Customer Rating:  
Summary: Scrapbooker and Toy Lover
Comment: I bought both the Deluxe Spirograph and the Curiosity Kit Mystery Spin Doodles. I like them both, but the Spirograph is better-made.
SPIROGRAPH:
Sturdy plastic that gives slightly
Holder for your gears (interchangeable completely w/Curiosity Kit version)
Square, SMALL circular, and jellybean shaped edges
Pen holder and pen
Sturdy plastic stencil with many designs, and see-through
paper included
CURIOSITY KIT:
Hard plastic (the kind that splinters easily)
Hard plastic gears (interchangeable with Spirograph version)
Circle edge only
3 markers
cardboard stencil with very small cutouts
cardboard included to draw on
mystery circles to trace and get surprise drawings from
dial to use with another clear stencil that you trace and click
clear flimsy stencil with cutouts for designs (the plastic is the kind that covers toothbrushes or packages of pens with a cardboard backing)
They are both good in their own ways. The Spirograph is definately better quality. The Curiosity Kit is only good because I have replacement disks now, and it comes with a bigger drawing circle. The Curiosity Kit has no storage compartment or rubber feet, and will definately break if dropped (at twice the cost). However, if you want two toys in one, the Curiosity Kit comes with the clicking dial so you can also use the plastic stencil to make other designs.
I am DEFINATELY happy with the Spirograph, and it works just like I expected. You can't make a design if you're trying to be speedy, but I don't think that should be expected. It is a great toy.
The Curiosity Kit version could definately be better. They should make a storage compartment, like they do with the travel version, and should make the other accessories out of better quality plastic, as well as the toy itself. Also, I don't consider a stencil to have a very long lifespan if it's made out of cardboard or flimsy plastic. This toy is good for some things, but is definately overpriced. If you aren't looking for the larger circle center, get the Deluxe Spirograph instead. It is much better for the money you spend, and it's cheaper.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the original
Comment: Nothing beats the original. This one is pretty good, but not near as sturdy. The plastic parts do slip, so you just need to be extra careful when making your designs and take it slow! Other than that, my 7-year-old like it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Curiosity Mystery
Comment: I do not usually take the time to write reviews on products. If I am not satisfied with something I would return it and write a reason for the return. The kids used this product up in about an hour so there wasn't much to send back. When I was a kid we had spirograph and it was a great thing. The reviews for the current model said that spirograph was just a memory and the new one was a cheap copy that didn't work. I am glad that the reviews were there for that product. To save money I ordered this low cost Spin Doodles toy. Five year old kids are always excited to open a toy to check it out. I played with them for a little while to get them started and realized that we had a box of junk. Why would someone go through the trouble to develope and manufacture a toy and then sell it on the internet when it is not really usable ? The gears and holder for the paper were a mess of poorly designed and warped plastic. At least the cost was low. This one was a waste of shipping cost even if the toy was free. I hope this helps someone who remembers spirograph and what a great creative toy it was 35 to 40 years ago. I guess the technology has been lost for toys with plastic gears.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Curiosity Kits Mystery Spin Doodles
Comment: My 7-year old, who loves to draw, also is fascinated with gears. What better toy to try? He enjoys the three different activities, especially using the gears. My 3-year old even uses the gears. The unit does slide around so the child needs to hold it down with one hand while drawing. This is not enough to upset my child, who frustrates easily. I think it could use rubber grips on the bottom of the unit. I think this is the closest thing to the original Spirograph.
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