tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post3330859228493314347..comments2024-03-27T14:27:38.958-04:00Comments on The Toy Box Philosopher: Vintage Space-Themed dolls! Spectra by Mattel and Lustra by TonkaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-72188483917110179432023-10-08T10:55:05.175-04:002023-10-08T10:55:05.175-04:00I had a Spectra doll in the '80s and she was g...I had a Spectra doll in the '80s and she was great. The body felt sturdy at the time; nothing broke on her, even though I was fascinated with her articulation and bent her a lot in all different directions! It's possible I can blame my fascination with articulated joints on Spectra because I just loved the smooth flexibility of her knees and elbows, and how easily and expressively she Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-78126558305937013162023-06-05T16:56:17.605-04:002023-06-05T16:56:17.605-04:00I would love a reboot of these lines, give me spac...I would love a reboot of these lines, give me spacy metal dolls! Certainly the technology today maybe even a metal head! Miss Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16215123178031622027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-10337379755715723342023-06-04T22:11:47.450-04:002023-06-04T22:11:47.450-04:00Slightly unrelated to the spac(y) ladies but these...Slightly unrelated to the spac(y) ladies but these super articulated dolls<br /> made me think of how Obitsu has new Barbie-sized bodies! Have you checked out the Obitsu 22/24cm bodies? Also it looks like it has already been copied by others, YMY which are usually used to rebody 11cm Nenderoids also have 22/24cm bodies now. Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04158198671851141638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-43625767502962491002023-06-04T02:30:03.615-04:002023-06-04T02:30:03.615-04:00These are absolutely a trip (that bed!), I love wh...These are absolutely a trip (that bed!), I love when you go all in on older doll reviews, it's a very fun time capsule every time! <br /><br />And the origin of human heads. Oh no oh dear. I love when you show a little twisted dark humour!Bittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00087335064705380458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-28745322184721833562023-05-31T14:59:31.633-04:002023-05-31T14:59:31.633-04:00What weird dolls! This was a fascinating read. Fro...What weird dolls! This was a fascinating read. From here, Spectra's body looks the same as Hula Hair and a few others. I don't have Sweethearts to compare. Hula Hair doesn't have wrist and ankle joints.BlackKittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014093330317682849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-62204842597484860332023-05-30T01:17:38.091-04:002023-05-30T01:17:38.091-04:00I remember these dolls from the 80's and I alw...I remember these dolls from the 80's and I always hated the human looking heads but if they'd had metalic faces I would have loved them. You should get some metalic paint and give them the faces they desrve! I would love to see you fix them!Aralishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448478672229765850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-46696495899677104842023-05-29T05:11:26.177-04:002023-05-29T05:11:26.177-04:00I just love your vintage doll reviews, especially ...I just love your vintage doll reviews, especially if they're kinda crazy-looking like these ones! <br /><br />The Spectra accessories and Buffatron Bed are so weird, but I like the creativity, and that pretty much goes for the whole line. The fact that Tonka made copycat dolls so shortly after Spectra was released is hilarious to me. It reminds me of all the Monster High copycats in the earlyTalinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-41585181663802063702023-05-27T00:57:47.986-04:002023-05-27T00:57:47.986-04:00Don't get me wrong, I love your reviews of mor...Don't get me wrong, I love your reviews of more modern dolls too :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-88232071953213228592023-05-27T00:56:58.197-04:002023-05-27T00:56:58.197-04:00I love when you do reviews of vintage dolls. This ...I love when you do reviews of vintage dolls. This was so much fun to follow along with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-15802143486077468692023-05-27T00:55:59.211-04:002023-05-27T00:55:59.211-04:00I was wondering if these were meant to compete wit...I was wondering if these were meant to compete with Jem, same as Barbie and the Rockers! Happy to see I'm not the only one who thinks that, haha. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-16825815137312955852023-05-26T19:35:26.653-04:002023-05-26T19:35:26.653-04:00These are so weird and interesting! I love seeing ...These are so weird and interesting! I love seeing reviews for dolls I've never heard of. And your Spectra storybook had me rolling with laughter! Much better than the pamphlet posing as a storybook.Rebeccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-26484262479749034062023-05-26T06:38:15.992-04:002023-05-26T06:38:15.992-04:00Comments aren't allowed on older posts, so I&#...Comments aren't allowed on older posts, so I'll give you the heads-up here: there's an unfortunate typo on your male Phicen review that you might want to fix. "The whole body is coated in a fine white pow(d!)er that keeps it from being too sticky."<br />Thanks for your blog, always a nice read!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-81693631581437231852023-05-25T16:48:47.305-04:002023-05-25T16:48:47.305-04:00I'll admit, I've always wanted a Tom Comet...I'll admit, I've always wanted a Tom Comet doll, because he's like if Jem's boyfriend, Rio, was gay and from outer space. <br /><br />I kinda assume Mattel was ripping off Jem and the Holograms, but with two doll lines instead of one. To compete with Jem's music theme, they did Barbie and the Rockers. Then to compete with the colorful hair and heavy makeup, they did this Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-20763272077568596762023-05-25T06:57:12.944-04:002023-05-25T06:57:12.944-04:00I think these girls should pay a visit to Lena 😁I think these girls should pay a visit to Lena 😁Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-65032025171549837972023-05-24T23:28:26.070-04:002023-05-24T23:28:26.070-04:00I did think of Novi Stars while reading this! A si...I did think of Novi Stars while reading this! A similar concept but very different execution!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-79261440918033157912023-05-24T11:51:45.669-04:002023-05-24T11:51:45.669-04:00This review is super fun. Thank you, Emily! You ma...This review is super fun. Thank you, Emily! You make my day ❤️Liliumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-50821864594186562892023-05-24T06:01:21.505-04:002023-05-24T06:01:21.505-04:00I was going to say the Buffatron(tm) was like a ta...I was going to say the Buffatron(tm) was like a tanning bed but it made you ripped instead... y'know... buff. (cue laugh track) I love the storybook. Lena better watch her back. I actually think the two dolls make really good sisters: Spectra looks older (like an actual teenager or adult... and also like Jem lol) and Lustra looks like a preteen. I could easily imagine the Tonka girls as lurkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-48070146404288690992023-05-24T00:21:45.637-04:002023-05-24T00:21:45.637-04:00I still have my Star Fairy doll (Whisper) and Mapl...I still have my Star Fairy doll (Whisper) and Maple Town's Patty Rabbit from the 1980s. Maple Town was a cartoon on Nickelodeon. You're right, they look very much like Sylvanian Family/Calico Critters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-84819547414132526702023-05-23T18:47:25.061-04:002023-05-23T18:47:25.061-04:00Boyohboyohboy. This was so much fun, but they woul...Boyohboyohboy. This was so much fun, but they would have been 100% better if there was something metallic and shiny on their heads. I think the gemstone eyes are cool for a spacey dolls, but in general they missed the boat with their caucasian heads. NoviStars have their own problems—like immobile legs— but they were a complete concept. I can’t imagine the fun you had with this review! —MnGrlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-20560671312163845982023-05-23T15:09:00.150-04:002023-05-23T15:09:00.150-04:00I absolutely love your retro/vintage reviews. They...I absolutely love your retro/vintage reviews. They being back ao many memories and good feelings and I‘m a sucker for 80s vibes (that‘s why I love that Barbie Re-wind line). I never heard of Space Barbie but she‘s kind of awesome. And I loooove the outfit! Séverinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00569973175128117785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-76720711671747008872023-05-23T14:23:06.141-04:002023-05-23T14:23:06.141-04:00What unique and fun dolls! I think it would be fun...What unique and fun dolls! I think it would be fun to paint the heads of these dolls a similar metallic color as the bodies. Then the whole doll would look like it belonged together instead of a natural looking Barbie head stuck on a metallic body. <br /> - KorgladyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-72293955490970988152023-05-23T13:46:26.332-04:002023-05-23T13:46:26.332-04:00These dolls are so bizarre! I love the “original” ...These dolls are so bizarre! I love the “original” head you came up with for Spectra, and I think I prefer it to her actual head. Seeing those vintage boxes was really interesting too. Thanks for a great review as always!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-22267359662117462242023-05-23T12:11:54.242-04:002023-05-23T12:11:54.242-04:00Spectra is so bad it's hilarious! That slogan....Spectra is so bad it's hilarious! That slogan. The OTT lace outfits. The Barbie head on a metallic body. And not forgetting that Buffatron bed. Also the doll is lying naked on the bed (apart from the maybe-underpants) which I realise is the point because they can't buff up their shininess covered in lace.<br />Lustra is more conventional and I think if I'd wanted a space themed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-5547712214354386312023-05-23T09:24:35.233-04:002023-05-23T09:24:35.233-04:00"and that's how Shimmeroni are made"..."and that's how Shimmeroni are made" made me laugh out loud. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1726715699839627686.post-65401489460391670152023-05-23T07:55:46.644-04:002023-05-23T07:55:46.644-04:00Ooo Spectra was made in Malaysia. That's certa...Ooo Spectra was made in Malaysia. That's certainly a name I don't see anymore in terms of doll production - but it turns out Mattel Malaysia recently turned 40 and churns out Hot Wheels: https://corporate.mattel.com/news/mattel-malaysia-celebrates-40th-anniversary-announces-plant-expansion-to-be-completed-in-january-2023. So thanks for that interesting tidbit Spectra!Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08558516698801771089noreply@blogger.com