Sparking gimmick

You have no clue how difficult it was to take this photograph.

Some Transformers toys have had the ability to produce showers ofsparks,simulatingweaponsorhot exhaust.

These sparks are produced by a mechanism that, when activated, allows a spinning steel wheel to rub against a flint, similar to that contained in acigarette lighter.

Sparking mechanisms are notorious for wearing out after prolonged play, and for littering a toy's surface with burned-in crunchy bits, giving the spark-exit area a black-peppered appearance.

Though thisgimmickis cool and fun, it isn't one thatHasbroconsiders much any morefor use in toys,after a similar gimmick in Barbie dolls drew national attention forsetting children's underwear on fire(no, we didn't make that up). However, this gimmick returned many years later in the form of theAge of ExtinctionDino Sparkers.

Toys

The Transformers

• Monsterbots(1987)

The Monsterbots feature sparking gimmicks which launch sparks from their creature mouths (or chest, in the case ofDoublecross). The sparks are activated by pushing a button that in turn activates the flint wheel.

• Sparkabots(1988)
• Firecons(1988)
• Sparkdashes(1988)

The Sparkabot and Firecon molds (which, together, were reused as the Sparkdashes) feature a sparking gimmick activated by rolling them across a hard surface, with a rubber wheel turning the flint wheel.

Age of Extinction

• Dino Sparkers(2014)

These feature pull-back motors which activate a sparking mechanism.