Friday, March 5, 2010
I usually don’t swipe images directly from manufacturer’s catalogs, but in this case could not find a more descriptive photo to convey why I so love a product. To be sure, Automoblox have won praise from numerous sources since their introduction almost 3 years ago, but having recently enjoyed them (by myself and with my son) felt they more than deserve a fresh plug here. Beautifully designed vehicular toys are hard enough to come by these days, but Automoblox’s emotive forms manage to capture the essence of car styling – from sports cars to minivans to SUVs – in the purest forms, lovingly sculpted from silky wood and richly molded plastic. Better yet, their ingenious design lets kids mix components from various sets to create an endless range of imaginative combinations, so durably constructed that they can be played with and enjoyed long beyond the construction phase (ever see the pained look on a child’s face as they try to roll a Lego car around while its parts disintegrate into bricks?). Automoblox transcend traditional play categories like “building toy” or “vehicle”, a rare product that’s managed to create a niche all its own. Prices are commensurate with the quality, $12-$45 depending on size.
Posted in Automoblox, Building Toy, Hot Wheels, Lego, Matchbox, Toy Car, Wood Toy | 2 Comments »
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The recent bankruptcy of Saab, after years of mismanagement by its owner GM (what hasn’t General Motors mismanaged?) was a sad event for anyone who appreciates the brilliant and sometimes quirky designs the Swedish firm was known for. I’ll always be able to recall Saab’s best while caressing this gorgeous hardwood homage to Sixten Saxon’s 1949 concept 001, which evolved into the production model 92 that set the tone for all pre-GM Saabs to follow. Swedish toymaker Playsam lovingly crafts these executive gifts (at $140 it isn’t a toy for kids) and other Saab-inspired toys that I recommend to anyone with a bit of extra desk space. And for the record, Sixten Saxon is the coolest name. Ever.
Posted in Executive Gift, Playsam, Saab, Sixten Saxon, Toy Car, Wooden Toys | Comments Off
