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RetroArtBlog's avatar

Great intro to Colorofrms! I am a collector of them. And as for eBay always remember, “listed for” and “sold for” are two different numbers. Most vintage sets in complete condition can be had for $20-$100 based on their subjects. And any collection of any particular ‘60s - ‘80s movie or tv show is not complete without a Colorforms set based on it!

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Mark M.'s avatar

Thank you and thanks for the reminder on Ebay. It's true that listed and sold are two entirely different animals :) I wish I had kept mine from days gone by, but 'growing up' creates childhood casualties, sometimes.

Thanks for subscribing. I follow you on Twitter and love your posts there. Didn't even know you had a Substack, but I do now!

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RetroArtBlog's avatar

Recently started on Substack because I don't like Patreon’s post formats. I do wish there were more subscription tier options on Substack though.

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Bryan Padrick's avatar

I’d never heard of these - which could be because they were regional, or (more likely) they weren’t introduced to me at the formative age. Loved my TinkerToys, though ... and my many Star Wars figures!

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Mark M.'s avatar

Oh, yeah! Star Wars figures, while I never had very many, were another favorite. Back in the days when all you really needed was an imagination to have fun :)

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Sarah Styf's avatar

Ha! My mom would never buy them, even though the commercials made them look like so much fun.

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Mark M.'s avatar

Haha, I know how that is. I'm surprised my parents got them for me because they "had too many pieces" as my dad would say :D

At least you've heard of them, though. I was getting worried that I had made the whole thing up in my mind, lol.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Wow, Colorforms would have been right up my street! I’ve never seen or heard of them - but I’d’ve LOVED these sets in the 70s and 80s, if they’d ever made it across the pond! Great post!

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Mark M.'s avatar

Thank you, Rebecca!

Back then, I'm not sure how international they were but I'm gathering from the comments here that a lot of people had never heard of them. It's never too late, though :)

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Catherine Parker's avatar

I never really had Colorforms. I was a Betsy McCall paper doll chick. Lol BUT.. as soon as I saw vinyl I’m thinking how cool would it be if Colorforms merged with Cricut vinyl for mugs and shirts?!?! Lol

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Mark M.'s avatar

That's a very cool idea and can't believe they haven't already. It would make for all sorts of possibilities.

Colorforms always sort of reminded me of paper dolls and some of the earlier sets were pretty much just that.

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Catherine Parker's avatar

Here you go Mark! Get those

Drawing skills honed. Lol

https://www.ehow.com/how_5444700_make-colorforms.html

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Mark M.'s avatar

Oh, very cool. Thanks! If I ever get that industrious, I'll post about it :)

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Matthew Murray's avatar

I have never heard of it. It looks interesting. I know what Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs are but I never had them.

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Mark M.'s avatar

Interesting. You're the second person to say they've never heard of them. Maybe they're more a regional thing? Either way, they were a lot of fun (at least to me :) )

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Terry Freedman's avatar

I hadn't heard of it, but sounds and looks great!

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Mark M.'s avatar

They were fun, especially in a pre-digital age :)

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Catherine Parker's avatar

Probably haven’t because they are too young to remember Colorforms?? Or out of sight, out of mind. Lol

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