In the 1960s, a very cool machine debuted at the Seattle World's Fair - the Mold-A-Rama. It made real plastic toys on-demand from melted plastic pellets, to the delight of children and adults alike. They didn't last too long, but can still be found at various locations all over the United States and their retro-cool stylings are still a hit. Learn all about these cool machines in this classic episode.
In this episode, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating history of Moldorama machines, those quirky vintage vending contraptions that magically mold hot plastic toys right before your eyes. They trace the invention back to J.H. "Tyke" Miller, an Illinois businessman who started making nativity figures in the 1930s and eventually created these on-demand plastic toy makers that became huge hits at 1960s world's fairs. The guys explore how these machines actually work using injection blow molding technology, share wild details about the dozens of different molds still in operation today (many from the original machines built in the 1960s), and celebrate the families who've turned operating them into multi-generational businesses that are somehow still thriving.
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