So, you've had your eye on the latest Barbie doll, or perhaps the newest, shiniest Transformer, so where do you keep all those carefully counted pennies safe? Kids never had there own bank accounts, so in order to keep the thiefs (ie, brothers and sisters) at bay, they used to have to resort to rather more underhand tactics. So, thank you Tonka Toys for Finders Keypers!
Modelled on various animals, Finders Keypers were marketed in the 80s as part toy, part treasure chest - and something every little princess needed in her life! There were snails, kangaroos, swans and more, and each came with its own plastic key so you could store your valuables (read: fuzzy stickers, Gold Rush Bubble Gum, and as many friendship bracelets you could stuff inside). This secret compartment was hidden in their bellies, cleverly concealed by cutesy, coloured decoration and combable hair that made Finders Keypers far too innocent-looking to have any secrets of their own.
The original series of Keypers comprised six different characters, and was followed up by a more advanced second series, sporting glittery eyes and long, colourful hair. Some even glowed in the dark, like Glo Friends toys! New characters came with accessories and included bears, cats, squirrels, rabbits, dogs and ponies. Given the success of the Keypers toys, it's hardly surprising that the 80s also brought a cartoon with it.
Even younger children were catered for, when Tonka Toys released Baby Keypers (shown in the photo), which came with a snappable inner compartment rather than a lockable one. Small keys and small mouths don't go well together, after all. But everyone has something to hide...
Do You Remember Keypers?
Do You Remember Keypers?
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Anonymous
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i remember my sister haveing a purple snail keyper! im pretty sure it also came with a little pet which you would squeeze and it would open from an already made plit in the top... girls were always so happy and felt so safe knowing that their treasured possessions were locked away in a plastic snail shaped safe type thing! what they didnt know was that they were actually really easy to break into!
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Anonymous
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In addition to Princess, I also have the Diamond Pony Keyper. She is Princess' best friend, and Pearl, the Baby Snail, gets along with both of them. Perkins, Princess' Finder, is also a buddy to the Diamond Pony, and the Baby Keypers that I have. I could talk about Keypers all day, but I should let someone else share a memory. Princess, Diamond, Pearl, and the other baby Keyper get along well, and are all friends of Perkins. These are my children, and I love them.
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Anonymous
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My sister went on Ebay about a year and a half ago, and she found the complete Princess Keyper. Has her Finder (to protect her), her crown, scarf, key, keychain. brush... plus her hair is prettier than the other one. I gave the other Keyper to my teacher, and she says she LOVES it. Thanks to the Internet, and Ebay, many young ladies my age(or their older sisters), can shop around to find Keypers that they had as girls. My Princess Keyper is NOT leaving my house, for fear of it being stolen, and that will not happen again. Tonight, I am treating Princess to a hair treatment. I have curlers for her hair, she is much prettier than the one when I had as a girl. Plus, I thank my sister for searching for her on Ebay. My Swan is NOT for sale... sorry. But, I do wish young girls my age luck in finding the Keyper(s) of their childhoods.
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Anonymous
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"Keypers, Keypers, What's inside those keypers!" I had the swan. It can combable hair and was very unswanlike, but they were brill!
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Anonymous
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Oops, I meant the ladybird with balloons on, not the turtle.
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Anonymous
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I remember Keypers so well. My best friend had the orange turtle, and I wanted one SO MUCH. Well, at that time we were poor cos my parents were divorcing, and I never got one. I finally found the blue turtle one day at a sale, and I believe I also have the pink snail, and a couple of baby ones. As Mary said, I'm keeping my Keypers ;)
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Anonymous
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Yes...Keypers. What happy childhood memories!!! I still have Princess and Baby Snail. They are happily safe , secure, and toasty warm at home in my room. And, they are not leaving the house unless I'm there to escort them. They are my children, I am their mother, and I love them very much. Princess and Pearl (Baby Snail's name) are the best of friends, play all day, and are so good. They are the joy of childhood, and I love them.
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Anonymous
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Hello. I should give a full description of my Keypers. My Baby Snail is a Keyper, with a back that I squeeze open. Not a Keyper that I open with a key. She has short, red hair, and non-glittery red eyes. She is pink, and has red and white decorations, on both sides of her snail shell, with a big, red decoration circle,swirling upwards towards the middle, on either side of her shell. Princess is a Keyper, with a purple beak, long pink and purple hair. She is a white swan, with pink wings, with purple hearts, and little-bitty white hearts, on both of her wings. She has a heart-shaped keyhole, that the heart-shaped key fits into. She has purple, glittery eyes, and is beautiful. I don't have her Finder, but I don't care. I have Princess, and my Baby Snail, and I am happy. And this time, now that I'm older, no one is going to steal them from me. Good Luck on finding your Keypers.
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Anonymous
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Hello, it's Mary again. I also wanted to say that I also remember the Keypers commercials on the tv. I thank my older sister for finding the Baby Snail Keyper. She is soooo beautiful. My Princess Swan is beautiful, also. I can't remember what website I went on to find my Swan Keyper, but she came with all the accessories: Keyring, Pink Key, Purple Cape, and a Brush for my Princess and Baby Snail to share. Princess has purple, glittery eyes, and long pink and purple hair. These Keypers are mine, and are not for sale. Sorry. They are so beautiful, and, of course, I still hide things in them, and brush their hair. I will write often.Happy Hunting For Your Keypers, And I Wish You Good Luck.
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Anonymous
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I am 24 years old, soon to be 25, born on November 22, 1980. So, I am old enough to remember Keypers. I had the baby Snail, and the Adult Swan Princess Keyper. I lost the items as a child, long ago. My Princess Keyper was stolen from me by another kid in my class when I attended Public School. My dog ate my Baby Snail. Well, it took me over 10 years to get them back. I searched and searched to find Princess Swan, and...I FINALLY DID!!! And, she is MUCH prettier than the one I had when I was little. My older sister found the Baby Snail on the Computer. After all these years!! I am NOT letting them outta my sight. What fond memories.
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