Cool Finds: 3 Vintage Toys You May Have Missed Growing Up

It’s not very often vintage toys come through, and in most cases, they’re worse for the wear. However, sometimes we’re graced with an item in such good condition that we can’t help but share! These 3 vintage toys are all around 50 years old and somehow came into our possession at the same time!

Barbie Beauty Center

This Barbie Beauty Center, released in 1972, qualifies as a cool find because of its immaculate condition. As any of you who are reading this would know, seldom do Barbies survive with their hair or head intact and without proof of a battle with permanent markers. This Barbie Beauty Center is not only completely intact and without marks, but it still has its box! Sure, the box isn’t fresh-from-store quality and it’s missing the makeup component, but at 50 years old, it’s a surprise to even find one in such good shape.

“I Dream of Jeannie” Dream Bottle

I grew up watching reruns of old shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Gilligan’s Island,” and “The Brady Bunch.” “I Dream of Jeannie” is a sitcom that ran from 1965 to 1970, another in the list of shows whose occasional reruns I would catch. The show is about a genie named Jeannie who is rescued by a U.S astronaut and eventually falls in love with him. It’s a magical and humorous show that probably wouldn’t capture the attention of today’s generations, myself included. What I (and my Gen-X counterparts) did not realize is that Remco Toys released a Dream Bottle playset in 1976 modeled after the show. It even comes with a 6-inch Jeannie doll. Just like the Barbie Beauty Center, this first-time find for us also came complete in its box!

Leggy Jill

In 1972, Hasbro released a series of dolls called Leggy dolls. There were four different dolls released, each of which sported high 70s fashion. Despite being 10 inches tall, their legs were a surprising 7 inches long, giving them a unique look. Unfortunately, they did not rise to popularity and were discontinued a year later. Italy and Japan later attempted to revive the line but faced the same disinterest. Today, the rarity of the Hasbro Leggy line has earned it a cult following.

I always love first-time finds in this business, so this week’s cool finds are particularly exciting for me. While I’ve found a great love of primitives and market-flooded earthenware, discovering objects that even my in-laws haven’t seen before makes it even more enjoyable. The air is akin to childhood Christmases with each new unique item we find, and these three vintage toys are no exception.