Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
"A Strange Change Toy" Dinosaur |
Object Name |
Toy |
Description |
"A Strange Change Toy" capsule, c. 1967-1979. Lime green "time capsule" piece that turns into a dinosaur with heat, made of irradiated plastic, produced by the Raychem Corporation as part of "A Strange Change Toy Featuring the Lost World" toy set. One compressed, lime-green, square capsule which is embossed with text on both sides, that reads, "MATTEL INC. TOYMAKERS" which encircle the letter "M" and an embossed image of a child, above the letter M, wearing a crown. The number "74" is embossed in the bottom left corner on one side. |
Date |
late 1960s to 1970s |
Creator |
Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2016.001.002B |
Dimensions |
H-1.25 W-1.255 D-0.125 inches |
Dimension Details |
1.25" x 1.25" x 0.125" (capsule) |
Collection |
3D - Toys |
Inscription Text |
"MATTEL INC, / M / TOYMAKERS" (embossed in center on both sides of squares); "53" (molded into two capsules); "74" (molded into four capsules); "75" (molded into two capsules); "76" (molded into one capsule). |
Notes |
The set was sold by Mattel, Inc. and included a machine with a heater and integrated compressor device, tweezers, instruction sheet, a 3-D molded plastic "Lost World Landscape", and an illustrated map. The square capsules expand into toy figures when heated. They can also be re-compressed back into squares and expanded again. These toys were designed by Raychem and to be produced by Mattel. Unfortunately, they were deemed unsafe for children because of the chemical components and were never mass produced. The plastic squares transform into the dinosaur figure when heated. "Raychem was founded on January 1, 1957. It grew rapidly by creating proprietary new products based on Radiation processing of polymers to meet critical and difficult industry needs for electrical circuit integrity in harsh environments. Included in these initial products were irradiated wire insulation and heat shrinkable tubing. Markets included Aerospace, Military, Automotive, Telecommunications and Electrical Power Generation markets. "In 1968, Raychem acquired Chemelex leading Raychem to extend its radiation polymer processing technology to polymers filled with conductive carbon creating a family of "Self Limiting Heaters". This technology was further extended to produce resettable switches forming the enabling technology for the "Polyswitch" Division. "As Raychem grew into a world class Material Science Company, additional technologies explored, developed and taken to market were Heat Recoverable Metals, Piezoelectric Materials (Elographics), Silicone Gels (Geltek) and Liquid Crystals (Taliq). "Each year, Raychem devoted between 8 and 10 percent of sales into Research and Development resulting in thousands of new products based on the technologies listed above. Research and Product Development laboratories, in addition to Menlo Park and Redwood City were established in Swindon, UK, Kessel-Lo, Belgium, Ottobrunn, Germany, Pontois, France and Japan. "Manning these laboratories were an extremely creative and talented group of scientists and engineers who found innovative ways to use technologies to create new products." [http://blog.heatshrinksleeves.com/2015/09/raychem-history.html 12/31/2015] |
Search Terms |
Radiation Chemistry Raychem Corporation Raychem Corporation Products Toys |
Subjects |
Dinosaurs Radiation chemistry Toy industry Toys |
People |
Raychem Corporation |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Chet Sandberg |