Toy Walkie Talkies

By Eric Wrobbel

REVIEWED BY JOHN DELORIA

Web edition

Toy Walkie Talkies by Eric Wrobbel, with price guide, is indeed an interesting addition to Wrobbel's series of small but informative books. It brings into antique radio collecting a crossover that I, for one, didn't relate to the hobby -- toys.

As I read through this book, I couldn't help but remember all the different walkie talkies that I had had over the years. The last of ten children, I frequently received my brothers' and sisters' toys that they had outgrown. Among them were walkie talkies. Since a great thing about walkie talkies is that you need two to play, one of us would monitor the base station while the other had the single phone. I remember many of the sets having a large base unit.

Being an avid Dick Tracy collector, I was particularly excited to see the Dick Tracy set on page 8. I had my own Dick Tracy set in the early 1950s.

I enjoyed all 28 pages of this book with its 73 color illustrations. Included are model numbers, dates, notes, countries of origin, and current prices. I find the book to be fun and informative. Once it gets into the hands of antique radio collectors, I'm sure we will be seeing many of the sets pictured showing up at future swap meets.

Eric Wrobbel has also published several other outstanding books reviewed in A.R.C., including Sony Transistor Radios and Collectible Transistor Radios from Toshiba and Trancel (August 1995); Toy Crystal Radios and American Shirt-pocket Transistor Radios (January 1998); as well as a video, My Favorite Transistor Radios, produced with Roger Handy, (May 1997).

Toy Walkie Talkies is published in a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" soft cover format with excellent graphics in color. It may be ordered for $19.95, including postage, from Eric Wrobbel, Dept. A, 20802 Exhibit Court, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. (818) 884-2282. E-mail: ewrobbel@aol.com.

(John R. DeLoria, 101 Doverbrook Road, Chicopee, MA 01022)

The covers of Eric Wrobbel's other eight, very useful books are shown above. They range in price from $7 to $19.95 and may be ordered from him at the above address.