Tinkertoys

[PennLady]

Hi.

Odd request perhaps, but -- could anyone direct me to some instructions for building with Tinkertoys? My son got ours out but of course we can't find whatever little crappy book we had, and the stuff I did print out is from the old Tinkerktoy collections and many pieces are different. I've done some googling but it hasn't helped.

Thanks.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

They're TINKERtoys; he should be tinkering with them and discovering what he and they can do, not following directions. Pieces are different? Fiddle around with them and see what they can do. Have fun.

 

[sethp]

Let's try this!

http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/TinkertoyBuildingSet.pdf

 

[sethp]

This too!

http://leojames.blogspot.com/2008/12/tinkertoy-more-instruction-manuals-and.html

 

[PennLady]

They're TINKERtoys; he should be tinkering with them and discovering what he and they can do, not following directions. Pieces are different? Fiddle around with them and see what they can do. Have fun.

I agree, and I am not making him follow the instructions. He is a kid who likes rules for things like this (although of course not the rules I make for him ). He's welcome to tinker with them, but he wants the instructions. I found a few, but it's tough, b/c most seem to be for the older set and they're pretty different from the new sets.

 

[PennLady]

This too!

http://leojames.blogspot.com/2008/12/tinkertoy-more-instruction-manuals-and.html

Thanks, Seth, I'll print these out. I found the other one you mentioned. But even Hasbro has a dearth of instructions for this stuff. I swear I had more instructions for drawing with the 3-D chalk I bought them earlier this year than I can find for Tinkertoys.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Here'sanother page that might prove useful. It has links on the sidebar to a variety of tinkertoy videos and ideas


http://www.ehow.com/way_5460146_tinker-toys-building-ideas.html

 

[PennLady]

Here'sanother page that might prove useful. It has links on the sidebar to a variety of tinkertoy videos and ideas

http://www.ehow.com/way_5460146_tinker-toys-building-ideas.html

Thanks. I will check it out.

They really have changed things with the sets. There's a number of smaller pieces they don't make anymore, so you have to adjust if you have the old instructions.

I forgot to mention my son is seven -- and is just one of those kids who likes instructions for this. I can relate, though, as I prefer them as well for various things. I crochet (or well, I have and can), and I much prefer to follow patterns. I have made up my own stuff (I designed a squid!) but it's easier for me to follow a pattern and adjust if I need to.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Thanks. I will check it out.

They really have changed things with the sets. There's a number of smaller pieces they don't make anymore, so you have to adjust if you have the old instructions.

I forgot to mention my son is seven -- and is just one of those kids who likes instructions for this. I can relate, though, as I prefer them as well for various things. I crochet (or well, I have and can), and I much prefer to follow patterns. I have made up my own stuff (I designed a squid!) but it's easier for me to follow a pattern and adjust if I need to.

Just a thought. At that age he would probably find Legos far more satisfying.

 

[PennLady]

Just a thought. At that age he would probably find Legos far more satisfying.

We have Legos of various sizes, and Lincoln Logs. He prefers instructions. He also gets frustrated when what he's doing doesn't work out with the instructions. I can't win.

On the other hand, I have built a bridge, a train, part of a windmill, and a giraffe for my 3yo daughter. The son has retired to the computer to do spreadsheets.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

We have Legos of various sizes, and Lincoln Logs. He prefers instructions. He also gets frustrated when what he's doing doesn't work out with the instructions. I can't win.

On the other hand, I have built a bridge, a train, part of a windmill, and a giraffe for my 3yo daughter. The son has retired to the computer to do spreadsheets.

He'll make a good accountant some day.

 

[Handley_Page]

May I draw your attention to Meccano ?

http://www.meccano.com/

 

[sr71plt]

Don't you just insert stick A into hole B, just like . . . ?

 

[PennLady]

He'll make a good accountant some day.

He may at that. He's been doing spreadsheets for probably two years or thereabouts, and was burning his own CDs when he was six. Plus he has that negotiation ability inherent to so many young kids. So perhaps he'll be a lawyer.

May I draw your attention to Meccano ?

http://www.meccano.com/

Thanks, those look neat.

Don't you just insert stick A into hole B, just like . . . ?

Oh, come now, sr. He's seven. And really, it's more a group thing because there are many sticks and many pieces with many holes...

 

[mynameisben]

And really, it's more a group thing because there are many sticks and many pieces with many holes...

Now, you're just deliberately trying to make us all horny.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, come now, sr. He's seven. And really, it's more a group thing because there are many sticks and many pieces with many holes...

And that stops him from inserting stick A into hole B how? I agree with Tio_N., though. I think the point of Tinkertoys is/was for the kid to figure it out himself and be creative with them.

 

[PennLady]

And that stops him from inserting stick A into hole B how? I agree with Tio_N., though. I think the point of Tinkertoys is/was for the kid to figure it out himself and be creative with them.

I agree, as I did with Tio earlier. However, my boy doesn't work that way, at least not yet, and he'd prefer some guides. I can relate, as I said; I'm not the type of person who can look at a bunch of Tinkertoys (or whatever) and say, hey, I'll make [this]. We do have some guides but they're from older, or new but different, sets.

I don't think I can force the kid to be creative that way. And all that stuff I built was based on pictures I found.

 

[PennLady]

Now, you're just deliberately trying to make us all horny.

I just take the opportunity when it presents itself.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I agree, as I did with Tio earlier. However, my boy doesn't work that way, at least not yet, and he'd prefer some guides. I can relate, as I said; I'm not the type of person who can look at a bunch of Tinkertoys (or whatever) and say, hey, I'll make [this]. We do have some guides but they're from older, or new but different, sets.

I don't think I can force the kid to be creative that way. And all that stuff I built was based on pictures I found.

That's a big part of the creativity - figuring out how to turn the Tinkertoy into something like the picture. Encourage it!

 

[Weird Harold]

I don't think I can force the kid to be creative that way. And all that stuff I built was based on pictures I found.

Have you tried asking him to write instructions for something he (or you) has buillt? If you have such trouble finding instructions, perhaps you can interest him in helping others with the same problem?

 

[PennLady]

That's a big part of the creativity - figuring out how to turn the Tinkertoy into something like the picture. Encourage it!

Well that's what he wants, and I do, but honestly, the pictures aren't always a lot of help. You only get one pic of one angle, and the creations they show are often somewhat complicated.

Plus, if you're looking at the old instructions, you don't even have the same pieces. They used to make small, 1'5" or so orange pieces -- no more. Or little orange torpedo-shaped pieces -- no more. And the green ones used to be the longest, but now the orange ones are. I try to make substitutions but they just don't always work.

See, yesterday, we had the Lincoln logs out, and some of the stuff actually has step-by-step illustrations, much like Legos. Can't find the same for Tinkertoys.

 

[PennLady]

Just had to add that my son is making a spreadsheet showing MLB teams with their minor league affiliates (at all levels, I think). He's set it to filter on the teams.

I'd also like to repeat, he's seven.

 

[TE999]

Just had to add that my son is making a spreadsheet showing MLB teams with their minor league affiliates (at all levels, I think). He's set it to filter on the teams.

I'd also like to repeat, he's seven.

Methinks he may be ready for an Erector Set. They are really cool. Here's a set for ages 8+ http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/6770/txt/Special_Edition_Erector_Set

 

[PennLady]

Methinks he may be ready for an Erector Set. They are really cool. Here's a set for ages 8+ http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/6770/txt/Special_Edition_Erector_Set

Thanks. I'll file that away as a Christmas possibility.