Child Warfare
Posted by Ross Rosenberg
Sonic Blaster, 1966
The Mattel Agent Zero M Sonic Blaster 5530 fires compressed air with a deafening blast. Our measurements top out at 157 dB–above a level that can do permanent damage to the hearing of an adult. We rate the toy Not Acceptable.
1960-1969 Archive [Consumer Reports] : Laughing Squid
Categories: Warnings, Review, War, Retro, Toys, Small Children, Photography
Posted at 12:07 pm on June 25, 2008
5 Comments -
Being as I am an expert, I can tell you right away that the photo is actually from the US Dept. of Ordnance archives, and shows the testing of a C-PADS launcher (Child-Portable Air Defense System).
Comment by Zersturer — June 25, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
Nice synchronicity - see here - at the bottom…
Comment by dr.hypercube — June 25, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
Where do I get one. Gives it to me, my precious…
Comment by chesh — June 25, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
I remember when these came out; I was in my twenties; I tried one out in a store; it gave me the same temporary deafness that real munitions did; it launched a vortex of air that ruffled a target clear across the store; I realized that if I filled it with (pipe - I smoked pipes at that time) smoke it would blow a world-beating smoke ring; I now regret not buying three of them. Mattel toys at that time were unlike all other toys in being devoid of bright colors and labels. In other words, they looked like real weapons.
Comment by Mogothe Mugger — June 25, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
That would sound like a damn Howitzer! I wish they still made toys like this. Kids these days don’t know what they’re missing out on.
Back in the day my dad used to make marble cannons with pieces of soldered lead pipe and M80 firecrackers. I used to build pushcarts that only had a loose understanding of what proper steering was.
Kids these days want to show you their Pokemans.
Truly, over the years, we have become completely and utterly pussified.
Comment by Oni — June 25, 2008 @ 6:29 pm