David K. Israel
Oh, Fisher Price… How We Loved You
by David K. Israel - January 20, 2012 - 7:03 PM

I saw the above photo posted on reddit today and was suddenly filled with raging, uncontrollable nostalgia. I could smell the little gas pump and feel deep down in my soul how the nozzle fit into the car. I could hear the *ding* *ding* *ding* of the bell as we cranked the car up the elevator and I could imagine turning the car around and around on the little rotating dais thingy on the top floor. If I close my eyes, I can remember racing Hot Wheels on the little track even though they didn’t come with the garage. I can remember parking the cars neatly on the roof, and later in life, changing AFX tires, with a little oil, up there.

According to one reseller on eBay, FP released this in 1970, 1985 again in 1990. So it’s quite possible many of us had the various versions. [Update: I just discovered this site with the following info about the 1970 version: "When the Garage set was first introduced, it was sold with a cardboard service van to store the accessories into. The van was designed to be like the storage silo used on the #915 Farm, but the cardboard box is nowhere near as sturdy, therefore, discontinued shortly after it was introduced. There is another small rectangular box that was sold with this set...plain cardboard with red print on the sides. Fisher-Price may had replaced the cardboard service van with the smaller cardboard box for a short time. Neither the van nor the small box were ever pictured nor mentioned in the dealer catalogues, but both are quite rare and by far the hardest pieces in this set to find."]

The one pictured is the one I had. Who had this toy? Who misses it? Leave your interesting memories in the comments below. I’d also love to hear if you didn’t have this toy, but had some other Fisher Price that, when you see it all these years later, really sends you into a nostalgic tailspin.

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Comments (64)

  1. Ahh, the memories. I had the whole Fischer-Price universe…I had the little house that folded together with all the pieces inside. The airplane. The garage. The farm (loved the “mooing” door). I even had the Sesame Street set. And, for quite a while in my young life I remember desperately wanting to turn into a “little people” character so I could hang out in all these groovy places for real. That should probably worry me more than it does…

    posted by Christina on 1-20-2012 at 7:21 pm

  2. One of the last toys my mother bought me before she got terminally ill was the fisher price telephone. It had a white body with a red handset and blue wheels, but my favourite thing about it was the smiling face and the ring of the bell. I spent hours pulling it around by the little string and chatting and chatting. It always pops into my mind when I remember my childhood. Good, good times.

    posted by diahann on 1-20-2012 at 7:29 pm

  3. I’m pretty sure I had that. And I had the phone (which always makes me smile, too), among other FP toys. *nods*

    posted by shelly on 1-20-2012 at 7:38 pm

  4. I’m not sure if I actually had this or if it belonged to one of the daycare’s that I went to, but the moment I saw the picture I could almost feel the little crank in my hand and the way it resisted your force slightly right before the bell would ding.

    posted by Ellie on 1-20-2012 at 7:40 pm

  5. I LOVED this toy!!!!

    posted by Michelle on 1-20-2012 at 7:46 pm

  6. I didn’t have the garage but had (and still have)a FP circus train, houseboat, airport (with two planes and a helicopter), school house, and regular house. The circus train is my favorite. Of course now they’re good for nothing but display since the Little People of my childhood would kill toaday’s kids.

    posted by CamilleR on 1-20-2012 at 7:57 pm

  7. Wow… Proustian rush moment!

    posted by aj on 1-20-2012 at 7:59 pm

  8. I had the tree house, with the walnut shell shaped door in the trunk. I loved that thing.

    I also had the phone and the dog.

    posted by H on 1-20-2012 at 8:06 pm

  9. My grandmother had the parking garage. We had the A-frame house. Years later, my nephews had the newer version of the garage, but I always preferred the old one. Good memories. (I’ve still got the house and some of the original Little People figures.)

    posted by Bookworm on 1-20-2012 at 8:08 pm

  10. had the tudor house and the farm and the school house. got my daughter a farm, they just don’t make toys like those classic fisher price toys anymore. the modern little people are a travesty – little people DON”T HAVE ARMS!

    posted by Jen on 1-20-2012 at 8:14 pm

  11. In addition to the phone, my brother and I had one of the CASTLES.

    posted by AmyAnon on 1-20-2012 at 8:26 pm

  12. We had the town and the farm. I remember playing with them even when I was older, because I have a much younger sister. I loved the way the barn door on the farm would moo when you opened it!
    I think my parents still have the town somewhere.

    posted by JennieO on 1-20-2012 at 8:28 pm

  13. I had this and seeing it now makes me wonder where the last 25-30 years went. Right now i am on a new Fisher Price kick, Geo Trax. They are a great way for me to spend time with my son. I like building the track, and he likes playing with the trains.

    posted by they call me Bruce on 1-20-2012 at 8:31 pm

  14. About 10 years ago when I discovered ebay I went on a Fisher Price kick and bought several sets – we grew up with these and played with them to death. I even found the Sesame Street set – I never knew it existed back then!!! I proudly display my collection and remember the good old days!

    posted by Liz on 1-20-2012 at 8:42 pm

  15. The first thing I said when I saw the picture, was “I LOVED THE GAS PUMP AND HOW IT FIT INTO THE HOLES IN THE CARS!!!” And then I read your first sentence. LOL! I loved all my Little People stuff. I had the garage, the house, the camper, and the A-Frame house. I had endless hours of fun from these. And my mom still has most of them (I’m 40.) Maybe I should check into their worth!

    posted by Angie on 1-20-2012 at 8:43 pm

  16. oh yeah- I had the Sesame Street playset too. So fun!!

    posted by Angie on 1-20-2012 at 8:44 pm

  17. Anybody see the Fisher-Price line of dog toys? Too cute! (Though my ferocious chewer would destroy them in 5 seconds flat and then eat the soft plastic).

    The Speak & Say (spell?) still makes me smile when I remember it. That and that puppy you pulled along with a rope/string thing.

    posted by Brandy on 1-20-2012 at 9:08 pm

  18. The picture is the model I remember having, and of course I also used my future Hot Wheels & Matchboxes with it.

    David–I think you have ties to my neck of the woods, did you have a Hess Truck? I had a ’76 model. There is of course an extensive site for those too. I just don’t like how they’ve become just a toy with branding instead of actually having something to do with Hess.

    posted by Wayne Stevens on 1-20-2012 at 9:31 pm

  19. I had a ton of these, my cousins had the garage, I had the A-frame house, Sesame Street house, the farm and a couple others. My absolute favorite was the FP castle. I played with it until my friends made fun of me for it. I still look on Ebay for the pink dragon, I have to get that set for my granddaughter.

    posted by Melissa on 1-20-2012 at 10:19 pm

  20. Did FP make the “popping” vacuum cleaner toy? The one that you push along the floor, and balls inside the clear “head” pop around and make all kind of racket? We had one of those.

    Would *love* to see more pictures and stories of these* FP toys.

    *Changed “old” to “these” after I realized that I’m older than most of the toys mentioned!

    posted by Rachel on 1-20-2012 at 10:35 pm

  21. I didn’t have this, but my cousin did! I had the Sesame Street clubhouse set and later my brother had the western town set which was pretty much the same setup as the clubhouse. We also had the A-Frame house!

    posted by Joy on 1-21-2012 at 12:02 am

  22. We had the Tudor house, the garage, and the Ferris wheel. I played with the garage the most, but usually with matchbox cars. I remember that feeling of satisfaction when I’d find the cars that best matched the four spaces on top and line them all up perfectly, then put my favorite car on the turn wheel for display!

    And I agree with Jen; arms on the little people just look wrong.

    posted by Eva on 1-21-2012 at 12:22 am

  23. Oh wow. Thank you for bringing up good memories. I only had the phone, but my pre-preschool/preschool/kindergarten teacher (she was an awesome lady) had the garage, farm, and house, if not more…

    I’m weirded out by the arm thing as well :)

    I was also rebellious and used Hot Wheels…

    posted by dria on 1-21-2012 at 1:43 am

  24. Rachel, yes they did!

    Brandy, when I was about 3, I dropped my speak and spell (say?) out of the car window on the freeway. That was a sad, sad day.

    posted by dria on 1-21-2012 at 1:54 am

  25. I don’t remember too much of the Fisher-Price stuff, but absolutely LOVED my Tonka and Nylint trucks from back in the days when they were still made out of metal.

    -”BB”-

    posted by Bicycle Bill on 1-21-2012 at 2:17 am

  26. Most of the toys that are featured on here I never played with, but this one I used ALL…THE…TIME! I played with it even when I was older, brings back so many memories!

    posted by Bob K. on 1-21-2012 at 4:41 am

  27. I loved my Fisher Price telephone, and my school bus!

    posted by Gordon Daily on 1-21-2012 at 5:53 am

  28. I had a FP village that opened up like a Main Street…shops and police station, etc. I spent hours and hours playing with that. Later I had the hospital but it wasn’t quite as much fun. Except the x-ray machine was really cool…

    posted by sarra73 on 1-21-2012 at 7:49 am

  29. I had that same garage and did the same things with it (hot wheels, etc.). My mother saved it and it is in her basement. Whenever my family visits my parents, my boys always take a few minutes to play with it.

    posted by Matt S. on 1-21-2012 at 8:19 am

  30. Your photo brought back many memories. I’m in my 60s and toys were quite different when I was a kid but my children had the Fisher Price garage and played with it endlessly. I can’t remember if it was a Christmas gift for them or a hand-me-down from their boy cousins who had outgrown it but it certainly provided lots of fun for them. We didn’t have a car at the time – couldn’t afford one – but our kids had a garage:)

    posted by Stevie Beckwell on 1-21-2012 at 9:55 am

  31. Well, my eyes nearly popped out my head when I saw that pic! I also had the garage and remember the “ding! ding!” of the elevator and playing with my Matchbox cars in it. It was given away years ago in a big clean out BUT somehow the little mechanics ramp got left behind. My 3 year old niece now plays with it, lifting the remainder of those same Matchbox cars up and down mostly so she can hear that loud clicking noise it makes. Not bad for a 30 year old toy…

    posted by anthenning on 1-21-2012 at 9:59 am

  32. I had the phone. I still have two of my FP toys – the Jolly Jumping Jake dated 1969 and the Roly Poly Chime Ball dated 1966. Both are older than me. My boys still play with the toys. I’m 37. All new toys get destroyed within a few days. These toys have lasted.

    posted by Brandi on 1-21-2012 at 11:25 am

  33. Did anyone else have the cupcakes with the plastic frosting that came with cookies and ice cream and a blue cupcake tray? I loved those things!

    posted by BizarroElaine on 1-21-2012 at 12:38 pm

  34. I remeber playing with this at my cousins’ house. My favorite was either my fold up house or my school bus. My sister loved the barn. Soooo many memories.

    posted by haselwoman on 1-21-2012 at 1:45 pm

  35. @ Rachel Yes FP made that pushing “popcorn popper” sounding toy. My dad hated that thing. He tried very hard to desound it. He bought one for my daughter’s first birthday as payback.

    posted by haselwoman on 1-21-2012 at 1:48 pm

  36. I have found and purchased many an FP toy at garage sales and flea markets. It’s soooo funny to see the pre-plastic decor – it’s all just paper labels! FP has made anniversary editions of the chatterphone and slinky dog pull toys. I have to say, most of the FP old baby toys are much more fun and interesting than the horrible noisy toys available nowadays. Bring back IMAGINATION!

    posted by Mare on 1-21-2012 at 2:39 pm

  37. I had the school bus with the little people, the chatterphone and the slinky dog.

    My cousin had the service station, and I remember the *ring*ring*ring*. He also had one of those Tonka car carriers, and I’d just take it, dump the cars out and ride on it myself (I was very small for my age).

    posted by Brooklynperson on 1-21-2012 at 2:44 pm

  38. I remember the garage, although I don’t remember if we owned it. I definitely had the yellow roofed house, the airplane and…the McDonalds set! The little trays with the stickers showing the food were awesome. I also remember, but again did not have the Sesame Street set.

    I had (still have, actually) a couple of the giant Tonka trucks (the dig bump truck and the tall crane scoop.)

    Just yesterday I was thinking of a Buddy L GoodYear branded stock car and transporter that I vividly remember.

    Ah, the good old days…

    posted by David L on 1-21-2012 at 3:00 pm

  39. We had the garage, house, school, castle and barn (maybe others too). Ours were so old, the people were made from wood. My sister also had a FP computer that helped teach colors, letters and numbers.

    posted by Pam on 1-21-2012 at 3:08 pm

  40. My parents still have this garage – bought for me and my brothers in the 1970s, and still being played with whenever their grandchildren visit nearly 40 years later.

    posted by Stevan on 1-21-2012 at 3:51 pm

  41. I had the popcorn popper too! I’d forgotten it until now.

    Hooray, Fisher Price!

    . .. Was Fisher Price a real person? I think Mental Floss has to tell us.

    posted by H on 1-21-2012 at 5:45 pm

  42. I’m going on record as HAVING the garage in my possession. My mom kept that, the Sesame Street clubhouse, circus train and house boat. All are t least 35 years old and still ave all working parts. My son now plays with the garage and train!

    posted by Di on 1-21-2012 at 6:57 pm

  43. I’m only 16, but I can remember how excited I would get when we would go over to my grandparents house and I could play with my dad’s old Fisher Price toys.
    He had the 1970′s version of the garage, A-frame, hospital, house, school, barn, a miniature town piece that had an apartment, police station, jail, and barber.

    I would spend hours setting up the perfect town and even longer playing.

    Question: Did anyone else always make the freckled red-haired boy be the bully?

    I miss it. :/

    posted by Catherine S on 1-21-2012 at 7:55 pm

  44. I gave away the garage, but I still HAVE the the a-frame, pop-up camper, hospital, school and the village. My mother gave away the houseboat and tudor house while I was still very young, and I still give her a hard time about it. And, I agree, FP Little People with arms is just plain wrong.

    posted by Suzie on 1-21-2012 at 8:03 pm

  45. We had that garage (the 1970 version for sure), as well as the school bus, farm and airplane. And the “popper” toy, telephone, speak-and-says, etc.

    There was another set that came later, but I don’t remember the maker — had squared off little people, and had trademarked playsets like McDonalds and Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn came with a sheepdog, which I thought was pretty funny because we had an Old English Sheepdog at the time.

    posted by Jessica on 1-21-2012 at 8:54 pm

  46. My grandmother had his exact same toy at her house. I remember playing with it many times. I don’t know if she bought it for the grandkids or had it left-over from one of my aunts or uncles. What a great toy! Thanks for bringing back the memories. :-)

    posted by Schnoebunny on 1-21-2012 at 11:52 pm

  47. We had the farm, airplane, houseboat, and the garage. Good times. :-)

    posted by Mark on 1-21-2012 at 11:56 pm

  48. Aw! I haven’t thought of the FP toys and the Little People in years….I had the farm with the mooing barn door, the school bus, and the phone and popping vacuum cleaner thing. Probably others I can’t remember. My daughter is only 11 weeks old, but I’d better start scouring the yard sales and eBay to see if I can get my hands on these for her toddler years!

    Thanks for the memories, mental_floss!

    posted by Lynley on 1-22-2012 at 12:57 am

  49. I had this – in fact, I’m pretty sure it was this exact version. I can remember raising and lowering that little stop sign :)

    We also had the fold-open house and the barn. I remember wishing the little drawn on kitties and other illustrations were real, too.

    posted by MrsJetson on 1-22-2012 at 8:36 am

  50. Ahhh…sweet memories is right! I think I had them all! I had the house, the school and bus, but my magnum opus was my A-Frame house. (Hey…it was the seventies and they were popular with hippies:) If you added up all the hours I spent imagining myself as a smal, wooden, armless peg-person with a permanent smile and un-messable hair, I probably spent 2 full years playing with my Fiser-Price sets. What a wonderful outlet for the imagination! Thanks for the memories!

    posted by Dawn Kepler on 1-22-2012 at 10:20 am

  51. I remember how you keep turning the handle the same direction, but the lift would change directions and go down. Also at the top, it gave a little tilt to push the car out. And don’t forget the people elevator too.

    posted by danny on 1-22-2012 at 10:31 am

  52. We had this as well as the house, plane and boat and probably others I’m not remembering. My mom taught music to preschoolers so always had toys available before and after classes. Therefore my brothers and I always got these as gifts with the understanding that the other kids would also be playing with them.

    posted by Erica on 1-22-2012 at 12:17 pm

  53. WOW how cool. I had (and still have) that same garage! I had a great time with it and now my daughter loves playing with it too at my Mom’s house. My wife laughs at me because I get nostalgic and take a picture almost every time she plays with it. Will she keep it for her future kids perhaps? Ha Ha. Thanks for posting everyone. Great topic!

    posted by Fredo on 1-22-2012 at 1:39 pm

  54. I had this! I distinctly remember the little ding it made when you moved the elevator up and down. I believe I had the one that was made in 1985, since before this was mine, it was my moms. I don’t remember what happened to it, though. I think I’ll have to go look for it now.

    posted by Julia on 1-22-2012 at 3:56 pm

  55. Those cylindrical chocking hazards and their dwellings were by far my fgavorite toys of my childhood!

    As well as Weebles, who wobble and don’t fall down.

    posted by Jen on 1-22-2012 at 8:41 pm

  56. I had completely forgotten I had ever had this toy, but as soon as I saw the picture, memories came flooding back and I started hearing the dinging of the elevator in my head.

    posted by Sean on 1-23-2012 at 9:43 am

  57. @ Catherine S, yes, the freckled red-haired boy just had a mean face! He was either the bully or hidden under the couch cushion. I had the house, the camper, the garage, and the airplane. Still have most of the people, but for some reason I chewed off the braids on some of the girls. I didn’t like the braids for some OCD reason….

    posted by Pipkin.jones on 1-23-2012 at 11:11 am

  58. I think my cousins had this, as I remember playing with it at some point?

    posted by Brainlock on 1-23-2012 at 11:28 am

  59. I didn’t have this one, but a cousin did. He hated it and never played with it. I wanted it so bad and would hide it from him whenever i would go over to his house.

    My 2 yr old Son has the modern version of this … he loves the tow truck because of the really annoying honk it does.
    http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900002&e=storeproduct&pid=40993

    posted by Krystal on 1-23-2012 at 1:05 pm

  60. My cousins had one of these and we always played with it at their house! We always put it next to the “real” car wash toy they had. I loved the red barn too…the one with the door that made a moo-ing sound when you opened it!

    posted by Bethany on 1-23-2012 at 2:54 pm

  61. I had that model! Looking at that picture, a flood of memories come back. I always played with matchbox cars on it. I remember rescuing it when my mom tried to sell it at a yard sale. She said she was selling it because I never played with it, and I was like, “whaaaat?! I think I actually play with it more often than I play with anything else I own!”

    posted by Evelyn on 1-23-2012 at 4:52 pm

  62. I remember this being the only toy that I would play with at my grandparents house. I thought there were only “boy toys” as I had older male cousins, but I loved the bell noises and the gas pump. This will always bring a smile to my face.

    posted by Carrie on 1-23-2012 at 6:52 pm

  63. My sisters and I had the Fisher-Price house, jet, farm and Western Town. My favorite was the western Town. I loved putting them on the top and turning the crank to make them slide down. We would also take the little people and use them in the house that we’d build in those colored wooden blocks. So much fun!!!

    posted by melanie on 1-26-2012 at 8:32 pm

  64. My 3 kids enjoyed the garage and my 5 grandkids 4-15 have and are enjoying it. The 4 year old was putting gas in the car last week. The elevator still works and dings. The school bus, airplain and circus train are still enjoyed but the house & teaching clock have seen better days but still played with. Good job Fisher Price for creating a toy that has lasted.

    posted by Grandma on 2-2-2012 at 7:57 pm

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