It made bubbles of, per wikipedia,
polyvinyl acetate dissolved in acetone, with ethyl acetate plastic fortifiers added. The acetone evaporated upon bubble inflation, leaving behind a solidified plastic film.
Which looked like,
↓↓ VOLUME WARNING! LOUD DISTORTED AUDIO!! ↓↓
And here’s a 1970’s commercial. Especially headphone users, would recommend starting low and easing into it.
I can still smell this.
I remember that stuff.
We were never allowed to play with it because Mom said it would make a mess.
Not because it’s toxic tho lol
That might have been the actual reason, not the given reason. Sometimes it’s easier to go with the easier explanation then getting into the thousand why’s game.
Were they toxic to play with? Because that does look a little fun
According to wikipedia, yeah. But it sounds like the risk was more about accidentally inhaling the fumes when inflating it, than the bubble itself afterward. The most noxious parts evaporated. But you didn’t want to take air in through the straw.
Besides the potential for spills when liquid plastic was handled by children, the substance also emitted noxious fumes. The fumes could become concentrated inside the straw, making it dangerous to inhale through the straw while inflating a bubble. The toy was not recommended for children under 5. Because of these problems, Super Elastic Bubble Plastic was eventually discontinued.
Yay, another childhood toy of mine that’s been discontinued for being toxic!
Or, how about the [Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab for kids!](Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory - Wikipedia https://share.google/HlumkW0VOnSSFN5Nb)
Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab for kids!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_U-238_Atomic_Energy_Laboratory
If you link directly to Wikipedia then Google doesn’t get to know who clicks the link!
Yeah, the Google bit made me go wtf yo
My bad. I just looked it up and copied the Wiki address on my phone. Didn’t realize Google would add an extra step in the middle.
Though, I’m not surprised by it either.
Sounds interesting, but the link is coming up “not found” for me. I tried a forum search for “atomic”, and “gilbert”, but didn’t turn anything up.
What was the first? Those sexist transformer robots?
Wut?
Is… Optimus Prime a red-piller?
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It was the 70s… we chewed on lead blinds for fun, threw sharp lawn darts at each other.
Today kids are stuffing their balls with plastics.
I forgot all about playing with these until now. How are there not more birth defects in the world.
You can still buy this stuff.
Edit: but thanks for the post!
Grew up with these and recently found them at some shop; picked up for the kids. I’ve also seen similar to this but they’re catnip.
Still can get the same thing, not the same brand/packaging though. My kids got these as cheap party favors several times a few years ago.
Regular balloons go POP
Amazing Elastic Plastic balloons DO NOT!!
