Can you identify these pocket games from the early eighties?

March 18, 2009 7:54 AM

Help me identify a toy! Around 1980 (in the northeastern United States) there was a line of small games contained within sealed plastic boxes approximately five inches long, two and half across, and perhaps half an inch thick (13 x 6 x 1cm, about the size of a pocket calculator back then). Many contained one or more small steel balls. Some, with flippers, took the form of a pinball or basketball game. Others were mazes or other puzzles. Some contained plastic beads floating in fluid. Some involved magnets. I had a bunch of these at one point but I cannot remember who made them or what they were called.
posted by Songdog to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

Wonderful Waterful?
posted by dirtdirt at 7:58 AM on March 18

You mean like these? I know I had the speedway one, and I'm sure I had others.
posted by mollweide at 8:13 AM on March 18

Pocketeers..?
posted by malevolent at 8:15 AM on March 18

Yes. Wee Wonderful Waterfuls by TOMY. I loved them too, and got some for my own kids when I found them in a toy store. Bad picture here.
posted by jquinby at 8:15 AM on March 18

Here's a list.
posted by mollweide at 8:16 AM on March 18

Thank you! Man, that was fast. It looks like I was primarily remembering the Tomy Pocket Games but I think I also had one or two of the Pocketeers, so I'm marking all of those as best answer. I had the Wonderful Waterful too, as it happens. You guys are great!
posted by Songdog at 8:26 AM on March 18

Oh man, Tomy always made to coolest, smallest stuff!
posted by orme at 9:50 AM on March 18

Oh man. Thanks for a little memory regained, all.
posted by Darth Fedor at 10:48 AM on March 18 [1 favorite has favorites]

... a little memory regained

Well said.
posted by Songdog at 1:15 PM on March 18

Hah, me too - I had one of these that I'd completely forgotten about. Thanks for the memory!
posted by penguin pie at 4:17 PM on March 18

And again. These were great! I had forgotten too! It was the Wonderful Waterfuls for me, but different models that posted above.
posted by kch at 8:22 PM on March 19