Magic Message symbols

[mul-ta]

I'm curious about Magic Message ponies… As G1 collectors know, they have heat-sensitive changing symbols that tend not to change anymore over time. Just how unusual is it to find MMs with working symbols these days? Anybody got one in their collection? Photos?

[FantasticFirefly]

All of mine work.

The biggest problem with them is the clear coating, it's got a slightly tacky texture and sticks to things, bubbles and lifts easily. These are easily the most fragile ponies, and using the symbols I would worry about them not darkening properly again as I find them second hand often, if the top layer isn't peeled up (so they won't work) the symbols are stuck partially revealed.

[Marlin]

I think at least two of six of my girls still work. I can't rush off and check though as the poor lassies are in temporary storage until I can get my other cabinet cleaned up!

[hathorcat]

I think 4.5 out of 6 of mine work [ cause Mirror Mirror only works on NDS] and to be honest I did find them very hard to track down. As Fantastic Firefly says the symbols are so prone to being easily damaged that more have problems than dont!

[Vintergatan]

My Cuddles' symbol is intact but I don't want to experiment and rub it as they are really fragile

[Aurora]

I still remember the horrible feeling of rubbing on one of them and part of the symbol pulled off in my hand! I never rub now, just snuggle it until it's warm enough.
I'm pretty sure most of mine work, except the one I peeled part of it off... grrrr.

[mlp4me]

A few of mine still work, but I only tried once... Though I don't remember which ones besides Windy...

[Breyer600]

Mine are all childhood ponies, and I always had trouble getting them to change even when they were brand new - some would change enough to see what was there but a couple would barely change at all.  Since it was such a pain to get them to change, I usually just left the symbols alone. 

I did find that I can get all of them to work if I use a blow dryer on them (I only did it once for pictures though since I don't want to risk doing permanent damage). 

[BrightIdea]

My poor Cloud Dreamer's symbols do not change anymore. I played with them too much and then washed her with hot water, forever ruining them even worse and making them bubbly.

Poor Cloud Dreamer. At least her hair is really nice.

[Eldarwen]

3 of my MM ponies still have perfect symbols. I have to say, it was quite easy for me. But I must have been just lucky, they all came in lots, so I never knew what I was going to get.

[mul-ta]

So it's more due to damage than age? Good to know.

I have no Magic Messages myselfe because I haven't been consciously looking for them. Apparently they weren't sold in Finland, so they don't just casually turn up in the second-hand market either. I may be falling for them though. Mirror Mirror's color scheme appeals to me, and her pose is really sweet.

[Jinxxy]

I have a Mirror Mirror (who I am trying to sell!) with absolutely flawless symbols

[mul-ta]

^ Sell her to my swap partner

[RedSH]

I have a fairly baity Floater and it surprised me when I found her that her symbols still work!
I also have Magic Hat and hers work too

[hathorcat]

So it's more due to damage than age? Good to know.

I have no Magic Messages myselfe because I haven't been consciously looking for them. Apparently they weren't sold in Finland, so they don't just casually turn up in the second-hand market either. I may be falling for them though. Mirror Mirror's color scheme appeals to me, and her pose is really sweet.

I think its mostly wear & tear and a little factor of age...just because age is always going to deteriorate plastic a little. But in general yes, they are very easy to damage and its play, water, heat which have stopped them to work or caused them to bubble.