Consumer Time Capsule

Here’s a McDonald’s translite sign promoting the FIRST NATIONAL HAPPY MEAL, the “Circus Wagon!” These four food-based characters were heavily featured during the early years of the Happy Meal before being phased out. (1979)

TONIGHT at 9PM ET, I’ll be hosting a CTC 8th anniversary IG Live stream… a review of Perfy sodas, a preview of my latest McDonald’s buying trip haul, announcements, Q&A and much more. Follow along: consumertc

Here's a McDonald's in Weymouth, MA that's absolutely loaded with McDonaldland playground equipment. Let's go back. (1981)

Oh man. Now you’ve got me fired up about this thing too!

MINUTE MAID going through an x-treme phase was a particularly unexpected part of life in the mid-90s

Thread: A selection of Happy Meal toys through the 1980s...

Star Trek Happy Meal, 1980

Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers Gadgetmobiles Happy Meal, 1989

Mac Tonight Travel Toys Happy Meal, 1988

Real Ghostbusters Happy Meal, 1987

Glo-Trons Spaceship Happy Meal, 1986

ET Happy Meal, 1985

Popoids Happy Meal, 1984

Ship Shape Happy Meal, 1983

McDonaldland Express Happy Meal, 1982

3D Happy Meal, 1981

Thread: A selection of Happy Meal toys through the 1980s...

Star Trek Happy Meal, 1980

A McDonald's cup filled with a thick, creamy, light yellow substance, in front of a rainforest background. Above it is a wooden arrow sign pointing to the right, with the image of an elephant and the phrase "Watch out for those treeeats" carved into it

McDonald's Tropical Fruit Shake (1997-1997): A cold, creamy, blended "tropical fruit-flavored" treat, part of a promotional menu for "George of the Jungle". Seen here in a fantastic image from the incomparable archives of @consumertc.bsky.social !

Today is the EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY of Consumer Time Capsule! Crazy how fast time has flown and how far the collection has come. Thanks for all of your support! Now time to hit the Officer Big Mac cell for a proper celebration...

No, but I kinda wish I did.

You could really class up you next big business meeting with this vintage McDonald's brandy decanter (1980)

Here's a McDonald's "sports watch" from their catalog in 1983. In related news, I need one desperately.

The ran the promotion a few times - this was the first set.

McDonald's could have just released some "Disney Masterpiece" Happy Meal figures and called it a day, but they went the extra mile by putting each doll in a TINY VHS BOX! (1996)

You'd certainly have to - if you found a vintage burgerlier in working condition, it would be conservatively $5K+.

If you want to really class up your place, let me recommend the BURGERLIER (...yes, that's the official name in the McDonald's/SetMakers catalog) (1980)

GATORGUM was one of the best lines of gum ever. After all, who wouldn’t want to chew their Gatorade?

Picked up a new friend on my weekend trip!

In 1998, McDonald’s released one of their greatest Happy Meal sets: MCSPACE! The four toys each featured a McDonaldland character in part of the craft and the four pieces could assemble into a spaceship. Unfortunately, they were only released in the UK and a few other foreign markets.

Not remotely close - 8 in 83, 6 in 84 and 11 in 85

In 1996, McDonald's drove collectors insane by releasing a 101 Dalmatians Happy Meal toy set with ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DIFFERENT TOYS