Ther used to be a children's toy, in the 50s, that was made of a heavy
guage cardboard tar paper, covered by a thin plastic sheet. A stylus
was used to write or draw on the plastic sheet, and the resulting
writing would appear as the thin plastic adhered to the tar paper.
Clearing or "erasing" was accoomplished by lifting the plastic sheet
(gently)from the tar paper as one would lift a sheet of paper from a writing
tablet.

If you've ever seen or remember using one of these as a child, you
know what I'm talking about.

My question is: Did this thing have a name? (Hint: it's not "Etch-a-sketch.")

Thanks (for the memory)

Henry Rosack

Hello esdur-ga!

I love that toy!! And I am one who longs for when days were simpler.
The toy you seek is called a ?Magic Slate!?

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Pictures of the Magic Slate
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Here are some pictures of Magic Slates:
http://images.google.com/images?q=magic%20slate&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&sa=N&tab=wi



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Purchasing a Magic Slate
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There are a variety of them available for purchase here:
http://www0.shopping.com/xGS-Magic_Slate~NS-1~linkin_id-3072552~r-1~CLT-INTR

I?m not sure what country you?re in, but in case it?s the UK, here?s another!
http://www.mulberrybush.co.uk/toy-store/detail-magic-slate.aspx

Here?s a site that allows you to buy multiple mini Magic Slates!
http://www.supercoolstuff.com/items/pencil/sbs725.htm



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A Little History of the Magic Slate
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The website ?Land of the Lost dot com? discusses the magic slate here
and mentions an original price of 59 cents!
?This is the Land of the Lost Magic Slate made by Whitman in 1975. 
I think we've all played with something like this at some point in our
lives. Pop out the plastic pen, draw on the sheet, have your nasty
sibling lift up the plastic before you're done and erase what you were
working on, sound familiar to anyone?
. . . 
With an original price of 59 cents, who could pass this up??
http://www.landofthelost.com/slate.htm



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Fun Ideas - Magic Slate
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Here is a website where people discuss their ideas. This person
suggests replacing white boards with magic slates!
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Magic_20Slate_20replaces_20White_20Board



I?ve very much enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. I love toys
like this! I?ve noticed that the general stores in front of Cracker
Barrel Restaurants tend to carry old-fashioned toys like this and I
always enjoy browsing that area. Thank you for your question! I?ve
really enjoyed it!

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga



Search Strategy:
Calling an educational toy store and asking about this wonderful toy

Search Terms:
Magic Slate

Oh, I had one of those too!!!!

I LOVED it!!!

Too bad that nowadays kids have all this technology that inhibits creativity.

Steph53

I've seen these recently at the Dollar Store. Next time I am there
I'll ask how much they sell for...

Cool trip down memory lane. Those were definitely part of my five and
dime store treats! I love computers and electronics but I cannot
imagine what growing up would be like nowdays.

So long as we are going down memory lane, the magic slate could not
compare to Wooly Willie.  The metal shavings that you arranged over a
face using a stick magnet to make hair and a beard.

Be sure to browse this site, hitting the "next" button to see more. :)
http://shop.crackerbarrel.com/online/shopping/Category.asp?cat%5Fid=4&mscssid=JK8QC8S2H6EP8HGCJDQJLCFAE74JDUAD

Bo,

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!