h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Shoot me down in flames if you will, but I'm certain I've seen Weebles around in a toy store or two recently. Possibly members of Weebles: The Next Generation, I think the call of extinction for this charming little toy may be a little premature.

I think the new Weebles of which you speak are rather different from the old traditional egg-shaped ones. They were re-born in their new (but not improved) "small ball for a head sitting atop a large ball for a body" form. These seems to have been shunned by the public and vanished soon after, so most of us still have only childhood memories of weebles as they should be. A recent search for Weebles at several car boot sales turned up nothing but a Weebleless Weeble 'Plane.

Goof

It always amazed me that no matter how high up I held the Weeble plane before turning it upside down, the pilot always landed the right way up and unscathed. My child brain spent hours testing this, presumably because the dog was too big to lift

Are cats related to Weebles? Maybe the RAF could learn something from this...

Goof

Trying to remember if weebles floated or not...
I had a sailor weeble, complete with a boat (which did float even with the weeble in it). Like all good things from my childhood (matchbox cars, tonka toys, playmobil, lego), still probably at my parents house waiting to be given back if I ever have kids of my own

As far as I remember they did float - the weight inside not filling the cavity, therefore giving the Weeble a measure of buoyancy. But I could be wrong... I have some rather fond memories of cheeky looking faces on some of them - rather leprechauny in character. Them were the days when a toy was a good toy, made from finest, hand-tooled materials by master craftsmen (or maybe our expectations were much much lower...).

I was poking around Camden Market the other week when a sign screaming TOYS was spotted. When we found the stall, it was crammed full of old toys I remember having/wanting when at school. They all looked way cheap and plasticy, and no where near as wonderful as I remember. Just goes to show how much imagination plays a part.
Oh well, me and the Elephant Army are off to storm the Citadel and rescue Action Man. See ya later.

I've still got all of my weebles. They are sitting smugly in the loft of my mums house. I had quite a few of them, about 7 or 8 I think, and the caravan and various other bits. What was particularly exiting was the fact that in the caravan, the weebles actually laid down. It was a miracle of something or other. I think I'll go on a weeble hunt and get them out. Shame my kid is too old for them, but I doubt I'd let him play with them anyway, as they are mine!

I seem to recall floating my Weebles in the bath now you mention it. I wonder if a rotten Weeble being egg shaped would sink.

I remember that Weebles DID float unless you held them under water for a few minutes. The cavity inside would fill up through the eyes - which had holes where the pupils should be. Emptying the water out gave the appearance of a "crying" Weeble. I didn't get to play with them for very long as my brother discovered that Weebles DO fall down if you throw them out of a second floor window!

Oh - and they dont bounce on concrete either!!

Aahh ! Fond childhood memories of weebles , but unfortunatley I have not been able to emulate the forever upright stance of the Weeble particluarally (forgive spelling) at 2am on a weekend

Weebles became a very important part of our Christmas celebrations for a few years. My son was quite taken with Weebles when they were introduced. At Christmas he would add them to the manger scene with the angel, kings, shepards, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. My daughter was 8 years older and knew a family tradition when she saw one so for years we had Weebles in our Nativity scene. Even though it's been 20 years, the family still speaks reverently of them