Flea markets are packed with forgotten playthings, and some of the best finds are toys that would never pass modern safety tests. When you know what to look for, those risky relics and vintage bargains can turn into valuable collectibles, conversation pieces, or quick flips. Here are nine toys you should never pass up at flea markets, along with the history and stakes behind each one.

1) Lawn Darts

Lawn darts were an iconic backyard game that used heavy, metal-tipped javelins, and they now rank among the 10 dangerous toys of the ’70s that would never get approved today. The sharp points and weighted shafts created a real impalement risk whenever a throw went wild, which is exactly why surviving sets attract collectors who want a tangible reminder of how different safety standards once were. At a flea market table, original packaging, intact fins, and full sets can significantly increase what you can resell or display.

Because lawn darts were pulled from store shelves, they surface less often, and that scarcity is part of their appeal. You should still treat them as hazardous equipment, not playthings, especially if you have children at home. Many buyers seek them for nostalgic displays, retro game rooms, or historical collections that document how consumer protection evolved. Spotting a complete set tucked under a folding table can be a chance to own a notorious piece of toy history that most people only see in photos or videos.

2) Clackers

Clackers, sometimes called knockers or click-clacks, were simple toys made from a pair of hard acrylic balls on a string that kids swung so they smacked together. They earned a place among the 10 dangerous toys of the ’70s because the balls could shatter with explosive force, sending shards flying and causing serious lacerations. That mix of bright colors, rhythmic motion, and real injury risk is exactly what makes vintage sets such compelling flea market finds for collectors of risky retro toys.

When you see clackers in a bin of miscellaneous plastic, check for original cords, intact acrylic, and any tags or blister cards that mention details like Disc, Punch, See or similar branding quirks from that era. Cracks or cloudiness can lower value, but they also underline how brittle these toys became with age. For you as a buyer, the stakes are twofold, you are preserving a vivid slice of 1970s culture while also deciding how to store or display an object that was once pulled from circulation for safety reasons.

3) Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker

The Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker let kids pour liquid plastic into metal molds and bake them into rubbery bugs, a process that combined high heat and chemical fumes. It appears in lists of dangerous toys of the ’70s because the open-faced heating element and hot metal trays could cause severe burns. At flea markets, older versions with exposed coils, original molds, and bottles of “goo” are especially sought after, since later reissues toned down the hazards and changed the formula.

When you find a Thingmaker set, look for complete mold racks, instruction booklets, and any unused plastic compound, even if you never intend to plug it in. Collectors often pay more for kits that show the full experience of 1970s play, including the risky parts that would never pass a modern prototype review. For you, the broader trend is clear, toys that once treated kids like junior chemists or machinists are now historical artifacts, and flea markets are one of the few places where those full kits still surface.

4) Super Elastic Bubble Plastic

Super Elastic Bubble Plastic was a tube of goo that kids squeezed onto a straw, then inflated into large, flexible bubbles that floated like balloons. It is singled out among Toys That Would Be Banned Today Relive the era because the vapors from the plastic contained toxic, potentially carcinogenic ingredients that could irritate eyes and lungs. At a flea market, you are unlikely to find safe-to-use product, but empty or sealed tubes, especially with bright 1970s graphics, can still command attention from collectors.

Any time you see old bubble kits or plastic-inflating toys, treat them as display pieces, not something to hand to kids. The value lies in the packaging art, the branding, and the story of how a seemingly harmless bubble toy turned into a case study in chemical safety. For buyers and sellers, these items highlight how regulations around volatile compounds tightened, and they show why modern packaging now carries detailed warnings that were absent when these products first hit store shelves.

5) Johnny Reb Cannon

The Johnny Reb Cannon was a realistic Civil War artillery replica that fired wooden projectiles at high speeds across living rooms and backyards. It is listed among the dangerous toys of past decades because those projectiles could easily strike eyes or faces, turning playtime into a trip to the emergency room. At flea markets, the cannon’s detailed design, spring-loaded firing mechanism, and historical theme make it a standout piece for collectors of military toys and controversial memorabilia.

If you spot one, check whether the wheels roll, the firing lever works, and any original shells or accessories are still present. The Johnny Reb branding also raises questions about how children’s products once handled sensitive historical subjects, which can affect who wants to buy and display them today. For you as a shopper, that means weighing both monetary value and cultural context, since some collectors prize the cannon as a rare artifact while others see it as a problematic relic best kept in curated collections.

6) Gas-Powered Model Airplanes

Gas-powered model airplanes used small combustion engines and flammable fuel, letting kids control buzzing aircraft that could crash, leak, or ignite. They appear in retrospectives on how lethal lawn darts and similar toys were, which often compare the open fuel tanks and spinning propellers to modern, safer electric models. At flea markets, older planes with intact engines, original fuel cans, and detailed decals can be valuable to hobbyists who restore or display vintage aviation toys.

When you evaluate one, inspect the engine for corrosion, check the propeller, and look for any paperwork that mentions brands or model numbers, since those details matter to serious buyers. The broader trend is that many of these planes would never clear today’s safety reviews, yet they remain prized by enthusiasts who appreciate their engineering. For you, that creates an opportunity to pick up underpriced kits or airframes that others overlook, as long as you handle and store the fuel components with extreme care.

7) Chemistry Sets with Real Reagents

Vintage chemistry sets once shipped with real acids, bases, and reactive metals, inviting kids to perform experiments that could cause chemical burns or noxious fumes. They are grouped with other dangerous toys of the ’70s, ’80s, & ’90s because the glassware, open flames, and concentrated reagents would never pass current child-safety standards. At flea markets, complete sets with test tubes, burners, and labeled bottles are especially attractive to collectors of scientific memorabilia and educators who want to show how STEM outreach has changed.

Before you buy, check whether any containers are leaking or crystallized, and consider safely disposing of active chemicals while preserving the labels and hardware. Many modern kits rely on safe powders and color-change reactions, so older sets with real reagents tell a very different story about how children were once introduced to science. For you, the stakes involve both safety and ethics, you can preserve the educational history while making sure hazardous materials do not end up in the hands of unsupervised kids or unprepared sellers.

8) Vintage Board Games

Vintage board games are among the easiest flea market toys to overlook, yet they can be some of the most rewarding to grab. Reporting on Hudson Valley markets notes that you should not miss the deals at big flea markets, where tables often hide classic titles under piles of newer merchandise. For you, that can mean finding early editions of family staples, regional games that never went national, or licensed tie-ins that now appeal to both gamers and pop culture collectors.

When you scan a booth, open the box to confirm that boards, cards, and tokens are present, since completeness drives value. Look for distinctive artwork, out-of-print rules, or themes tied to now-defunct TV shows and sports teams. The broader trend is that board games age differently from plastic toys, cardboard can survive decades in closets, so flea markets become natural clearinghouses when families finally declutter. If you move quickly, you can turn a dusty box into a centerpiece for a game shelf or an online auction listing.

9) Assorted Plastic Figures

Assorted plastic figures, from knockoff superheroes to unbranded army men, often appear in bulk bins at low prices, yet they can hide rare sculpts and early production runs. In Fresno, flea market vendors have continued selling budget-friendly vintage lots even as threats of ICE raids sweep through Fresno’s flea markets, which one owner described as “fear mongering.” That tension shows how important these markets are for small sellers who rely on low-cost toys to attract families and collectors.

When you dig through a box of figures, check for maker’s marks on the feet or base, unusual color variants, and accessories like tiny weapons or capes that often go missing. Some buyers specialize in army builders for tabletop games, while others hunt for obscure lines that never reached big-box stores. For you, the stakes are both economic and cultural, by recognizing value in these overlooked toys, you support vendors facing outside pressure while rescuing pieces of everyday play history that might otherwise end up in the trash.