Violet Crown Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 The high-schoolers-and-the-marble-run thread reminded me that dd15's old set was pretty destroyed, and it would be nice to have a new one. Any recommendations? It would be for an 8yo and 3yo to use together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I wondered the same thing. We had a Haba one years ago but it got lost/separated in moves. I like the looks of Quadrilla ones but it seems they are out of stock everywhere and possibly discontinued. I will be watching this thread as my almost 4 year old ds desperately wants a new set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Make one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We are enjoying the Discovery Toys marbleworks currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I saw someone else recommend the Discovery one - where did you get it? Or do you at least have a link for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We love our Quadrilla. I did a quick Google, it looks like the company was bought by Manhattan Toy (who also recently bought Automoblox). Here's their website. Amazon has some pieces still, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I agree with Library Lover. Let your children make their own. They could use toilet paper and paper towel cardboard inserts or whatever else they can find and tape. In second grade my youngest used cereal boxes to make one of those large funnels you put a penny in until it rolls down and plops into a hole. (This was for a project at his public school. LOL.) I thought it was pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I love the idea of making our own! I am going to try that. Fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We have the Discovery toys one that my kids modify with cardboard tubes etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I love the idea of making our own! I am going to try that. Fun. Definitely give it a try. We kept bags of stuff that our kids could dump out and make into things. Later we moved them on to IKEA projects, the pinnacle of DIY projects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We have used this with great pleasure: http://www.amazon.com/Quercetti-Super-Marble-Vortis-Pieces/dp/B0000A1ZF7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297358280&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I saw someone else recommend the Discovery one - where did you get it? Or do you at least have a link for it? I got ours off of Craigslist. (Both the Castle Marbleworks we had before and the Marbleworks we have now) I have been very blessed I think. Usually you buy from their website/a Discovery toys consultant. http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?PURCHASE_STATE=STANDARD&product_id=3875 It says for 5 and up but our 3 year old got it for Christmas and is enjoying it. I'm sure it will expand his enjoyment as he gets older and better at putting it together himself. But he was outgrowing the Castle marbleworks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Thanks for all the useful replies! I think I'll follow some combination of (a) glance over Craigslist; (b) get some duct tape (and start saving tubes and boxes); and © put some Amazon items on the Wishlist for the generous grandparents to consider. Y'all are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbobeara Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We do not own a marble run either, so I also have a question... I saw something like THIS while Christmas shopping and was interested in it. Wooden vs. plastic marble run, which is better? I like that wooden blocks wouldn't break if stepped on, but there wouldn't be any twisties or curves either, and really I guess a child would be mesmerized by those curves as a marble speeds along. Does anyone have an opinion if you've seen both types 'in action?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 we have a Discovery Toys one too...and we LOVE it. The pieces are made of a hard plastic and they stay together very well. I would recommend it. We have played with other ones, they are flimsy and fall apart...don't go cheap...I am sure there are some other more expensive ones that are good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We have a Quadrilla. It is really neat to play with, complex designs are fun and fascinating to build, but a bit hard for young hands. It isn't something that the kids just pull out and play with throughout the day. DD4's therapist has one of the plastic ones and it seems a bit more kid friendly for the younger group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachmejoy Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 This looks so neat! I never even heard of a marble run, but I think my ds would LOVE to play with this! I'm going to have to check into getting him one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We do not own a marble run either, so I also have a question... I saw something like THIS while Christmas shopping and was interested in it. Wooden vs. plastic marble run, which is better? I like that wooden blocks wouldn't break if stepped on, but there wouldn't be any twisties or curves either, and really I guess a child would be mesmerized by those curves as a marble speeds along. Does anyone have an opinion if you've seen both types 'in action?' We have a small set like this and it was frustrating for ds because the pieces shift too easily. He'd build something, and if he dropped the marble onto a block the block would shift. And blocks just got out of alignment from running the marbles through. You have to realign the blocks constantly. It was just too much fiddling around to get a good run going. Someone gave us a plastic set like the ones others have mentioned. I like that the pieces fit together so they can't be jiggled out of alignment. You can run dozens of marbles through without upsetting it. For overall play value I'd go with the plastic models. For aesthetics the wood wins--looks cool and the wooden "kerplunks" are much more pleasant than the plastic "rat-a-tats." ETA: My dc did enjoy that the plastic set has all those special pieces that make it more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annlaura Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 If you like the wooden block runs, it seems a number a of sites have basically, if not exactly, the same 50 block set. The cheapest price I've seen is http://www.backtobasicstoys.com. DS4 has been wanting one, but I'm waiting for the baby to get a little bigger before having marbles in the house. I also like the idea of building one on the wall with paper tubes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbobeara Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 thank you! Only my son has the patience to fix the blocks after every run, I imagine we'll look for a plastic version! :001_smile: We have a small set like this and it was frustrating for ds because the pieces shift too easily. He'd build something, and if he dropped the marble onto a block the block would shift. And blocks just got out of alignment from running the marbles through. You have to realign the blocks constantly. It was just too much fiddling around to get a good run going. Someone gave us a plastic set like the ones others have mentioned. I like that the pieces fit together so they can't be jiggled out of alignment. You can run dozens of marbles through without upsetting it. For overall play value I'd go with the plastic models. For aesthetics the wood wins--looks cool and the wooden "kerplunks" are much more pleasant than the plastic "rat-a-tats." ETA: My dc did enjoy that the plastic set has all those special pieces that make it more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I'm very sad to hear that the Quadrilla is discontinued. We have one and it is great. I just made a purchase of the melody set to expand ours. I had always wanted that, and if it's going away, I want to get it now. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I'm very sad to hear that the Quadrilla is discontinued. We have one and it is great. I just made a purchase of the melody set to expand ours. I had always wanted that, and if it's going away, I want to get it now. :( I'm re=posting: We love our Quadrilla. I did a quick Google, it looks like the company was bought by Manhattan Toy (who also recently bought Automoblox). Here's their website. Amazon has some pieces still, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 It's hard to tell if Manhattan is going to continue it though. Both the full sets are out of stock. They only have expansion items available. It says the sets can be preordered, so perhaps they will start producing them again. All of the other retail sites though say the products are discontinued. I emailed Manhattan to ask if the line is permanently discontinued or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We have the Haba wooden one. I highly recommend it. I find that it's much easier to use and figure out than the Quadrilla (though that's cool too!). Also, the pieces lend themselves more easily for use in making your own - pitagora suichi style. It's very hard to make your own from scratch - at least for a 7 and 3 yo it would be. But if you start off building with the Haba track, you can get ideas and add to it with paper towel tubes, etc. That's what my kids have done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhudson Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We love the Keva planks contraptions. Huge hit at our house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patches Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Quadrilla is great! It requires thinking and planning and is better for older children or parents who have plenty of time to build with their children. I really hope the company does not stop producing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 (edited) My kids do not build the Quadrilla themselves at this point. I build it for them - but it will stay up and they will play with it for hours at a time for several days in a row ! When I was a kid, my marble run was a large vinyl beanbag chair. I would mash it around until it made trails that the marbles would roll down. I would have loved a real marble run ! I chose a wooden one for our kids because I do not like things with plastic tabs that break off, or plastic parts that get stepped on and smashed. The wooden parts are sturdier. I do not have a problem with the stability of the structure. When it is put together with the base pieces and purple thingies to keep it level, it's pretty stable as long and nobody falls on it. Someday I would love to make one from clear pipe, joints, and tubing, and fix it to the basement wall. A children's museum nearby has something like this and it's so cool. Edited February 10, 2011 by laundrycrisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 We have the Quadrilla set here. My children really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundAbout Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 We have the Haba wooden one. I highly recommend it. I find that it's much easier to use and figure out than the Quadrilla (though that's cool too!). Also, the pieces lend themselves more easily for use in making your own - pitagora suichi style. It's very hard to make your own from scratch - at least for a 7 and 3 yo it would be. But if you start off building with the Haba track, you can get ideas and add to it with paper towel tubes, etc. That's what my kids have done. We love the HABA one too! I like the fact that it seems to teach a little more "physics" than some of the plastic ones where the marble is guaranteed to stay on the track no matter what. My son started very simply at 3 with one ramp dropping marble "food" to animals in a pen. We already have the HABA block set so the marble run just naturally gets incorporated into all kinds of play instead of feeling like a separate toy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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