snack Time Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine: Severed Fingers on the Menu
The Snack Time Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, released in the late 1990s, featured a sharp blade that rotated to shave ice.
Tragically, a 7-year-old girl had her finger severed by the machine, leading to its recall. This incident served as a grim reminder that even beloved cartoon characters could be associated with dangerous products.
17. Magnetix: The Building Toy That Attracted Intestinal Disasters
Magnetix, a popular building toy, consisted of small magnetic pieces that could be assembled into various structures. However, if swallowed, the magnets could attract each other within the digestive system, causing severe intestinal damage.
The toy was recalled after numerous incidents, including one death, underscoring the importance of age-appropriate toys and vigilant parental supervision.
18. Inflatable Baby Boats: Floating into Perilous Waters
Inflatable baby boats, designed to keep infants afloat in swimming pools, seemed like a convenient way to introduce little ones to the water. However, the boats could easily tip over, trapping the baby underwater.
Numerous drowning incidents led to their ban, emphasizing the critical importance of constant adult supervision and proper flotation devices for young children.
19. Sky Dancers: Flying Toys with a Dangerous Spin
Sky Dancers, dolls with foam wings that would propel them into the air when launched from a base, gained popularity in the mid-1990s. However, the dolls’ unpredictable flight patterns led to numerous eye and facial injuries.
The toy was eventually redesigned with softer materials, but the original version remains a cautionary tale of the dangers of high-flying toys.
20. Splash Off Water Rockets: Explosive Fun with Disastrous Consequences
Splash Off Water Rockets, a toy that used pressurized water to launch plastic rockets into the air, seemed like a thrilling summertime activity. However, the rockets could cause serious eye injuries and even blindness if they hit someone directly.
The toy was recalled, serving as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of high-velocity projectiles.
21. Kite Tubes: Soaring into Catastrophic Territory
Kite Tubes, inflatable watercraft designed to be towed behind boats, allowed riders to soar into the air like kites. While the concept was exhilarating, the tubes could quickly become airborne and uncontrollable, leading to severe injuries and even deaths.
The product was banned, highlighting the risks associated with high-speed water sports and the importance of proper safety gear.
22. Mini Hammocks: Strangling Hazards in Miniature Form
Mini hammocks, designed for small spaces like dorm rooms, seemed like a cozy and convenient sleeping solution. However, the hammocks could easily wrap around a child’s neck, posing a strangling hazard.
Several incidents, including one death, led to their recall, underscoring the importance of ensuring that all products, regardless of size, meet stringent safety standards.
23. Yo-Yo Balls: Stretching the Limits of Safety
Yo-Yo Balls, consisting of a stretchy cord attached to a sticky ball, became a popular toy in the 1990s. Children would swing the ball around and watch it stretch, but the cord could easily wrap around their necks, leading to choking incidents.
The toy was banned in several countries, serving as a reminder that even seemingly harmless toys can pose unexpected risks.
24. Rollerblade Barbie: A Fashion Icon’s Dangerous Debut
Rollerblade Barbie, released in 1991, featured the beloved doll on inline skates. However, the skates lacked proper safety features, and the doll’s hair could easily get caught in the wheels, posing a choking hazard.
The toy was quickly redesigned, but the original version remains a testament to the importance of thorough safety testing, even for iconic characters.
Source:
1. Consumer Product Safety Commission
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
