Cascade by Matchbox/Lesney

Grab the Kleenex! A bittersweet story of Cascade loss and redemption from a Cascader in Germany.



My Cascade story: It all began many years ago. I don't know exactly how many years, but more than 20 for sure. There was this battery-operated toy called "Cascade" in Hamburg's most famous toy store, and little Johnny stood there staring most amazed at the bouncing balls. The prize was about 30 German Marks and therefore exeeded Johnny's allowance by far. So owning this mechanical wonder had to stay a dream. This also had to do with my parents, who clearly stated this game was rubbish, non-educative, noisy and would surely not find it's way under this families christmas tree. Sad Johnny.

Some months later, christmas was over and the parents were right with proposing a Cascade-free area, I went to town again and there it was: Cascade, reduced in price, for IIRC 15 DM. That was about all money I had saved, so I thought of buying it. I don't know any more why I didn't, but it surely was one of the heaviest mistakes I ever made. From this moment ever on for more than 20 years, I regularly thought of this game. I grew up, got something people call adult, but I was an adult thinking of a children's game. (No, wait, wasn't it "fun for the whole family?") I searched uncounted flea markets and told everyone I knew visiting them to look for Cascade. They did, I did, but no Cascade was ever sighted. Working at University, I started to search the www for Cascade. No results. No wonder: I thought that it was manufactured by Mattel, and searching for "Cascade" alone brought too many results.

Then ebay started in Germany. At www.ebay.de I started looking around for funny stuff, when I again thought of Cascade. Some results, but not the game. Some weeks later I tried again, finding "Matchbox Cascade - ball game from the seventies". My heart missed one or two beats. To make it short, I got it for 10 DM plus postage. It was said to be dirty but complete, with one peace broken off butt still there. It was not complete at all: The mat was missing, so was the spring and the driving belt. There were only eight balls left which were not in good condition either - nearly black and rough, providing more friction than useful.

So first of all I cleaned every peace of the ill-treated game, which involved taking the tower completely apart. I glued the broken part on again, made a spare spring using one of a ballpen, took a rubber band as driving belt and took the motor apart, cleaning and lubricating it. I sanded the corrosion off the contacts to provide the motor with full oneandahalf Volts, afterwards trying the game. What disappointment: The drums were too weak after 20 years. After fixing this problem by shoving cable between the plastics and the rubber, the game is working properly, filled with up to 50 new ball bearing balls. The optimal number is 40 in my opinion, providing a steady stream of balls all the time. Be sure to get some spare balls exactly 11 mm in diameter. 11.5 mm is too wide already - balls get stuck in the tray. The original point-counting device should be replaced by a plain plastic sheet to ensure that all balls can find there way back to the screw. I have fun every time I use it (which is often). One trauma less in my sick brain.

Note: Cascade in other peoples eyes Every single person I *told* about Cascade calles me nuts (including my wife). Every single person *seeing* Cascade was fascinated and had a good laugh. Persons told about Cascade and persons seeing Cascade were identical.

One more *very* important (piece of) information: Matchbox cheated! The picture on the box is showing at least 16 balls while only 10 balls originally came with the game. What a shame!

Editors note: 16 = 6+6+6 (666 is the mark of the beast) with a margin of error of + or - 2, the conspiracy continues! Thanks for the story! Keep'em coming!

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