April 20, 2024

TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Loud Toys

Bring on da Noise!

Thunder Tube by REMO

Remo makes a number of Big-Spring Drums and Thunder Tubes that emit a wide variety of sounds when shaken and played by cupping one hand over the opening. Scraping or tapping the spring produces more sounds. This Thunder Tube model measures 7” x 2.5” and produces many great combinations of mysterious, deep sounds with terrific rhythmic capabilities. It’s a versatile and very playable instrument.
— Matt Hannifin, owner of Science Toy Magic in Santa Fe, N.M., demonstrated it over the phone: “Loud, isn’t it?” They sell very well for him.
— Big Remo Thunder Tubes are rated a “Terrific Toy” by Intelligent Outfitters of Rehoboth Beach, Del.
— Played and used by many professional percussionists, its design was inspired by Indian jazz drummer Trilok Gurtu. 1/30/2006 (MSRP: $15.00; Age: 6 and Up)

Bop-It Extreme by HASBRO INC.

This version of the original Bop-It features two additional tasks for a total of five, and has more sounds as well.
— “They sell as well as ever,” explained Mary Miller, owner of Miller’s Toys in Los Angeles. “But after awhile, I pity the poor parents. Some kids can go hours on these things.
— “With Bop-It and Bop-It Extreme, many kids love the physical nature of the game play, while others enjoy the challenge involved in concentration and beating the best score,” said Wanda Sanchez-Miller, Hasbro’s senior marketing manager in the tween category.
— This game was a featured best seller on Wal-mart.com in 2005. 4/29/2005 (MSRP: $24.99; Age: 8 to 12)

Furby by TIGER ELECTRONICS

Furby, one of the best-selling toys ever with 40 million pieces sold globally, came back with a vengeance. Driven by new emototronics, a combination of advanced robotic technology, puppetry and realistic lifelike reactions and movements, this Furby features a wide range of emotions and motions, advanced voice recognition, enhanced communication between kids and other Furby toys, and an impressive "bilingual" vocabulary of "Furbish" and English.
— “They don’t stop talking,” commented Monica Sanders, manager of the K.B. Toys in Destin, Fla. “If more than three are going at once, I just have to grin and bear it.”
— “Cleared out. Not a one left,” said Dan Starkey, manager of Toy Experience in Orlando, Fla.
— “Sold out,” reported Aroon Raj, owner of If City in Ontario, Calif. 2/25/2005 (MSRP: $24.99; Age: 6 and Up)

Sprite Bomb/BB Bombs by BIZARREFUN

Every time a Sprite Bomb hits the ground (or any other hard surface), it bursts into a mini light show of sparkles with a very satisfying "Pop!" It’s the joy of a cap gun without the mess and safety issues. It comes with 10 pieces per card.
— It’s listed as a top seller on BizzareFun.com.
— “They’re like mini-firecrackers without the fire,” stated Franz Hilderbrand, co-owner of Random Chaos, a novelty store in Los Angeles. “Parents don’t have to worry about them."
— They are special featured at sillyasstoys.com. 1/30/2006 (MSRP: $1.99; Age: 10 and Up)

The Nitro TC3 Plus RTR by ASSOCIATED ELECTRICS INC.

This nitro-methane-powered radio-controlled speedster has taken the incredibly popular Nitro TC3 RTR and upgraded it with a more powerful .15-size engine, Sure Shift 2-speed tranny and revised rear suspension. They’ve made a few cosmetic changes as well. Like its predecessor, the Nitro TC3 Plus can be upgraded with any of the hundreds of Associated Factory Team parts, making it an ideal starting point for the new nitro sedan racer to grow into.
— Mick Szydlowski, franchise business advisor for Hobbytown USA in Lincoln, Neb., said these things are extremely loud: “With 35 to 40 thousand rpm’s, they sound like a Weedwacker times 10.”
— Donald Reford, a hobbiest from Portland, Ore., has bought 17 different nitro cars. “They’re addictive. Nothing else goes as fast, or roars as loud.”
— Nitro RC cars have been the fastest-growing RC category for the past two years. 1/30/2006 (MSRP: $319.99; Age: 10 and Up)

Voice Changer Toy by SCHYLLING

Kids can use one of many push-button settings on this plastic megaphone to alter their voices in different ways. It comes in a variety of colors and requires a 9-volt battery, not included.
— Kevin Pohle, Head Wizard and Owner of The Wizard’s Chest in Denver, finds these to be good sellers, as well as loud.
— Lindsay Demyan, sales associate at White Rabbit Toys in Ann Arbor, Mich., said kids love picking this toy up and marching around her store changing their voices with it.
— “Voice changers are some of the loudest things we have,” explained John Jame, assistant manager at the Los Angeles Toys “R” Us. “They are the greatest for kids of all ages.” 8/23/2005 (MSRP: $14.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Band in a Box by MELISSA & DOUG

This 10-piece set of musical instruments (heavy on the percussion with maracas, a tambourine and a triangle) lets a child explore the wonders of sound, music, anthropology or just the fun of making some noise.
― Richard Gibson, owner of Learning Express of Newton, Mass., says his store sells about 6 or 7 of these sets per month.
— In summer 2008, Meredith Zellweger, owner of Toy Jungle in Manhattan Beach, Calif., touted this set as her “go-to musical toy.” Melanie Anderson of Daly City, Calif., said, “The kids have so much fun playing with them. They are real instruments, not plastic imitations that don´t sound quite right. This was a purchase I don´t regret.” 
— Three of 45 retailers cited Band in a Box when asked about best-selling musical toys in mid 2007, citing sales of between three and 10 units per month. Seven of 48 retailers named it as a musical best seller in January 2010. 8/31/2005 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Five-Tone Pipe by TOYSMITH

This 30" plastic tube will captivate children’s imaginations. Twirling the tube at different speeds produces up to five different resonant tones. It comes in assorted two-tone colors.
— Kevin Pohle, Head Wizard and Owner of The Wizard’s Chest in Denver, explained how kids liked them. “It makes different sounds — five of them — depending on how fast you spin it. They’re lots of fun.”
— “They’re good, inexpensive, noisy fun,” commented Diana Braddock, co-owner of Friendsville in Columbus, Ohio.
— It sells well at Pufferbelly Toys in Saint Helens, Ore. 1/30/2006 (MSRP: $1.50; Age: 3 and Up)

Sing and Learn Monkey by BABY EINSTEIN

This interactive plush puppet is also the host of the “Baby da Vinci From Head to Toe” video. Press his left foot and he sings the classic "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Press his right foot and he'll recite the names of familiar body parts. Parents can encourage babies to sing along by making the puppet´s mouth open and close, thereby controlling the speed of his singing. This toy won a Toy Tips “Tested and Trusted” Mark in 2005.
— “Puppets that sing and talk when you move their mouths are selling loudly,” said Kevin Pohle, Head Wizard and Owner of The Wizard’s Chest in Denver.
— A mom from Western North Carolina was captivated by her daughter’s reaction: “We got this little guy on Saturday and so far he hasn't left her side yet! She loves him so much that she will not let me go for anything or any reason. I have sung her ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ since she was just a couple of days old.”
— This toy won a Toy Tips “Tested and Trusted” Mark in 2005. ( Watch Video) 9/1/2005 (MSRP: $14.99; Age: 0 to 2)

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