1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: Ridiculous Histories the production of iHeartRadio Skirt Skirt. Welcome back 2 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: to the show Ridiculous Historians. Thank you, as always so 3 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: much for tuning in. This is part two of our 4 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: continuing series on toy cars, which we promise is uh 5 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: is it much more interesting and involved than a lot 6 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: of people might assume. Let's give it up for the 7 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: referee of our race, super producer, mister Max Williams. 8 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 2: What so can't we argue that this is actually part 9 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: four because you know we did two parts about the 10 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: toy cars in Japan, so yes, this is of thing. 11 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 2: I kind of think it's more than Zach got really 12 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: into toy cars for a little bit. 13 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Our research associate, doctor Ze Well not think. 14 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 3: If not complete us here in Ridiculous History. We do 15 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 3: our best, and the spirit moves us. Yes, and your 16 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: nol and I am Ben. And today we are picking 17 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 3: up on the rivalry we discussed on Tuesday, which we 18 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 3: kind of teased in part one. Here's what you need 19 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 3: to know. So there's Hot Wheels and their big rival 20 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 3: is the Lesnie Corporation, which is responsible for matchbox cars. 21 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 3: This really interesting story about how they came to be 22 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: called matchbox cars tune in for Part one. We should 23 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 3: also mention at the top another company that we we 24 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: didn't we didn't give airtime to earlier this week, and 25 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: that is Johnny Lightning, which might be familiar to some 26 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 3: of our toy car enthusiasts, but it's a bit of 27 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 3: a deep cut nowadays. I'd say, yeah, I looked them 28 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 3: up a little bit, and it does seem like they 29 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 3: had to tie in with speed Racer, which was a 30 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 3: really obviously popular cartoon I believe in the sixties. So 31 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: the early version or was called Clutch Cargo or that 32 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 3: whole other speed Racer and Clutch Cargo, where they had 33 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 3: very similar animation styles. But it seems like we were 34 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 3: starting to get into the realm of like TV and 35 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 3: film tie ins with these cars. But yeah, Johnny Lightning 36 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: and Hot Wheels were kind of eating match Boxes lunch, 37 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 3: match Box being sort of the legacy, first to market 38 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 3: toy car company that was really focused more on accuracy 39 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 3: in their you know, tiny recreations of classic cars, and then, 40 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 3: as we talked about in Part one, Hot Wheels kind 41 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 3: of entered the chat and was less concerned with that 42 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 3: more into like little decals and creating cars that didn't exist, 43 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 3: which proved to be the secret sauce, because you know, 44 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 3: kids are a lot less interested as time goes on 45 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: in period accurate recreations of Rolls, Royces or Porsche's or 46 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 3: what have you, and a little more interested in and 47 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 3: like things that sort of test the boundaries of the imagination. 48 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: You know, it reminds me of the evolution that Lego 49 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: is undergone. And I'm a huge, huge Lego fan, as 50 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: I believe you are as well, And a lot of 51 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: Lego sets now are marketed toward adults, and I would 52 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: argue that a lot of die cast models are also 53 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: marketed toward adult nostalgia. But right now in our story, 54 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,399 Speaker 1: it's let's say it's kind of like the late sixties 55 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: or so, and Lesnie is in trouble. They're in kind 56 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: of a tough spot because their sales are plummeting. They've 57 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: got more competition in the market, you know, hot Wheels, 58 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: Johnny Lightning, et cetera. And then also over across the 59 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: pond in the United Kingdom there are more competitors coming 60 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: into the phrase. So Lesnie responds pretty quickly. They release 61 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: a new kind of line of cars they call the 62 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: super Fast line. They're called super Fast because they have 63 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: these very low friction wheels. They have some new vivid colors, 64 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: and initially collectors say it was kind of weird because 65 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: the wheels were really narrow. They had to rework their 66 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: dye their manufacturing processes to accommodate why tires. Remember they 67 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: got into the game entirely because entirely because no, keep 68 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: it entirely because they were already a manufacturing force for sure. 69 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 3: And as we also mentioned in part one, Hot Wheels 70 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: whole claim to fame or those Hot Wheels, Baby, they 71 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 3: moved really quickly. They used this leftover what was it 72 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: wires from the failed never Goes out of tune guitar 73 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 3: experiment that went awry, and it allowed them to just 74 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 3: have incredibly low friction for the wheels to turn incredibly fast. 75 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 3: Not to mention, their other hallmark was bright colors. So 76 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 3: it seems that Matchbox definitely trying to become a little 77 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 3: bit more like Hot Wheels to keep up with the competition. 78 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: Absolutely, yeah, yeah, that's a good observation. Matchbox continues expanding 79 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: their line. They have the King Size and Speed King models. 80 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: Those are cars and trucks in a larger scale, and 81 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: then they tapped into the nostalgia that we foreshadowed mirror 82 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: minutes ago. They came out with the matchbox models of Yesteryear. 83 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: This eventually All Told became a series of sixty six 84 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: historic vehicles that were considered significant in some way, and 85 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: it ended with that coronation coach that kicked off their 86 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: biggest I guess they're like biggest era of Glory days 87 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: and we're getting a lot of this from best Ride 88 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: dot com by Craig Fitzgerald. I think Craig would be 89 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: a pal of ours. We haven't met, but a great article, Craig. 90 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: I mean it makes sense, you know, stick with what 91 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: you're good at. This is kind of what their whole 92 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: deal was, was making the classic cars and having them 93 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: look really accurate and having all the little parts die 94 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: cast correctly to appeal to more of a collector's market. 95 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: So while maybe kids might not have been snatching these up, 96 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: they were pricier. They were much more designed, like you said, 97 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: with Lego for adults. So from around seventy two to 98 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: seventy three, Hot Wheels kind of entered into a little 99 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: bit of a sales decline of their own. In seventy three. 100 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 3: Specifically, Battel switched from their kind of brighter house style 101 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 3: called Spectra Flame trademark, which sounds awesome, to something a 102 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 3: little bit maybe more realistic, a little bit more of 103 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 3: like a solid kind of matte enamel color. Because these 104 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: were not very popular, the ones that were designed from 105 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 3: seventeen to seventy three, and they weren't reused. These cars 106 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 3: from this era are particularly collectible. 107 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: And in the nineteen seventies, mid nineteen seventy, let's say, 108 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: Johnny Lightning is already on the way out they go bust. 109 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: In seventy one, match Box is once again becoming a 110 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: force in the world market because it's modernizing its line. 111 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: And I want to pause here, by the way, Noel 112 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: and give a big shout out to all three of 113 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: us ridiculous historians. You know you're part of the family too. 114 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: You deserve to be backstage. Both myself and NOL have 115 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: continually struggled not to say, but what was it? Match book? 116 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: Is that book? Match book? It's tough, it's tough. Well, 117 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: they're both things. 118 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: There's a match book and there's a match box, right, 119 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: they are real things. And I feel like the match 120 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 2: book is more common right. 121 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 3: It's more common in the in the usage of matches 122 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: to this day. 123 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, match boxes for the discriminating voluminist. Voluminist is the 124 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: fancy word for someone who collects matchboxes and match books, 125 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: So big shout out to my girlfriend Brandy, who taught 126 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: me that word and knows way more about matches than 127 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: I dare say either any of us. 128 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: Can I also point out something maybe we didn't quite 129 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 3: discuss the original match box cars, you know, in their 130 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: first you know, kind of mass marketed line, which, as 131 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 3: we mentioned before, they weren't making them insane numbers at first. 132 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 3: They're packaging actually resembled match boxes. You can even see, like, 133 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 3: you know, the side where you would strike a match. 134 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 3: It's sort of like a brown, kind of brownish black 135 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: color what it looks like to have some sort of 136 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 3: fake grit on it. So they really were leaning into 137 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 3: that whole match box thing. 138 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they were leaning into it pretty well, you know. Okay, 139 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: So match box is amid a lot of different kind 140 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,559 Speaker 1: of corporate wars and initiatives. Right around the nineteen seventies, 141 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: Leslie begins to con tact different collectors and they send 142 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: Lesnie reps to these meetings and events. They're doing market research, 143 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: which is very smart because now they have people who 144 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: have bought in to the idea of these die cast cars, 145 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: and they want to figure out what their audience desires. 146 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: And this leads them to introduce commercial vehicles in their 147 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: models of yesteryear series. Obviously a Model T you got 148 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: to start with that. They also have a talbot. They 149 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 1: also put these period accurate advertisements on these lippt in 150 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: tea Coca Cola. You're transported back in time when you're 151 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: playing with one of these vehicles. It's pretty smart move, 152 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: I think. Yeah. 153 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 3: And there's a really cool article on a website that 154 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 3: is devoted to the history of die cast miniature cars 155 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 3: called Tutomini dot com dot br and in the article 156 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: Matchbox History by Alison Barrows, there's some excellent images of 157 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 3: what we're talking talking about, you know, including the original 158 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: designs that really do look a little bit kind of 159 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 3: you know, like old timey and antiquated. And they sort 160 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 3: of leaned back into their history with these Model TS, 161 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 3: kind of sporting the classic Coca Cola logo and Liptin's 162 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: and all of that. So this whole product tie in 163 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 3: thing was really starting to kind of hit the zeitgeist 164 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 3: and they were leaning into that pretty hard and it 165 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 3: was it proved to be successful for. 166 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: Them one hundred percent did and they didn't stop there. 167 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: They also started doing something that was fairly prescient. They 168 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: would make bespoke limited addition models for different markets or 169 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: in collaboration with different companies like Nestle or the famous 170 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: department store Herod's. And these items were again because they 171 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:52,239 Speaker 1: were exclusive and they were limited, they were super desirable 172 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: for both the companies that sponsored it and for you know, 173 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: civilian collectors. So imagine it's a cool flex, right. If 174 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: you go to meet the corporate heads over at Herod's 175 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: and one of the things in the swag bag is 176 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 1: the custom Herod's car toy, that's a flex and I 177 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: think it's pretty cool. They also Matchbox makes a lot 178 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: of money from this, which that's like a department store. Right. 179 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: He's still the famous to this day, and I've been 180 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: it's huge, the one in London that I went to. Huge. 181 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: I've heard I've heard tell I've never step foot of 182 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 3: one of my stuff. 183 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: I was, oh, oh, let me tell you this is funny, 184 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: though you'll like this. The only reason I was there 185 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: is because my suitcase broke in London and I had 186 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: to buy I had to buy a suitcase, and I 187 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: just asked someone, Hey, do you know where I could 188 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: buy a suitcase? And this guy literally pointed in the 189 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: direction of Herod's and said, if they don't have it, 190 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: London doesn't have it. 191 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 3: That should be their tag line. Another prescient thing that 192 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 3: LESNIE did was they, you know, they really were trying 193 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 3: to modernize their whole operation. So a guy named David 194 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 3: Ya came in and he renamed the company you got 195 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 3: rid of Lesnie, renamed it match Box International Limited, and 196 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 3: they actually decided to send their manufacturing overseas. You know 197 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 3: that we always think of made in China, and like, 198 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,079 Speaker 3: you know, outsourcing manufacturing for stuff like this and toys 199 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 3: in particular places like China and Japan. They actually started 200 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 3: with Hong Kong and Macau. But because there wasn't enough 201 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: you know, this was still stuff that required some amount 202 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 3: of machining skill, you know, or fabricating skill, they could 203 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 3: not find a pool of skilled enough workers in those countries, 204 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 3: so they decided to outsource their foundry operations to China, 205 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 3: and this created the very first toy company joint venture 206 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 3: between Hong Kong and Shanghai. It was called Shanghai Universal 207 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 3: Toys Co. 208 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,359 Speaker 1: Limited. So let's get back to match Box. They expand 209 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:02,079 Speaker 1: further and now they're all about merchandizing. They realize that 210 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: they have become what you would call nimble, right, they 211 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: can expand across different platforms. They've made their deals with companies, 212 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: they've heard what the audience wants, so now they're getting 213 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: into other kinds of toys, dolls, games, action figures. The 214 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: cars also get increasingly complex as manufacturing processes improve. You know, 215 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: you see cars that have have mechanisms that the older 216 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: cars didn't, like a lug on one of the wheels 217 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: that can move parts like spinning fans or things like 218 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: moving engines. Pretty cool stuff. They also have military vehicles 219 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: that was the Battle King's Line. They have model ships 220 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: and I've seen some of those, and those are pretty cool. 221 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: If you want to look at those, go over to 222 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: the Autopian th g A U T O Pia in 223 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: the Autopian dot com and check out the article Matchbox 224 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: celebrates seventy years of making tidy cars with these special 225 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 1: zinc models by Mercedes Streeter. They're really well done and 226 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: if you are remotely into toy cars or know someone 227 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: who is, this would be the fun part for you. 228 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 3: And I got a little ahead of myself earlier when 229 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 3: I was talking about shipping the operations overseas, because that 230 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 3: came as a result of some financial trouble that Matchbox 231 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 3: or the Lesnie, the Lesnie corporation was having because the 232 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 3: UK economically speaking, was not doing well in the mid 233 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 3: to late seventies. The Matchbox cars were selling just fine, 234 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 3: but Lesnie as a company was not doing well, and 235 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 3: they ultimately went bankrupt. And this is in the early 236 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 3: eighties and nineteen eighty two, so they actually sold their 237 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 3: whole operation, or most of their production line, some of 238 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 3: their molds, other properties. They had two universal toys and 239 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 3: that gentleman David Ya. And that's when things start getting 240 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 3: shipped overseas, and that whole Shanghai operation starts kicking. 241 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: And I want to stay on two to many for 242 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: a bit because I re like this source. It's it's comprehensive, 243 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: it's a really cool website. They also explore how hot 244 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: wheels had their own kind of ups and downs during 245 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighties. The hot ones wheels were introduced in 246 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty one, they had painted hubs and they had 247 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: thinner axles all to the thinner axles primarily to give 248 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: them more speed. In nineteen eighty three they released another line, 249 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: the Real Riders, and I love how dramatic their toy 250 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: line names are. These were the first Hot Wheels toys 251 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: with rubber tires, and people liked them. People really liked them. 252 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: But the problem was this is a business and they 253 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: weren't making enough money. So the line was halted in 254 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty seven because it just costs so much to 255 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: make those toys. 256 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: And here we see kind of some drama in the 257 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 3: big car industry, you know, the regular size ones, kind 258 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 3: of bleeding into problems with the miniature car world. General 259 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 3: Motors is about to release their new Corvette, but are 260 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 3: experiencing some technical issues on the production line, so the 261 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 3: release of the Corvette is actually delayed. But Hot Wheels 262 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 3: at this point was already designing the miniature version of it, 263 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 3: and it actually ended up getting released before the GM 264 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 3: car was officially released. This did not sit well with 265 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 3: General Motors. You think they would have discussed this, but 266 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 3: it maybe was an issue of production and they needed 267 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 3: to get it out to recoup on you know, the 268 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: production costs. They were ready to go so General Motors actually, 269 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 3: But then again how they canceled their whole contract with 270 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 3: Mattel for them to license, you know, because these are 271 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 3: these kinds of recreations are licensed, if they're having official 272 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 3: branding and all of that. You think that somebody at 273 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 3: the toy company would have realized this was a bad move, 274 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 3: big picture, right. 275 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. And let's go back to Matchbox is Exodus 276 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: from the UK. The first batch of Matchbox vehicles made 277 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 1: in China comes out in nineteen eighty five. They're created 278 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: in Macau, which is also famous for gambling. You could 279 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: say Matchbox took a gamble, I suppose. And they do 280 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: this for five years until nineteen ninety and then between 281 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety and nineteen ninety two they're produced under license 282 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: by different company, Yong Thai Toys Company, and then they 283 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: get bought by Tycho. And might date myself a bit here, folks, 284 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: but I remember Tycho Toys growing up as the less 285 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 1: expensive also ran toys in the Lego aisle. They made 286 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: told a lot of stuff, but they also had the 287 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: not quite Lego a lot of dump trucks and things, right, 288 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: a lot of military stuff as well. Maybe we talked 289 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 1: about Tycho for a little bit. Absolutely. 290 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 3: Ticho was based in New Jersey, in a little city 291 00:17:55,119 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 3: called Mount Laurel. They were originally focused on electric model trains, 292 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 3: but as a lot of these companies ended up having 293 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 3: to do, decided to pivot to other offerings, which was 294 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: really crucial. And they're finding them finding success, you know, diversifying, 295 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 3: which included their purchase of the Matchbox brand. But in 296 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety seven, Tycho Toys itself was acquired by guess who, Mattel. 297 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: Ah Web, Yeah, well at time. And this means that 298 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: Matchbox and Hot Wheels, who are once bitter rivals, are 299 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: now in the same family together and strange bedfellows, right. 300 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: It happens all the time at the heights of the 301 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: corporate world, which is why so many things that appear 302 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: to be different brands in your local grocery store are 303 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: in fact owned by the same parent company. Mattel does 304 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 1: something pretty brutal, pretty shark like. They start to strip 305 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: the brand of assets, they sell off the kit division, 306 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: and then they start downgrading the quality of the toys. 307 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: These are known for being die cast metal vehicles, and 308 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: now they're being replaced by plastic models, and they're making 309 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: these non realistic vehicles that are generic brands so that 310 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: they don't have to pay any kind of fee to 311 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: a producer of a car. So they it's like in 312 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: that awesome show thirty Rock where they have Janis Jorplin 313 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: or whatever because j yeah, Jackie, that's the one. Because 314 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 1: they can't afford the rights to Janice Joplin's story. So 315 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: these guys are cutting costs by making stuff that's kind 316 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: of like but not really a copy of a genuine car. 317 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: Oh the collectors hate this, by the way. They are 318 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: absolutely agast. Mattel says, oh, no, we hear you. We're 319 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,239 Speaker 1: going to make a few special releases. They only make 320 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: a few and they only go out to the United States. 321 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: So this is not enough for the Matchbox collectors. 322 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 3: No, but this is certainly probably one of the things 323 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 3: that led to an uptick in the you know, value 324 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 3: of classic Matchbox cars, because I mean, they're you know, obviously, 325 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 3: the original ones are going to retain their value no 326 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 3: matter what. But this is a sea change for match Box, 327 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 3: a dilution of the brand. They essentially bought it for 328 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 3: the label and not for any of the actual you know, 329 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 3: quality or skill that went into making those cars and 330 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 3: sort of the care and attention to detail m M. 331 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. We also see that the collector said, 332 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: this Hot Wheels line, what's happened into Hot Wheels. It's 333 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: a crying shame. They're inferior, They're less attractive. And if 334 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: you know any serious collectors of anything, you know, they 335 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: have profound feelings about this sort of stuff. And they said, 336 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: what if Mattel is going to do to match But 337 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: they did the Hot Wheels, and Mittel says, look, everybody, 338 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: calmed down, We hear you. These lines are going to 339 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: produce their stuff independently. Matchbox is going to make more 340 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: realistic vehicles, and the fantasy vehicles, the more anime stuff 341 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: that's gonna always go to Hot Wheels. Yeah, it makes sense. 342 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 3: I mean again, like focus on what the brands individually 343 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 3: were known for in the first place. But as you know, 344 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 3: corporations are wont to do. In two thousand and three, 345 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 3: Mattel essentially went back on their word here or you know, 346 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 3: did a little bit of pivoting of their own and 347 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 3: created an entire line of Matchbox fantasy vehicles that did 348 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 3: not go over well once again, and they did not 349 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 3: sell well. There was a backlash and the line was 350 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 3: very quickly canceled and pulled from Shells. 351 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: Oh and the name wasn't that great? We got to 352 00:21:55,680 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: say the name. These fantasy vehicles were called Ultra Heroes. Okay, 353 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: sounds kind of like lazy writing, it does it does? 354 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: I'm just yeah. 355 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 3: But then you know, they got the message again again 356 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 3: Mattel and decided to stick to what they had said 357 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 3: and bring match Box back to their heyday of specifically 358 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 3: you know, producing realistic, uh and more highly detailed you know, 359 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 3: recreations of classic cars. 360 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: And as we move on, we see that Mattel has 361 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: controlled both brands on the market and they've tried to 362 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: you know, differentiate them so that they can still make 363 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: money off either consumer preference. And there are people who 364 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: are consider themselves specifically Matchbox collectors, some who say I'm 365 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: solely a hot wheelers person, and then there are a 366 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: lot of people who like both of them, or like 367 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: particular cars from both lines. And then because it's collecting 368 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 1: and because there's some kind of rivalry, there are people 369 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: who get at each other, you know, sometimes a fan 370 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: of Matchbox will look down their nose at a fan 371 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: of Hot Wheels and they will have intense conversations about 372 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: how one is the superior die Cast toy car. Weird hill. 373 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: It's a weird hill, but you know they are passionate, 374 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: and I do respect passion. Yeah, for sure. Me. 375 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 3: Collectors are always gonna, you know, have certain beefs about 376 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 3: these sorts of things. Ben, there is another player in 377 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 3: this game that we kind of haven't talked about that 378 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 3: I think, both of us being late eighty early nineties 379 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 3: kids micro machines. 380 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, Maxim, we're talking about this off air. 381 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: I love the micromachine guy because the main thing is 382 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: how quickly he talks, and it seems off the cuff, 383 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 1: but I know it's carefully scripted. It even faster than 384 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: this I do. 385 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 3: That does kind of bring about what I remember specifically though, 386 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 3: was the way they were featured in Home Alone. In 387 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 3: like I believe, nineteen ninety, he used all of his 388 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 3: his micromachines to create like a trap, one of those 389 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 3: really sadistic traps. Let's be honest that that kid, who 390 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 3: is definitely a little psychopath lays for the. 391 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: Wet Bandits who are bad people. Don't get me wrong, 392 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: but that kid is like, you know, Damien from The Omen. 393 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: I mean, that is a troubled child. Who knew that 394 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: the Kulkin brothers would make such a career out of 395 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: portraying troubled children. Shout out to you, Roman Roy. Did 396 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: you watch the latest episode? Ben? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah, 397 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: I've got it on the background. I tune in and 398 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: tune out to my favorite plotlines. 399 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 3: Well, I mean there's a Roman Roy moment in this 400 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 3: most recent penultimate episode of Succession. 401 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: That got me real good. How are they going to 402 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 1: rapid performance? So that thing? 403 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 3: That and it really feels like it's heading in a direction. 404 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 3: I mean it's very Shakespearean stuff. Oh yeah, I mean 405 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 3: good Lord. You know, I think McCauley's doing his thing, 406 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 3: playing in the Pizza underground. 407 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: You know, I don't know if he's doing that anymore, but. 408 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 3: For a while he had a band and played Velvet 409 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 3: Underground kind of parody songs with pizza fide lyrics. Wasn't 410 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 3: very good, but I hope he's happy. He seems like 411 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 3: he's kicking around. But man, Rory's a great actor. And yeah, definitely, 412 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 3: Kieran is absolutely killing it in succession. But micro machines 413 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 3: were in fact the top selling cars during the tail 414 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 3: end of the eighties and into the beginning of the nineties. 415 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 1: But then they kind of went. 416 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 3: Away themselves and left the old school players to duke 417 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 3: it out. 418 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, they were cheap if you think look at the 419 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: per unit cost if you're a parent who wants to 420 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: get your kid a toy. But there are also a 421 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: lot of them. They're very collectible, and that meant that 422 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: kids were asking their parents to buy them a lot 423 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: of micro machines, not just one. The manufacturers knew it. 424 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: You could fit hundreds of these into a toy box. 425 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: And the I want to shout out the ads John Moshita, 426 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: he is the he at the time in the late eighties, 427 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: very beginning of the nineties. He is the fastest talking 428 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: man in the world. Get congratulations to John. 429 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 3: He could do all those like disclaimers at the end 430 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 3: of like pharmaceutical ads today. 431 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: That's maybe that's very fun. 432 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, but before the advent of digital editing where you 433 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 3: could speed everything up. But micro machines were also really 434 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 3: really small. They were smaller than matchbox cars or hot wheels. 435 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 3: Hence the you know, using them as a death trap 436 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 3: for the Wet Bandits. 437 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: They also had playsets. There was even a line. I 438 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: never had these, but there was a line of micromachines 439 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: that had smaller cars inside of them, like that Decepticon 440 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 1: in the Transformers toys. Who is a boombox and he's 441 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 1: got a little bad guy inside of him. That's a 442 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: cassette tape. I always thought that was cool. 443 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 3: By the way, the company that created micro machines had 444 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 3: the best name in the whole story, Glube. 445 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: I remember Galube, and I remember Glube because of micro 446 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: machines and another big Glube. I don't know why this 447 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: sounds like weird soprano mobster lives, but another big Galute. 448 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: Another another Big Glube was the infamous game Genie and 449 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 1: video game Hacks deserve an episode all their own. Perhaps 450 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: that's for future tale. 451 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,360 Speaker 3: I never actually got it, but I always I subscribed 452 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 3: to Nintendo Power for a while when I was a kid, 453 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 3: and I remember that being commercial on TV a lot, 454 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,919 Speaker 3: and they always had full page ads in Nintendo Power. 455 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 3: But I never actually messed up. It was like a 456 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 3: cartridge that you'd stick into the system, and then you'd 457 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 3: stick the other cartridge into that cartridge, yes, and it 458 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 3: would hack the game or give you sheets and stuff. 459 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 3: I'm sure that the game companies didn't care for it particularly. 460 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: The coolest part was it was also kind of glitchy, 461 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: so sometimes you would find yourself in weird, weird parts 462 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: of the game that weren't supposed to happen, and the 463 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 1: malfunctions were one of the most fun parts. Hasbro buys 464 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: Glube in nineteen ninety eight, and Glub still exists today, 465 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: but it's under the pairing company Hasbro, and like. 466 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,439 Speaker 3: We said, Hot Wheels then kind of regain its place 467 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,199 Speaker 3: at the top of the market with Matchbox sort of 468 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:24,199 Speaker 3: just tucked in there, you know, for the collectors. But 469 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 3: I think the modern Matchbox cars don't have nearly the 470 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 3: same cachet as the classic ones to collectors out there. 471 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: So that's kind of a story, man. That is the story. 472 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: And if we want a moral, if moral there shall be, 473 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: then the moral of this story is the following. I 474 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: want everyone to hear this in all caps italics, you know, 475 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: comic sans font Save your toys. Save your toys. You 476 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: never know how much they're going to be worth or whatever, 477 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: and more importantly, save them so that your kids can 478 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: play with them in the future. It's a truly cool thing. 479 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: Thanks pay for their college or pay for their college. 480 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to super producer mister Max Williams. Thanks 481 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: to Alex Williams who composed this bang in track. Thanks 482 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: to our research associate, doctor Zach can't wait to see 483 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: what is toy car collection looks like, and you know 484 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: I've been thanks to you as well. 485 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 3: This has been an interesting ride on the loop d 486 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 3: loop course of the ridiculous history life. 487 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: And thanks to you know, we'll see you next time, folks. 488 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 3: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 489 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 3: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.