This version of the Magna Doodle magnetic drawing toy was manufactured by View-Master Ideal Group, a subsidiary of Tyco Toys, and appeared in the 1990 Tyco Toys Catalog. Today, just as it was back then, Magna Doodle is a registered trademark of Pilot Pen Corporation of America.
History of the Magna Doodle
Invented in 1974 by engineers from Pilot Pen Corporation and Magna-Tel Inc., the Magna Doodle uses a stylus and a magnetic board to create images and text, and was intended to provide a 'dust free' chalkboard like experience for both children and adults.
It quickly gained popularity due to its mess-free design, and became a common feature in homes and schools worldwide. In the 1990s, the Magna Doodle gained pop culture fame when it appeared regularly on the TV show "Friends," hanging on the door in Chandler and Joey's apartment. Over the years, various versions have been released, including those with color screens, smaller travel-sized editions, and digital adaptations.
Today, Tyco Industries sadly no longer exists. But Magna Doodle lives on, and is manufactured under license by LaRose Industries, with the original inventor Pilot Corporation of America still holding the patent and trademark. It's good to know that some things, at least, never change.
If you'd like a modern Magna Doodle, made to the quality standards of the original inventors (Pilot Corporation of America), you can find them on eBay or Amazon.
How does the Magna Doodle work?
The Magna Doodle consists of a drawing screen filled with a thick, high contrast (usually white) liquid that has been specially prepared with tiny magnetic particles suspended within it. To maintain consistency across the whole length of the board, and to stop all the liquid moving to one side due to gravity, the liquid is broken up into small hexagonal sections by a plastic lattice. This screen is the middle layer, with a transparent plastic layer on the front, and opaque plastic layer on the back.
Under normal circumstances the thick white liquid will keep the magnetic particles hidden, and so nothing is visible on this 'screen'. The Magna Doodle's pen has a strong magnet embedded in its tip, and by dragging this over the top of the 'screen', it pulls the magnetic particles to the surface where they become visible.
The thickness of the mixture ensures the particles generally stay on top and visible.
The 'eraser' works the same way. When you slide the eraser across the screen, you are dragging a bar magnet across the back of the screen, which pulls the magnetic particles back within the liquid where you can't see them amongst the opaque white liquid.
Need more info on exactly how the Magna Doodle works?
If you'd like more detail on how the Magna Doodle works, along with photos of each component and details of the science and physics involved, check out How Magna Doodle Works | HowStuffWorks.
In Tyco's own words...
"The magic and creative possibilities that Magna Doodle® Magnetic Drawing Toy offers children are what have made this basic toy so popular over the years. Children marvel at how magically it works—without ink or crayons. Parents love it, too! Because Magna Doodle enables children to develop their creative and artistic talents without making a mess.
Made of strong, durable plastic, this popular drawing toy comes with an attached pen and two design tools. Plus Tyco has expanded the magic with Magna Doodle® Deluxe Set, Funtime Faces, Mickey’s Fun ’n Games, Spiral Art, and Animal Magnet Art Accessory. They can draw pictures, play games, write messages… and erase like magic… for playtime that never ends.
In eye-catching bright blue and cherry colors, this large 10½” x 8″ drawing screen has a built-in erase bar that clears the screen quickly and completely. An attached pen that fits perfectly in little hands and two design tools to create more shapes. Hang it on the wall for use as a memo board."
- 1990 Tyco Toys Catalog
apparently at the last minute.
Unique Technology
While you might not associate a simple toy such as the Magna Doodle with technology and materials, back when it was invented in 1974, and even in 1990 when this version was released, it seems there was some magic and mystery to this toy.
Our clue is on the back of the box in small print where it reads "Printed and assembled in the USA. Screen made in Hong Kong or Japan. Pen magnet Made in Japan".
So the bulk of the product - printed cardboard box, plastic shell and plastic pen were made in the USA, the important parts such as the magnetic screen were made in Hong Kong or Japan, and the tiny magnet at the tip of the pen was exclusively made in Japan. For this tiny component to be sourced so far away in Japan, a country with a long history in magnet and materials science suggests that this needed to be a magnet with special properties. Either an especially good ferrite magnet, or perhaps even a high powered rare earth magnet, though these did not become common place in consumer goods until the late 90s.
Magna Doodle Accessory Packs
Tyco also released several themed accessory kits to use with the Magna Doodle.
Here are all of those listed in the 1990 Tyco Catalog, along with the marketing description of each.
Magna Doodle Accessory Set
Mickey’s Fun ’N Games
Model: 4815
Trace Mickey Mouse, dress up Minnie, play dot-to-dot with Pluto and much more!
Includes 10 colorful two-sided activity sheets which fit the Magna Doodle® drawing toy screen and are reusable and interchangeable.
©Walt Disney Company
Magna Doodle Accessory Set
Spiral Art®
Model: 4816
This easy-to-use set enables children to create beautiful spiral designs, trace perfect shapes and draw lots of fun scenes.
Includes the spiral-making frame with 6 popular shapes that fit the Magna Doodle® drawing toy screen and a large and small spiral-making wheel with adjustable style controls to create countless designs.
Magna Doodle Accessory Set
Animal Magnet Art
Model: 4817
Children can draw any animal scene imaginable! Includes 4 easy-to-trace reusable backgrounds of a farm, zoo, wilderness, and circus, and 8 fun animal magnets of a lion, cow, horse, monkey, duck, bear, elephant, and seal.
Kids simply trace a background and then place animal magnets directly onto the Magna Doodle® screen.
Magna Doodle® Deluxe Set / Gift Set
Model: 4832
Draw and erase like magic and so much more with the Magna Doodle Gift Set your imagination will soar!
Includes a full-size Magna Doodle® Drawing Toy, spiral-making frame featuring 6 popular shapes and 2 spiral design wheels with adjustable style controls, a Peel ’n Stick Color Doodle sheet to add and remove characters and designs for greater play value.
Two 2-sided tracing sheets and 6 terrific magnet shapes kids just place to create.
Magna Doodle® Funtime® Faces Accessory Set
Model: 4831
Make a face! Make it happy, sad, silly, or mad with 4 easy-to-trace faces and 8 fun feature magnets to place.
Kids can trace faces then fill in with magnets to make a dog, cat, boy, or girl or combine animal faces with human features to make all kinds of crazy faces.
Includes 4 easy-to-trace faces on 2 double-sided tracing sheets to use over and over again and 8 feature magnets with different eyes, noses, and mouths.
Sesame Street® Draw ’N Learn™
Model: 4823
Learn about numbers and letters, play with all the Sesame Street® friends and much more!
Includes 10 two-sided activity sheets that are reusable and interchangeable with more than 20 fun and educational activities.
©Children’s Television Workshop
Draw In Learn Magna Doodle® Accessory Set Assortment
Model: 4818
All 5 Magna Doodle® Accessory Sets (item Nos. 4815, 4816, 4817. 4823 and 4831) are available in an assortment too!