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June 21, 2008 11:24 PM Subscribe
Playmobil Online Archiv - Playmobils archive of every toy they've ever produced, from it's start in 1974 onwards. It's only available in German, but even non-German speakers can appreciate gems like this awesome tiger tamer or these Mexican bandits, odd anachronisms like the chimney sweep or the figures for recreating the American civil war.
Collectobil - the unofficial site for fans and collectors of Playmobil, and
more Playmobil links.
Previously discussed: Playmobil Security Check Point, Playmobile Hazmat Team.
Collectobil - the unofficial site for fans and collectors of Playmobil, and
more Playmobil links.
Previously discussed: Playmobil Security Check Point, Playmobile Hazmat Team.
HOLY CRAP THAT PIECE WAS A BANDANA FOR THE BANDIT'S MOUTH? My eight year old mind is blown.
posted by stresstwig at 12:04 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by stresstwig at 12:04 AM on June 22, 2008
They've kept their logo essentially unchanged since 1974. That's a bit unusual.
And the Mexican bandits... reminds me of the Frito Bandito, and how the company dropped it due to its political incorrectness.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:08 AM on June 22, 2008
And the Mexican bandits... reminds me of the Frito Bandito, and how the company dropped it due to its political incorrectness.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:08 AM on June 22, 2008
Still have one of those tigers, about 40% colored (they came white, with a pack of markers), in my basement somewhere.
posted by breath at 1:44 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by breath at 1:44 AM on June 22, 2008
Artw That Playmobil chimneysweeper isn't an anachronism: German chimneysweeper's attire is.
posted by Skeptic at 3:17 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by Skeptic at 3:17 AM on June 22, 2008
(And I wish somebody had taken a picture of my stunned face when one of those turned up for the annual check of my central heating boiler back when I lived in Germany).
posted by Skeptic at 3:19 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by Skeptic at 3:19 AM on June 22, 2008
Re. Playmobil, the one thing that really annoys me is that, whereas for years they had an admirable stance of producing toys that weren't particularly aimed at one sex or the other, now they have "boys'" and "girls'" Playmobils, the latter in friggin' pink boxes.
posted by Skeptic at 3:23 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by Skeptic at 3:23 AM on June 22, 2008
Awesome post idea. Nice :)
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 3:47 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 3:47 AM on June 22, 2008
One of the most pleasing ones I ever bought was a drunken hobo getting rousted from a park bench by a cop.
I feel bad for kids today. They get shitty cartoons, and no Spanger Playset.
posted by thinman at 3:50 AM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
I feel bad for kids today. They get shitty cartoons, and no Spanger Playset.
posted by thinman at 3:50 AM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
fantastic post! i'll be lost in that archive for a LONG time...
posted by dowcrag at 4:01 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by dowcrag at 4:01 AM on June 22, 2008
Playmobils, the latter in friggin' pink boxes.
I haven't seen these playmobils yet, but what's worse is "girl legos" where the legos are pink and light green as well as the box. Along with giving the playmobil to the brother in your family, any unsuspecting adult automatically gifts the pink legos to the girls without questioning what they might like instead. (no I"m not bitter! ;)) I only remember seeing all the doctor and polic playmobil around the house though.
posted by artifarce at 5:21 AM on June 22, 2008
I haven't seen these playmobils yet, but what's worse is "girl legos" where the legos are pink and light green as well as the box. Along with giving the playmobil to the brother in your family, any unsuspecting adult automatically gifts the pink legos to the girls without questioning what they might like instead. (no I"m not bitter! ;)) I only remember seeing all the doctor and polic playmobil around the house though.
posted by artifarce at 5:21 AM on June 22, 2008
When you say anachronistic, do you mean conspicuously old fashioned? I think the more common usage describes something that is inappropriately out of context, in like a temporal sense... er, dude. I mean, cowboys and knights and such are all pretty anachronistic for 1986, but I never really expect toys to depict culturally relevant/contemporary social groups.
Who wants to play with a Playmobil bike messenger, or a set of dot-commers with cubicles to boot? Though I guess at this point those might be appropriately retro, too.
posted by eric1halfb at 5:39 AM on June 22, 2008
Who wants to play with a Playmobil bike messenger, or a set of dot-commers with cubicles to boot? Though I guess at this point those might be appropriately retro, too.
posted by eric1halfb at 5:39 AM on June 22, 2008
You know, with these toys you could do a pretty good version of several HBO shows. Deadwood, Carnivale, Rome. Uh, season two of The Wire, I guess.
posted by penduluum at 7:33 AM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by penduluum at 7:33 AM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Thanks for this! I have a really hard time not going nuts on these every time I see them, especially with playsets like this awesome Roman Colosseum. Statues! A trident wielding gladiator! Chariots!
posted by MegoSteve at 7:35 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by MegoSteve at 7:35 AM on June 22, 2008
I still have my Playmobil cowboy -- still with his gun! I tied a bit of cotton around the trigger guard and his belt.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 7:53 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 7:53 AM on June 22, 2008
I was always a LEGO girl growing up, but we did have a Playmobil bride and groom as our wedding cake topper.
(we also had a LEGO chef minifig on one of the lower levels, making sure the cake was nice and proper.)
posted by Lucinda at 8:37 AM on June 22, 2008
(we also had a LEGO chef minifig on one of the lower levels, making sure the cake was nice and proper.)
posted by Lucinda at 8:37 AM on June 22, 2008
I didn't realise until looking through this just how much Playmobil stuff I had as a kid. Wow.
posted by fire&wings at 8:39 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by fire&wings at 8:39 AM on June 22, 2008
I never got into Playmobil - LEGO was the big toy for me, though I always enjoyed visiting other kids who had extensive Playmobil collections - the Bandito's were definately among my favourites.
My kids - LEGO, WebKinz (god - what a racket, lovable little "stuffies" and an online "safe" community for kids - and massive incentives to always be buying more, so that you can access more online money/activities/pet-of-the-month... sigh), Imaginext, no-name wooden train set & "guys" (various little action figures).
posted by jkaczor at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2008
My kids - LEGO, WebKinz (god - what a racket, lovable little "stuffies" and an online "safe" community for kids - and massive incentives to always be buying more, so that you can access more online money/activities/pet-of-the-month... sigh), Imaginext, no-name wooden train set & "guys" (various little action figures).
posted by jkaczor at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2008
My autistic little brother was a huge fan of playmobil when we were kids. And I mean huge -- we have most of the newer playsets, and they all have names that my brother still remembers. I got dragged to the Playmobil Fun Park on a trip to Florida. My mom finally put her foot down and declared this was the last year she'd buy the playmobil nativity calendars. I hated playmobil as a kid because my brother got not one but TWO doll houses while I wasn't allowed to even have one because I had to wait for my grandpa to build me one, and he never did.
Beyond the nativity calendars, which he just sets up and then leaves alone, he hasn't bought or played with playmobil in years. But the other day I walked into my parents' basement and he had set up the bigger house, with every room furnished, every accessory in place, every flower matched. And all those years I despised playmobil and dragged my feet at every playmobil-related outing and hated every damn piece of plastic that he got all just disappeared because it was so cute. Looking through this archive I realize it must've taken hours for him to find all the original parts to each of the sets. This post came at the exact right time.
posted by lilac girl at 10:16 AM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
Beyond the nativity calendars, which he just sets up and then leaves alone, he hasn't bought or played with playmobil in years. But the other day I walked into my parents' basement and he had set up the bigger house, with every room furnished, every accessory in place, every flower matched. And all those years I despised playmobil and dragged my feet at every playmobil-related outing and hated every damn piece of plastic that he got all just disappeared because it was so cute. Looking through this archive I realize it must've taken hours for him to find all the original parts to each of the sets. This post came at the exact right time.
posted by lilac girl at 10:16 AM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
That's an awesome page, thanks. I've been looking for some confirmation of my memories of this street worker's set for years. I had a lot of fun with it.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:56 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:56 AM on June 22, 2008
Ah, Playmobil. The only toys of my childhood that indulged my intense love of all things Victorian. I could stage my own versions of LM Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott novels. I have very fond memories.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 11:26 AM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 11:26 AM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
I got the Roman Empire set for my 40th birthday last year...I want to write a script to make a little movie with it...or just rip off an older one...
posted by troybob at 11:42 AM on June 22, 2008
posted by troybob at 11:42 AM on June 22, 2008
Artw That Playmobil chimneysweeper isn't an anachronism: German chimneysweeper's attire is.
(And I wish somebody had taken a picture of my stunned face when one of those turned up for the annual check of my central heating boiler back when I lived in Germany).
Wow.
If I'd have known that when I was staying ina freinds apartment in munich I think I'd have been tempted to call them up.
posted by Artw at 12:29 PM on June 22, 2008
(And I wish somebody had taken a picture of my stunned face when one of those turned up for the annual check of my central heating boiler back when I lived in Germany).
Wow.
If I'd have known that when I was staying ina freinds apartment in munich I think I'd have been tempted to call them up.
posted by Artw at 12:29 PM on June 22, 2008
I still love Playmobil, and I am grateful for this post.
posted by batmonkey at 4:45 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by batmonkey at 4:45 PM on June 22, 2008
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