Classic Toys Shop

Basic Fun Pull a Tune Xylophone

First and most annoying is the string. There is a fine line between safety and stupid, they crossed over to stupid... Way too short.
Second, The 'original' pull toy of 20-30 years ago only played three notes when being pulled, but a) the tune worked no matter which way the toy was traveling, b) it introduced the neat engineering effect of lever action arms to make the sounds (at least I thought it was neat) c) and the ENTIRE tune is played in 1.5 feet of travel so when the tot gets into passing gear all you hear is one quick BRANG BRANG BRANG as they go across the floor.
Three, one of the teaching features for the original toy was the colors of the rainbow. Unfortunately the rainbow in this version includes an extra aguamarine color stuck in the middle... Should have put it at the end! Stick with ROYGBIV folks!
Four, the rivets holding the striking plates down. again you pass that safety -vs- stupidity line, the hammer has to be able to reach the plates to be able to make the sounds and the plates have to move freely in order to sound properly.
Five, the original had a color coded music sheet with it. 8 to 10 songs easily played by any age that can recognize colors. But now??? You get no song sheets because aparently there is so little quality assurance that the notes are not even always the same color! (The picture on the box is different from the shipped toy and a message warns that 'colors may vary') -- Five real flaws

I had a xylophone as a kid and loved it. The only complaint I have with this one is the cord on the little 'hammer' is a tad shorter than it needs to be. Maybe a safety thing? Otherwise it's great, and my 9 month old loves it! -- Almost like I had as a kid!

This toy is awesome! I especially loved the retro packaging. I remembered having this toy as a child, and when I searched before Christmas it was the only xylophone on the market that made its own noise just from dragging it on the ground. That was really important to me since my nephew is learning to crawl and walk! He loves making musical sounds on the xylophone, and it doesn't drive adults crazy as other noisy toys do. I'm really pleased with this purchase. -- Great toy for an interactive toddler

What's not to like about a Fisher Price traditional stand-by?

But after watching my grandson play and doing a little Do-Re-Mi myself, I discoverd two large flaws in the xylophone's design.....and I cannot believe that after all of these years, Fisher Price hasn't improved the design.

#1 The pull cord is too short to a) pull the toy if the toddler is walking; and b) to actually strike the top C (red) note.

#2 The plastic 'rivets' holding that same top C red note are so close together that the larger end of the striking rod cannot hit it properly to elicit a sound. One would have to turn the striker around, to the smaller end, to fit between the rivets holding the plate on to sound the note.

Otherwise, the toy seemed sturdy, was colorful, etc., etc.

-- Nice, but two flaws!