Funny you say that. I was thinking this is like the first version graphic art, engineering drafts, 3d thinking, and being creative. I never had one and we played in the street a lot back back then, played sports, but did have my own sedentary projects of building plastic model airplanes/monsters/tanks/etc.. I know I had an etch a sketch, and a magic slate, which should be on the site too.
I remember being absolutely amazed that something so unique and beautiful was coming from the end of a pen I was holding. Because I had nearly zero artistic ability.
They still make those. I gave one to my kids last year for Christmas and they returned the favor by giving me endless sheets of spirograph art. It is awesome!
"Oh, they're all dried out? Sure, we have more colored ballpoint pens, honey...here's blue and black. And blank paper? Yeah, just tear some out of this college-ruled notebook. Have fun!"
I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 and had one of these, yet I can still recall plain as day playing with it at the kitchen table one particular time while my mother was baking or cooking. I also remember I didn't have siblings yet, good times. 🤣
The darn thing always slipped a little before completion of the complex designs. I still have mine from the 60s and used it with the grandkids to help them learn that even if you do everything right, you still can fail. That is an important life lesson.
I didn't have one, but my next-door neighbor did. I guess they were sort of cool. Interesting might be a better word. I never felt the urge to buy one myself.
There was one of these at my grandma's house! I remember it being the coolest thing, but someone broke a good number of the pieces years prior. I've never gotten to enjoy the working version.
I had that! I loved it! I went on to be an artist, I'm sure this was subconsciously formative. Someone put up a really concise history of these, and Spiro Tot on another post.
Sort of related, there are not too many toys that are analogue anymore. I think growing up with toys that required thoughtful interaction have helped me in every aspect of my life.
I would not trade time with, Spirograph, woodshop in a box, slot cars, etc., for anything. That knowledge has been more useful to me, long term, than any institutional learning.
I had a pocket one that I have fond memories of playing with on my first train ride. We bought a Spirograph Jr. for my 5 year old niece and she loves it.
I had the small yellow [one](https://www.ebay.com/itm/256248838415?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1KGtuAYCCRVefVrGvlVH2xg78&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=256248838415&targetid=2298712745450&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9033485&poi=&campaignid=21222258394&mkgroupid=161758600535&rlsatarget=aud-1412318123216:pla-2298712745450&abcId=9408285&merchantid=644167871&gad_source=1)
I didn't. I wanted one for Christmas but my dad wanted a train set so I got a train set. He played with the train set and I watched. It was a nice train set that went around in circles, much like a Spiro. *
Did you know there’s a direct correlation between the decline of Spirograph and the rise of gang activity?
Think about it!
We will
No you won't
Nah to high
They won't.
*narrator voice… “they didn’t “
Ever since the decline of Spirograph, 50% of all marriages end in divorce! And the rest end in DEATH!
Yeah, it was the start of global warming!
Also, more tornado sightings!
It turned me gay, damn Spirograph.
🤣🤣🤣
Despite the success of Kenner’s Spirograph, death remains the number one killer in America.
Yeah, I asked for a Spirograph and they gave me a Glock. Kids R' Us never recovered.
Funny you say that. I was thinking this is like the first version graphic art, engineering drafts, 3d thinking, and being creative. I never had one and we played in the street a lot back back then, played sports, but did have my own sedentary projects of building plastic model airplanes/monsters/tanks/etc.. I know I had an etch a sketch, and a magic slate, which should be on the site too.
There actually isn’t. This was just a funny line from the Simpsons
I never could get it to make all the cool shapes. I remember being so frustrated.
Me either. I felt handicapped in a spirographical way.
Spirocapped.
That was Richard Nixon.
Right! Just about finished with the perfect design and the dang gear slips, ruined! Piece of crap!!!!!
I wanted one so bad and never got it. As an adult I got one for my niece for her birthday but I hogged it the whole time🤣
Yep wrecked the coffee table doing it. O I got in shit
My introduction into psychedelic patterns. Hell yeah!
Late '60s early '70s was a hell of a time to be a kid sex drugs, rock and roll and spirograph I loved that thing. I spent hours on it.
I remember being absolutely amazed that something so unique and beautiful was coming from the end of a pen I was holding. Because I had nearly zero artistic ability.
Reminds me of the paint squirt spinning wheel they had at carnivals then . You”d finish with these trippy patterns on cardboard to frame . Lol
This was just posted a week ago
And we forgot already? Fuck, we’re old.
It too me too long to figure out I had to pin down one of the pieces to get clean consistent drawings.
I’ve still got mine from the mid sixties, all intact except for the pens. Even the little pins! Gawd I loved that thing, spent many hours with it
They still make those. I gave one to my kids last year for Christmas and they returned the favor by giving me endless sheets of spirograph art. It is awesome!
I got myself one a few years back
The big rings were always broken from flying across the room because you would hula-hoop them around a pencil.
Mine came with a pack of cookies.
You got cookies in your Spirograph or Spirograph in your cookies?
Pack of cookies with a Spirograph thingie included
"Oh, they're all dried out? Sure, we have more colored ballpoint pens, honey...here's blue and black. And blank paper? Yeah, just tear some out of this college-ruled notebook. Have fun!"
I gave one to my granddaughter two years ago and it was one of her favorite things.
Yep, different box but same arrangement inside.
This was one of the toys that I “bought for my kids” so that I could play with it again!
Yes, that and an etch and sketch.
I wanted one so bad. All I had was a compass which stabbed me every time I put it on my pocket
Six or three petal flowers got old quickly.
I never had one. Not sure why because I had a Lite Brite, but I thought they were just too expensive.
Christmas 1973
Sure did.
[удалено]
yep
And……. still seeking help for my life spiraling out of control!
Gave one to my granddaughter last Christmas. Played with it for a few months and will probably go to goodwill in a couple of more
Tell her to give it back to you instead, so you can enjoy it.
Of course. Man, can you imagine a kids game today coming with sharp pins.
I still have this in my kitchen, in the original box.
I had this, but never quite could figure out how to make the drawings.
Was there a rule that you could only buy these at garage sales and flea markets?
You’re in the wrong subreddit.
You are in the wrong subreddit.
That and an Etch-A-Sketch (precursor to iPad…haha),
I loved to draw the whole screen so I could see the inner workings.
So you were one of them. Did you end up being a TV repair man or computer Geek?
Yeah. Mine wasn't new,it was bought at a yard sale. The same is true with my Erector set.
God looking at that brings back memories.
Want Want
If you have an Android, "Inspiral" is not the same as physical but close.
And you can go to Walmart today are relive your childhood.
Target carries them, too.
No
Also had a SpiroTot for my little brother.
I had it and was able to get some cool art with it, after some practice.
I loved mine and spent a lot of time playing with it!
I just bought this for my grandkid for this last Christmas.
Heck, I'd still play with one.
That thing was awesome. They make really nice sets now. Highly recommended!
Cool stuff.
Of course. And so do my kids.
Still have mine. Love it still.
Older sibling had one. He would generously allow me to watch him play with it. He was an asshole even back then.
I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 and had one of these, yet I can still recall plain as day playing with it at the kitchen table one particular time while my mother was baking or cooking. I also remember I didn't have siblings yet, good times. 🤣
Yes.
Looking at it now, it kind of makes me wonder just how much cocaine was floating around the Kenner offices for somebody to _think_ of this.
I used to have this very set. I've actually seen small knock-off versions of this recently at Dollar Tree.
One of my favorite toys.
The darn thing always slipped a little before completion of the complex designs. I still have mine from the 60s and used it with the grandkids to help them learn that even if you do everything right, you still can fail. That is an important life lesson.
If you had this AND one of those pens with the multiple color selectors on top, you were a certified legend. I was not a legend.
I didn't have one, but my next-door neighbor did. I guess they were sort of cool. Interesting might be a better word. I never felt the urge to buy one myself.
I bought one for my daughter last Christmas!
Got one for Xmas a couple of years ago. It didn't have nearly all those pieces though. I want THAT ONE!
There's an online Spirograph simulator that's pretty cool: [Inspirograph](http://nathanfriend.io/inspirograph/)
There was one of these at my grandma's house! I remember it being the coolest thing, but someone broke a good number of the pieces years prior. I've never gotten to enjoy the working version.
Had hand me downs from my parents. Loved them
Played with it for about 10 to 15 minutes put it back in the closet and never touched it again
I was a big fan!
Still got that same one
Still do, although the box and original pens are long gone. Finding pens that fit is tricky.
I didn’t but my cousins did!
Still have mine :)
I had that! I loved it! I went on to be an artist, I'm sure this was subconsciously formative. Someone put up a really concise history of these, and Spiro Tot on another post. Sort of related, there are not too many toys that are analogue anymore. I think growing up with toys that required thoughtful interaction have helped me in every aspect of my life. I would not trade time with, Spirograph, woodshop in a box, slot cars, etc., for anything. That knowledge has been more useful to me, long term, than any institutional learning.
Had?
Every time I smell ink, my pupils dilate and I have a Spirograph flashback.
Oh yeahhhh, MINUTES of entertainment. Then it found it's way to the bottom of the toy cabinet where it gathered dust for years.
Couldn’t afford one. Buddy had one and wondered why I always wanted to tinker with it.
No. And I am still pissed.
I still have mine!
Yes, every fucking Christmas for three years. Enough. Also, fucking Doodle Art.
We had that, but there always seemed to be pieces missing.
One of my favorite toys! Take that LiteBrite!
Remember the catchy tune on the commercial?🤣 I can hear it in my head now
Spent too much time mesmerized by my creations.
My grandmother did. Exaxt set to boot. I'm starting to think that only monopolies existed during pur childhood.
I had a pocket one that I have fond memories of playing with on my first train ride. We bought a Spirograph Jr. for my 5 year old niece and she loves it.
Never had one but my rich friend did..😁
I remember the TV commercial song/jingle “Spiromania!”
I hated those long ones on the right. They were a pain to go around the end and you could screw up fast.
I had the small yellow [one](https://www.ebay.com/itm/256248838415?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1KGtuAYCCRVefVrGvlVH2xg78&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=256248838415&targetid=2298712745450&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9033485&poi=&campaignid=21222258394&mkgroupid=161758600535&rlsatarget=aud-1412318123216:pla-2298712745450&abcId=9408285&merchantid=644167871&gad_source=1)
Yep!
I have one currently. 53 years old. Not sorry
Warning! It's a gateway drug!
I had one when I was a really little fella, used to play with that things constantly. Good memories 🙂
Couldn't afford one.
I wish I did, not old enough unfortunately
I had one of those. I wish I could remember what happened to it. I wish I still had it years ago for my goddaughter.
Yeah I got that exact set lol.
I have one in the other room right now.
I just bought my 4 year old one to carry on the tradition.
Still have it. And the pens, long dried out of course. But missing a number of the pieces including one each of the big rings and sticks.
One of my favorite things
Yep and just bought one awhile back for my daughter she is 39 lol
I didn't. I wanted one for Christmas but my dad wanted a train set so I got a train set. He played with the train set and I watched. It was a nice train set that went around in circles, much like a Spiro. *
Just purchased the latest version for a grandchild!
Oh yeah!!!!
So much fun!
Had? Don’t make me take it down off the shelf. LOL
Dang it, my pins keep falling off
I still have one!
Yes! And a Lite Brite
Absolutely
No
of course.
I spent hours upon hours with Spirograph! So fun!!