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Rating: 
Summary: Unwind with a really good book :)
Review: Before l discovered this book, l was completely unaware of the term 'WKW' and had no idea that it referred to toys that l once owned as a child. I'm sure most of us at some point in our lives had a set of plastic windup chattering teeth, a walking robot or a hopping frog. If that toy was wound by a short metal rod attached to a small white knob then you to owned a WKW - White Knob Windup. As Mr Birkenes points out in his book, many of these toys were (and in many cases still are) available for a few pence. As such, collecting White Knob Windups is a fairly inexpensive hobby. Inexpensive that is until you discover that there be as many as 15,000 different designs out there. And believe me, if you become hooked you will want every single one! (The White Knob Windup book illustrates around 350 different WKW's).If you love toys and have a soft spot for the weird, wacky and tacky, then this book is one that wouldn't be out of place on your book shelf. It's perfect for anyone who loves childhood nostalgia, toy design and pop culture icons (and not forgetting the all important 'how much? - l used to have one of those' surprise factor when you see just how valueable some of these 3.5" high plastic toys can be). This 80 page book is packed with (albeit slightly rough) photos illustrating toys made by some of the big toy names such as Tomy, Galoob, Bandai, Mattel and Russ (to name but a few). There are toys relating to Animals, Vehicles, St.Valentines Day, Robots etc., and even a bunch along the lines of those novelty chattering teeth that l mentioned earlier. Many of these examples however, are for new or fast food toys. And to be honest, some of the price guides are little off the mark and much of the written information can certainly been seen as lacking for someone who claims to have been collecting since the late 70's. Yet, (at least for this reader ) all of the 'could be improved upon bits' are readily forgiven in gratitude for the one thing that this book has proved, and that, for me, is a 'kick start' into a hobby that l am just passionate about, collecting White Knob Windup toys.
Rating:
Summary: Unwind with a really good book :)
Review: Before l discovered this book, l was completely unaware of the term `WKW' and had no idea that it referred to toys that l once owned as a child. I'm sure most of us at some point in our lives had a set of plastic windup chattering teeth, a walking robot or a hopping frog. If that toy was wound by a short metal rod attached to a small white knob then you to owned a WKW - White Knob Windup. As Mr Birkenes points out in his book, many of these toys were (and in many cases still are) available for a few pence. As such, collecting White Knob Windups is a fairly inexpensive hobby. Inexpensive that is until you discover that there be as many as 15,000 different designs out there. And believe me, if you become hooked you will want every single one! (The White Knob Windup book illustrates around 350 different WKW's). If you love toys and have a soft spot for the weird, wacky and tacky, then this book is one that wouldn't be out of place on your book shelf. It's perfect for anyone who loves childhood nostalgia, toy design and pop culture icons (and not forgetting the all important `how much? - l used to have one of those' surprise factor when you see just how valueable some of these 3.5" high plastic toys can be). This 80 page book is packed with (albeit slightly rough) photos illustrating toys made by some of the big toy names such as Tomy, Galoob, Bandai, Mattel and Russ (to name but a few). There are toys relating to Animals, Vehicles, St.Valentines Day, Robots etc., and even a bunch along the lines of those novelty chattering teeth that l mentioned earlier. Many of these examples however, are for new or fast food toys. And to be honest, some of the price guides are little off the mark and much of the written information can certainly been seen as lacking for someone who claims to have been collecting since the late 70's. Yet, (at least for this reader ) all of the `could be improved upon bits' are readily forgiven in gratitude for the one thing that this book has proved, and that, for me, is a `kick start' into a hobby that l am just passionate about, collecting White Knob Windup toys.
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