Rock around the clockwork – making Fisher-Price metal

With Father’s Day approaching, you may be desperately looking for something to give or receive that doesn’t have anything to do with Rock Of Ages, or in my case the latest edition of someone’s A-Z of Rock History. Do not want.

So may I suggest a Fisher-Price clockwork record player?

If you’re… a certain age… you’ll recall the chunky plastic wind-up box and its cute little chunky plastic records.

You stuck one on and the raised notches on its surface triggered chimes inside the clockwork deck. Just like a real record player only chunkier, chimier, and, well, rubbisher.

Choices of song included Humpty Dumpty, Three Blind Mice and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, plus probably Lady Gaga because she seems to get everywhere doesn’t she.

But the old toy just went metal.

Here’s one playing Stairway to Heaven and the Star Wars theme – and if that’s got you halfway to eBay already, find out how to make your own records.