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Paulkaiju
S7 Royalty
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:40 pm Posts: 3847 Location: SD
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 The Mattel Strange Change machine
I know it's off topic sorta.
It was my favorite toy as a child. Monster toys are in the blood here!
Interesting info here:
http://www.snowcrest.net/fox/str.html
Mine still works! They are hard to find in working condition as the heating element is usually busted.
These things get really hot, and can burn the crap outta your fingers.
I always thought if hell was a play set, this was it.
The Mummy was always the dude sent to hell.
A freshly born Mummy.

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Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:33 pm |
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Chad Hensley
Illuminati
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:55 pm Posts: 2655 Location: San Diego
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My parents would not buy me one...
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Last Hurrah Records: http://www.lasthurrahrecords.com
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:45 pm |
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turtletooth
Post Pimp
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:19 am Posts: 2683 Location: Dirty Jersey
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Lawsuit!
That's awesome Paul.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:51 pm |
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abelincolnjr
S7 Royalty
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:46 pm Posts: 3200 Location: Brooklyn, NY
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oops I just read that link..lol
we had tons of these cubes but without the oven when i was a kid cool to know where they came form
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:04 pm |
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Biff
S7 Royalty
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:19 pm Posts: 3442
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I still have some of the creatures, but the machine is long gone.
As for burning fingers, the concept of natural selection ruled then, not just litigation. Those still did not get as hot as the little stovetops for Creepy Crawlers & Creeple People.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:07 pm |
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Cralya
Addicted
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:16 pm Posts: 711
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I had one of these way back when. What a great toy! It's hard to find with all the monsters and the vacuform base intact.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:11 pm |
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Paulkaiju
S7 Royalty
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:40 pm Posts: 3847 Location: SD
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Biff wrote: I still have some of the creatures, but the machine is long gone.
As for burning fingers, the concept of natural selection ruled then, not just litigation. Those still did not get as hot as the little stovetops for Creepy Crawlers & Creeple People.
I almost took mine in the tub plugged in. Luckily my mom caught me.
Thanks mom. 
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:15 pm |
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bansheebot
Super Deformed
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:09 pm Posts: 5003
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This reminds me of Creepy Crawlers a lot. I guess that was my generation's 'Easy Bake Oven for boys' Strange Change, in a sense?
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:53 pm |
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Frank Kozik
Mini Boss
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:53 pm Posts: 4668
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yeah I had one...my dad sent it to me. loved it.
_________________ Is that a mini-Zag lodged in your urethra, or are you just happy to see me?
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:50 pm |
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Biff
S7 Royalty
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:19 pm Posts: 3442
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And speaking of Creepy Crawlers and seeing the other post about the toxic nature of vinyl, think what kind of off-gassing was happening in our unventilated bedrooms as we cooked up armies of creatures.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:52 pm |
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Frank Kozik
Mini Boss
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:53 pm Posts: 4668
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basically, anything that is made pollutes.
_________________ Is that a mini-Zag lodged in your urethra, or are you just happy to see me?
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:54 pm |
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Mark K
Addicted
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:28 pm Posts: 567 Location: Clevo, oHIo
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Heating up the creatures and then crushing those hot little bastards back into cubes was my favorite part. I sold mine in the early days of ebay. Speaking of Creepy Crawlers, there used to be a toy that had molds for little soldiers where you could put metal wire in the limbs and they could bend like the old Mat Mason guys. Can't remember the name though.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:22 pm |
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Biff
S7 Royalty
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:19 pm Posts: 3442
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My older brother had that - fighting soldiers or something like that. I would use his soldier molds with my glow in the dark goop to make legions of glowing mutant men.
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:07 pm |
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geotaro
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Had one... and a vacuform... made lots of stuff that was great to blow up with m80's in the nearby "nunnery" property. Made the nuns jump too, which was the best part. 
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:05 pm |
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Paulkaiju
S7 Royalty
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:40 pm Posts: 3847 Location: SD
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Taro wrote: Had one... and a vacuform... made lots of stuff that was great to blow up with m80's in the nearby "nunnery" property. Made the nuns jump too, which was the best part. 
I have Vacuform sets still in the box.
Boats, jets ,and diguises!
A great era for toys!
Mattel at their prime!
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:30 am |
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Roger
Mini Boss
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:41 pm Posts: 4909
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Wow, this is neat, the primordial Creepy Crawler maker!
Are there any modern-day versions of this still around?
And Paul, did you also have the Shrunken Head Factory?
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:20 am |
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Biff
S7 Royalty
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:19 pm Posts: 3442
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The Shrunken Head mold came w/ the Fright Factory set. You could also make fangs, long fingernails and a third eye for personal adornment. Think there was a mold for an articulated skeleton, as well.
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:29 am |
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vintagevinyl
Line of Credit
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:58 pm Posts: 1657 Location: Bend, Or
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saw one of those strange change toys at my friends place last month . very cool toy paul . saw an unopened 60 s creepy crawler dragon maker set at the time tunnel toy show in san jose for $200 . that was my favorite toy when i was a kid . i was an idiot and lent it to my friend who almost burned his house down with it . his parents threw it away and that was the last time i saw that set until i came accross one at dr tongues toys in portland .
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:46 am |
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Paulkaiju
S7 Royalty
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:40 pm Posts: 3847 Location: SD
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vintagevinyl wrote: saw one of those strange change toys at my friends place last month . very cool toy paul . saw an unopened 60 s creepy crawler dragon maker set at the time tunnel toy show in san jose for $200 . that was my favorite toy when i was a kid . i was an idiot and lent it to my friend who almost burned his house down with it . his parents threw it away and that was the last time i saw that set until i came accross one at dr tongues toys in portland .
Heh, I have the Mini Dragon set complete with goop.
I think I might make some dragons tonight!
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:36 am |
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Biff
S7 Royalty
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:19 pm Posts: 3442
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Paulkaiju wrote: I think I might make some dragons tonight!
Just not in the bathtub, OK?
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:08 pm |
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vintagevinyl
Line of Credit
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:58 pm Posts: 1657 Location: Bend, Or
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any chance i can get a paul kaiju custom mini dragon ? now iM hating myself for not buying that set . great thread paul !
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Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:29 pm |
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KJB
Comment King
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:07 am Posts: 1337 Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Wow - I cannot believe you posted this. The Strange Change machine was my absolute favorite toy as a child; amazing when you consider that it was basically the same thing over and over again. It really is sad that the era of potentially dangerous toys is long gone - sure, I burned the hell out of my fingers with this thing multiple times, but hey - I consider it a learning experience  I was really into finding one a few years back, but they go for stupid money on the bay now.
_________________ I went there on business
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Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:07 am |
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dr_tongues_toys
Post Pimp
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:50 am Posts: 2784 Location: P-town, city of bridges, Roses, whatever
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Mark K wrote: Heating up the creatures and then crushing those hot little bastards back into cubes was my favorite part. I sold mine in the early days of ebay. Speaking of Creepy Crawlers, there used to be a toy that had molds for little soldiers where you could put metal wire in the limbs and they could bend like the old Mat Mason guys. Can't remember the name though.
It was called the Fighting Men set. Made as part of the Mattel Make and play series that included the Thingmaker toys. First was the Vacu-form then the Vacu-maker - a cross between Thingmaker and Vacu-form. You could make a great little rubber turtle figure with a hard plastic shell.
There was also Creepy Crawlers, Mini-Dragons, Fright Factory, Dolly Maker (Made basically rubber flat Liddle Kiddles), Fun Flowers, Picadoos, Creeple Peeple, Giant Creepy Crawlers, & EEEEKS!!!!!
Marx also made molds to go in the Mattel ovens of Peanuts & Disney Characters.
Does anybody remember Topper Motorized Monster Makers? Basically Topper Toys version where you would mold up the arms legs and heads of the Monster and put them on Windup monster bodies! Very cool. 7 different monsters made.
_________________ Why can't people leave unpopular cool shit alone!?!
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Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:43 pm |
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eladelight
Toy Prince
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:16 pm Posts: 149 Location: HOUSTON TX
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thats awesome maybe i can score one on ebay.
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Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:16 pm |
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