Posted on 12/22/2004 9:12:35 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Toy Maker Equips Toy Train with Condom
1 hour, 39 minutes ago Oddly Enough - Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A 145-year-old German maker of toy trains is giving its adult customers a chance to have a one-track mind.
The miniature train company Marklin is packing a condom alongside a blue freight car emblazoned with the name of Blausiegel, a German condom maker.
Marklin, a Goppingen, Germany-based company that was the first to introduce toy track with its train sets in 1891, produces trains that often carry the names of real companies to emulate actual rail cars. Collectors' editions with less Freudian implications have been sold along with liquor advertised on the cars.
The toy freight car, which comes packaged with a "Billy Boy" condom is available in HO scale, or 1/87th of the actual size of a freight train, just under 4 inches long, and Z scale, which is 1/220th of the size of a real train.
Ralph Israel, partner of Manhattan Train & Hobby store in New York, said he sold two of the models, both to men, the first day they were put in the glass cases in his hobby shop. They are not being marketed to appear under the Christmas tree as gifts for children.
The toy train and the condom, which retail for $35, are packaged in a sleek brushed-metal container the size of a cigar box. The packaging offers no instructions on running the miniature train but does have illustrated instructions on using the condom.
Does it unwrap when the train goes through the tunnel?
Somebody, somewhere in the Marketing department actually had to think that this was a good idea.
I got a million of 'em. None of 'em are good, but I got a million.
Yes, and immediately after leaving the tunnel, it's followed by the cigarette car...
Ha-cha-cha!
Sheeesh! There are nuts the world over (no pun intended)
Some people are just plain sick. No class. No manners. No taste. No respect.
Toy trains are for kids or has everything changed since the end of my Lionel railroading days? I guess the message here is, "Look, kid, here's a condom - if you're Daddy had gotten this years ago, you wouldn't be here!"
...heh, heh, heh...
Im sure you still play with "Z Scale" don't you? Try moving up to "G Scale" and you will notice the difference.
Adults make whoopee, responsible males put on raincoats. The toymaker obviously thinks that this is a cute idea and will make some sales from it. I don't see any problem with this, but it probably offends the prudish and squeamish who, tacitly, question the Almighty's motives to give us humans free will.
Can't say that line didn't put a smile on my face...
Of course, the dinner car should come before the other two.
Plug and play on the "TROJAN" Express.
I resemble that remark.
Quick, what moive is that from?
The toy train industry has expanded. There are a lot of adult enthusiasts, and HO is generally consider one the adult gauges (much bigger than your Lionel days).
No, the bar car first. Then the condom car. Then the car that only she goes into that separates from the rest of the train and takes her home. I believe that would be the "walk of shame" car. Not to be crass.
Keep it away from the caboose...
Office Space.
Tin Foil Alert. These condoms have been made porous, on purpose. This is a conspiracy by the German government to increase the birthrate in the country.
Aaaah, that is so...special. And just in time for Christmas! Imagine the 'joy'! Those wacky Germans...
Well, of course, if a 'HO' is involved, you'd certainly want the condom.
Oh yeah, that did it. You just dragged this whole thread into the gutter. =)
Maybe our locomotive Romeo needs a little help. Is there a Viagra car? It should be easy to spot, it's longer than the rest of them. Yuk yuk...
I live about 5 miles from the Lionel factory. I should stop in and show them this great idea to increase sales.
Not bad, my young friend. Good call. I don't know why I think no one on this forum watches movies like that. I am proven wrong every time.
(She rates a 2 at 10pm, and then rates a 10 at 2am. But you knew that I am sure).
Shouldn't this thread be more of a Friday thread? And to all the FReeper ladies out there, we are not talking about you, of course.
Aside from the accidental reference of the gauge name, larger gauges need more power to make the train move, which requires more adult supervision, if a kid sticks his hand on a standard Lionel track while it's live it'll hurt a bit but he probably wont get killed, as you move up in the gauges that prospect gets a little dicier. My favorites, and what I want to setup one of these days, are the backyard tracks, those cars run about the size of a hardback, not sure if they have live tracks though or power the engine directly, really cool look though. When you move up into the larger gauges it really becomes an excuse for small scale carpentry, model towns built from scratch is the primary focus, not really a kids toy anymore.
It's 2:30 AM Thursday morning during Christmas break where I am. How much lower can we get?
So you must be in the Tokyo area, no? Oh, what I would do for some sake right now. Cold or hot. Good stuff. But I have to go to work. Have some for me.
:)
That's funny... It gets larger in HO scale?
Must be the "Short Line"...
If you build it, they will come.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.