That plastic knobby timeless wonder, the Etch a Sketch, debuted in 1960 to excited kids and jealous parents everywhere. If you didn't have one as a child (or at least fight your cousin to use his while you were sleeping over), then I certainly hope you've indulged yourself as an adult (or at least co-opted your kid's during nap time).
It was originally created by a French inventor who had trouble selling the product but eventually turned it over to a manufacturer who continues to produce the toy. Although it has been around since Kennedy took office, I hesitate to refer to it as "retro." This toy that looks basic on the inside but is packed full of techno coolness is still one of the best toys around.
I never cared about the technology as a child while I was busy trying to dot the i in my name with a sharp-pointed heart, or during those long seat-beltless hours on family road trips. However, in the ever-amplifying geekdom of my thirties, I am pretty fascinated by its complex powder and pulley system insides. Not fascinated enough to crack open my son's Etch a Sketch on the dining room table and peek at its workings myself, but fascinated enough to snag it out of his sticky little soy butter hands and give it a turn or two just for old time's sake.
