Wiz-z-zers
"Balances!  Teeters!  Gyrates!  Dangles!"
By Euphrates



The good folks at Mattel made some great toys in the '60s and '70s.  Don't get
me wrong, I love vintage toys made by Marx, Hasbro, Ideal, Remco, Kenner and 
Deluxe Reading, but when I look at my toy collection, I sure see a bunch of Mattel's
creations on my shelves.

In 1969, Mattel decided that little David and Mary America needed an alternative to
the old fashioned tin tops from the '50s-'60s.  They christened the alternative 
"Wizzzers".  

In the old days, you would spin a top by pumping a handle. You could set 
off the gyro action of a Wizzzer by reving up the rubber tip against Mom's oak coffee 
table, watching the teeny little metal tip carve spider-webbed patterns in the glossy
lemon-pledged surface.

The line started with just a basic, boxed top that came with a few accessories that
would allow you to perform various tricks with the top.  Mattel later added a few
additional tops and sets like:

Canned Wizzzer - 7-Up

Canned Wizzzer - Bardahl Oil

Canned Wizzzer - Campbell's Soup

Canned Wizzzer - Coke

Canned Wizzzer - Hawaiian Punch

Canned Wizzzer - Kool-Aid Color Changing

Canned Wizzzer - Minute Maid Orange Juice

Canned Wizzzer - Pepsi

Canned Wizzzer - Planter's Peanuts

Carded Wizzzer

Hockey Game

Hostess Premium - 1973

Mini-Wizzzers

Mach 1

Night-Winder

Roarin' Glory

Spinbuggy Car - powered by a Wizzzer

Spinfire

Super Competition Set

The Bonehead

The Prowler

The Wedge

Trick Tray Set

Twirlin' Twosome Trick Set

Upsy Downsys - Hairy Hurry, Thithery Hithery and Skelter Helter


For some odd reason, Wizzzers are one of those vintage toys that can still
be found with the original boxes and packaging.  Most of the tops have
survived time in pretty good shape.  The little rubber tip took the most
abuse so you should check it out before buying.  It's also common for
some of the little accessories to be missing.

The line was abandoned in the '70s but it was ressurected in the '80s 
by Matchbox and then again recently by Duncan, the Yo Yo people.











Copyright © 1996 - 2024 GoGoMag.com. All Rights Reserved. 
 Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.
Privacy Policy