Roneo Machines

Once a must-have apparatus for every school/office where document reproduction was required, the Roneo machine has now become obsolete technology. The Rotary Neostyle duplicator was one of the best-selling machines of its type and its name later become a generic term for the devices. I do remember a similar machine called a “Gestetner” they both were good at getting ink all over your hands. Younger generations might not be familiar with the device and most . . . → Read More: Roneo Machines

Clackers

Clackers are the toy with a million names. They are essentially two large marbles attached by a sturdy string with a ring in the center. You would put your finger in the ring allowing the marbles or balls to hang below. Here is where the fun starts. The idea was to get the two balls tapping (or clacking if you prefer) against each other by pulling up on the ring lightly. Once you got the . . . → Read More: Clackers

Hopscotch

Remember the wonderful hopping game that only needed a road surface & a stone. We were easily amused in those days!

Hopscotch provided hours of fun!

This was a game I really enjoyed. I remember drawing the hopscotch grid with special stone,which i kept in a secret place in the gutter outside my house. You needed the right kind of stone, a bit soft & preferably with sharp edge, so it drew nice . . . → Read More: Hopscotch

‘Killer’ Roller Skates

Roller Skates have certainly evolved!. Now we have fancy fiberglass wheels & supportive boots for protection. In the old days these clunky metal rolling death traps were just strapped over whatever shoes you were wearing at the time! The early versions even came with a key.

I don’t know who invented these awful contraptions, but they were lethal! They sort of expanded in the middle to fit your foot by adjusting the screw. You wore . . . → Read More: ‘Killer’ Roller Skates

Swap Cards

Swap Cards were a passion (more like an obsession) I had as a child. There was only one problem, I never wanted to part with my cards. I remember swapping a couple of times & then going home in tears because I wanted my old cards back! I obviously wasn’t a born swapper.

We took them to school in great big bundles with rubber bands round them or some of us . . . → Read More: Swap Cards