Consumer Time Capsule
@consumertc.bsky.social
Vintage McDonald's Super-Collector
80s & 90s Food/Drink Nostalgia
***All images posted are from my own archives***
80s & 90s Food/Drink Nostalgia
***All images posted are from my own archives***
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Results of my final buying trip of 2025! A park regulations sign, Cookie dispenser, Grimace plaque, breakfast menu, TWO character windowpanes, Big Mac purse, translite signs, toys, a carousel Fry Guy plus much more. The perfect ending to a banner year for my McDonald's collection!
With my McDonald’s collection rapidly expanding, I’m taking down my long-running vintage Pringles and Christmas Crunch shelf display. Sometimes the key to collecting is about making the tough decisions.
February 11, 2026 at 1:36 AM
With my McDonald’s collection rapidly expanding, I’m taking down my long-running vintage Pringles and Christmas Crunch shelf display. Sometimes the key to collecting is about making the tough decisions.
Reposted by Consumer Time Capsule
My first McDonald's trip haul of 2026! A complete set of early 70s Alfred Gordon plaques, four rare Happy Meal translite signs, a 1971 Hawaiian shirt, a 1958 operations manual signed by Ray Kroc and a Ronald McDonald in-store sign with a VERY early depiction. What's your favorite from this batch?
February 10, 2026 at 1:42 AM
My first McDonald's trip haul of 2026! A complete set of early 70s Alfred Gordon plaques, four rare Happy Meal translite signs, a 1971 Hawaiian shirt, a 1958 operations manual signed by Ray Kroc and a Ronald McDonald in-store sign with a VERY early depiction. What's your favorite from this batch?
My first McDonald's trip haul of 2026! A complete set of early 70s Alfred Gordon plaques, four rare Happy Meal translite signs, a 1971 Hawaiian shirt, a 1958 operations manual signed by Ray Kroc and a Ronald McDonald in-store sign with a VERY early depiction. What's your favorite from this batch?
February 10, 2026 at 1:42 AM
My first McDonald's trip haul of 2026! A complete set of early 70s Alfred Gordon plaques, four rare Happy Meal translite signs, a 1971 Hawaiian shirt, a 1958 operations manual signed by Ray Kroc and a Ronald McDonald in-store sign with a VERY early depiction. What's your favorite from this batch?
The 1984 WHEN THE US WINS, YOU WIN promotion was an unexpectedly costly one for McDonald’s when the Soviet Union and 13 eastern bloc countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in LA and the US dominated in unprecedented fashion. 174 medals, 83 golds… that’s a lot of Big Macs!
February 9, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The 1984 WHEN THE US WINS, YOU WIN promotion was an unexpectedly costly one for McDonald’s when the Soviet Union and 13 eastern bloc countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in LA and the US dominated in unprecedented fashion. 174 medals, 83 golds… that’s a lot of Big Macs!
I'm boycotting the Super Bowl until we get the Bud Bowl back. Who's with me?
February 8, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I'm boycotting the Super Bowl until we get the Bud Bowl back. Who's with me?
Excited for two more weeks of Olympic curling, but things would be even better if I could swing by Mickey D's for a chicken parmesan sandwich (since it's clearly an Olympic-themed menu item...)
February 7, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Excited for two more weeks of Olympic curling, but things would be even better if I could swing by Mickey D's for a chicken parmesan sandwich (since it's clearly an Olympic-themed menu item...)
Major pickup yesterday: a McDonald’s operations manual from 1958, signed by Ray Kroc (just three years after he opened his first store). There are many copies without his signature (not to mention all of the reproductions), so acquiring this piece was really something special.
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Major pickup yesterday: a McDonald’s operations manual from 1958, signed by Ray Kroc (just three years after he opened his first store). There are many copies without his signature (not to mention all of the reproductions), so acquiring this piece was really something special.
Here’s the countertop display for 1989’s New Food Changeables, the second of (now) four sets of “Transformers” featuring McDonald’s menu items. This piece would have been most kids’ first impression of the toy line - an icon in the making.
February 5, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Here’s the countertop display for 1989’s New Food Changeables, the second of (now) four sets of “Transformers” featuring McDonald’s menu items. This piece would have been most kids’ first impression of the toy line - an icon in the making.
These McDonald's desk lamps might be the most elegant thing I've ever seen. Each piece was produced to order and cost upwards of $380 in 1986 - $1,100 in today's dollars.
February 4, 2026 at 1:48 PM
These McDonald's desk lamps might be the most elegant thing I've ever seen. Each piece was produced to order and cost upwards of $380 in 1986 - $1,100 in today's dollars.
Not sure if this McDonaldland character glass is a prototype or a bootleg, but the name “Big Mac Cop” is certainly making me lean towards bootleg. Still a fun piece.
February 3, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Not sure if this McDonaldland character glass is a prototype or a bootleg, but the name “Big Mac Cop” is certainly making me lean towards bootleg. Still a fun piece.
The original box of McDonaldland Cookies featured a rare appearance of the four-armed Evil Grimace. Less than a year later, Grimace lost his two arms and was removed from the next generation cookie box design.
February 2, 2026 at 4:12 PM
The original box of McDonaldland Cookies featured a rare appearance of the four-armed Evil Grimace. Less than a year later, Grimace lost his two arms and was removed from the next generation cookie box design.
Here's the McDonaldland costumes available for in-store appearances in the mid-70s. To purchase one, it ranged from $570 (Ronald) to $3,000 (Grimace), so many stores just rented them for special events.
February 1, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Here's the McDonaldland costumes available for in-store appearances in the mid-70s. To purchase one, it ranged from $570 (Ronald) to $3,000 (Grimace), so many stores just rented them for special events.
Happy Meal toys are so much better when they're mounted on a mini VHS tape box (Disney Video Favorites, 1998)
January 31, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Happy Meal toys are so much better when they're mounted on a mini VHS tape box (Disney Video Favorites, 1998)
I like my McNuggets to come in two varieties: Chicken and HOT DOG! (1991)
January 30, 2026 at 3:15 PM
I like my McNuggets to come in two varieties: Chicken and HOT DOG! (1991)
Here’s something you don’t see everyday: a sleeve for the McDonald’s MCLOBSTER Sandwich!
January 29, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Here’s something you don’t see everyday: a sleeve for the McDonald’s MCLOBSTER Sandwich!
The CHEDDAR MELT was one of the most unique burgers McDonald's has ever offered. The 1/3 lb patty was topped with grilled onions & cheddar cheese sauce and served on a rye bun. It came back at least six different times, making it one of their most frequent 80s/90s LTOs.
January 28, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The CHEDDAR MELT was one of the most unique burgers McDonald's has ever offered. The 1/3 lb patty was topped with grilled onions & cheddar cheese sauce and served on a rye bun. It came back at least six different times, making it one of their most frequent 80s/90s LTOs.
In 1998, McDonald’s Brazil released a Halloween McNugget Buddies set. The same character designs were used with glow-in-the-dark bodies in Australia at the same time, but the Brazilian versions are much, much rarer.
January 27, 2026 at 2:25 PM
In 1998, McDonald’s Brazil released a Halloween McNugget Buddies set. The same character designs were used with glow-in-the-dark bodies in Australia at the same time, but the Brazilian versions are much, much rarer.
Nine years ago today, I stood in line for three hours to get a bottle of Big Mac Sauce. The local news station did a story on it and gave me an all-timer of a lower-third nameplate.
January 27, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Nine years ago today, I stood in line for three hours to get a bottle of Big Mac Sauce. The local news station did a story on it and gave me an all-timer of a lower-third nameplate.
Ronald McDonald: Fashion Icon (1999)
January 26, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Ronald McDonald: Fashion Icon (1999)
Since everyone is freezing, let’s look back at 1998’s “Cold Days, Hot Deals” McDonald's promotion - you could get a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and pay just a penny for every degree of the prior day’s temperature.
January 25, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Since everyone is freezing, let’s look back at 1998’s “Cold Days, Hot Deals” McDonald's promotion - you could get a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and pay just a penny for every degree of the prior day’s temperature.
The Chicken McNuggets VALUE PACK: Because even the simplest meals taste better wedged in a superfluous cardboard box (1985)
January 24, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The Chicken McNuggets VALUE PACK: Because even the simplest meals taste better wedged in a superfluous cardboard box (1985)
While many consider Changeables to be a rip-off of Transformers, McDonald's did test a licensed Transformers Happy Meal in St. Louis in 1985. The feedback was extremely poor, mostly because the toys didn't transform at all... it was just pieces of plastic glued together.
January 23, 2026 at 2:46 PM
While many consider Changeables to be a rip-off of Transformers, McDonald's did test a licensed Transformers Happy Meal in St. Louis in 1985. The feedback was extremely poor, mostly because the toys didn't transform at all... it was just pieces of plastic glued together.
Since everyone is excited about the return of CHANGEABLES next week, I'll share something that has never been seen publicly. In 1991, one of the Happy Meal toys considered was a transforming MCDONALD'S PIZZA BOX! This would have been insanely cool! (original concept art)
January 22, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Since everyone is excited about the return of CHANGEABLES next week, I'll share something that has never been seen publicly. In 1991, one of the Happy Meal toys considered was a transforming MCDONALD'S PIZZA BOX! This would have been insanely cool! (original concept art)
It looks like on Tuesday, McDonald's is releasing its first set of CHANGEABLES in 35 years! This is not an "adult" promo, it's SIXTEEN toys available in regular 'ol Happy Meals, so a new generation of kids can appreciate a transforming menu of McDonald's food/drink packaging! (1991 set pictured)
January 21, 2026 at 4:45 PM
It looks like on Tuesday, McDonald's is releasing its first set of CHANGEABLES in 35 years! This is not an "adult" promo, it's SIXTEEN toys available in regular 'ol Happy Meals, so a new generation of kids can appreciate a transforming menu of McDonald's food/drink packaging! (1991 set pictured)
The Big Mac brass belt buckle... a perfect accessory to complement your Big Mac hat! (1975)
January 20, 2026 at 2:29 PM
The Big Mac brass belt buckle... a perfect accessory to complement your Big Mac hat! (1975)