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World Service,2 mins

The secret capabilities of Barbie’s toy typewriters

Boston Calling

Available for over a year

In the 90s, a Slovenian toy company designed a line of children’s toy typewriters with the ability to write secret messages. The company licensed the toy to the American company Mattel, the maker of Barbie. Mattel slathered the typewriter in pink but didn’t advertise its ability to encrypt messages. That’s because they didn’t think little girls would care. Debbie Sterling, the founder of a toy company called Goldieblox, says that things in the toy industry aren’t too different today. (Image: A wall of Barbie dolls in the Mattel display at the annual Toy Fair, February 14, 2010 in New York. Credit: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

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