The Legend Returns! A Toker II (the 70s icon and the cherished bong of my youth) is back in my hands!!!

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
My friends. Back when Ol' Bill was known as Young Bill, the 18 year old me saved up his bones to purchase a Toker II. Not cheap then.

I was a freshman at UCSB (1976) where cannabis culture was highly developed during a time when we had access to the most primo pure-sativa known to man. Then onto UC Berkeley, where my beloved Toker II came with me.

Let me say it straight, I always felt that in a friendship circle (one that included serious connoisseurs), that I had by far the best bong. And I think my smoking buddies felt the same way. Anytime it was available, my Toker II was the water-pipe of choice.

A forum search shows @cybrguy also had one back in the day and perhaps he can confirm the cause of my enthusiasm?

There were larger and/or most artisanal-glass water pipes available in the day, ones that were certainly beautiful in their own right, but no bong I've ever used (now or then) has the efficiency, controllability, and great hand-held ergonomics of a Toker II. It is perfect for taking "snap hits," be they microdoses or massively huge bowls. For young ones who have never experienced the joys of a handheld with such excellent carberation (listing off a bowl to clear a bong sucks, my friends!) this is precisely the unit you need to build your skills in the art of mixing draws and carburetion to calibrate the optimal hit for the moment.

The easy to use carb allows one to layer up the hit in a fashion that is unique in my experience. This is for "enthusiasts," which means this

Here is a (not particularly good) stock shot:

toker_product1.png


The unit, about the size of a grapefruit, is easy to hold and --trust me--there is something magical about the way it draws. Truly the most epic bong of the era (and perhaps ever) in my estimation. I don't engage in hyperbole. This is a "god-tier" device AFAIK.

My Toker II was "liberated" sometimes during the 90s and the company had folded, so I (sadly) moved on. But never (ever) forgot that beauty. Like "Rosebud." LOL

Recently, as mentioned in other threads, I clumsily knocked a rather nice modern modular bong off my desk, destroying it in the process. First time in 50 years of consumption that I destroyed nice pice of glass.

As I looked to replace the broken bong, I (with some valuable input from @Shit Snacks ) have been assembling a new modular rig around a FC-199. A drop down is scheduled to arrive today, to complete the package. I may still need a pass through to serve as a regulator, but...

As I looked around for a new "desktop" bong, I also discovered that the Toker II (handheld) has been brought back to the market. I had to get one.

Fortunately the new units ship with not only a regular stem (for composting), but also spips standar with a 14mm female stem, so great for vaping!

And is it greast for vaping? Oh yes indeed!!!

Last night, for the first time, I paired a newly acquired Lotus with the Toker II. I've been enjoying the Lotus as a relaxed flavor-full vape with the provided Lotus J Hook. A very nice experience, but not a combo I'd call "hard hitting." Doesn't need to be. The Lotus is "chill". That said, with a little experimenting I had the Lotus/Toker II outputting thick white milky vapour that is more reminiscent of a powerful desktop than one operating off butane.

And--just as when I combusted with this bong in the day--it is so controllable. One can pull light vapor, or one can build a massive hit. Brilliant!

The design is clean and lab-like (from an era where that was rare).

I can still see the need to have a modern modular rig. When my Phase 3 Zx arrives, I expect I will pair it with my FC-199.

But I am still humbled and amazed by the qualities of the Toker II.

I have been intending to post about this water-pipe but have been slow in part because I knew the love I have for this glass might seem over-the-top (unless one has experienced one), and you already know.

This morning I was compelled to make this post. As I woke up to find a 50% off discount code for the Toker II. So $50 rather than $100. The code is "jerryclaus." It is evidently valid until 12/08/24.


3123455298_5412ba9ca8.jpg


I have no affiliation with Toker II, aside from being a highly enthusiastic owner-user. This guy is positively overjoyed to have one back in my collection. And not only for nostalgia's sake (although the memories of good times with good friends definitely contributes to the joy).

I just wish to share news of this sale with anyone who ever lusted to own arguably the greatest bong ever produced, and/or make those who have never heard of these 70s classics that they are back on the market (and have been for some time).

If you spring for one, I don't think you will be sorry. I'm sure I paid over $50 for mine with 1976 dollars.

To call the Toker II an epic and legendary bong is me saying it straight. A classic if there ever was one.

Those who take a flier will thank me later.

Bill
 
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Spy Car

Well-Known Member
Go Bears! Class of '85

Composting?

Sounds useful. For a lighter hit, would that be using the carb to allow some air in when inhaling?

Thanks

Go Bears!

It is good for both composting and combustion, but combustion is bad. Very bad. LOL

I must admit I wanted to see I could still artfully combust a monster one-hitter in Toker II style, and I could.

But fuck combustion! Preaching to the choir, I know.

The carb on the Toker II, allows one to build both heavier and lighter hits, the former by feathering the restriction and slowing the draw (the Toker II allows the tiniest of breaths to keep airflow moving) and filling the bong with dense vapor. And less restriction make a lighter hit. You can feel how to work the carb after a little practice to get the desired type of hit.

It is the perfect device, in my mind, for people to lean the (now almost lost art) of feathering a carb to get one's optimal hit, whatever "optimal" might mean.

They really are extraordinary bongs. No kidding.

Trying one is all it takes to know why this one is/was a "legend."

Give 'em the axe!

Bill
 
Spy Car,

old-fart

Maybe not the oldest, but possibly the fartiest!
Go Bears!

It is good for both composting and combustion, but combustion is bad. Very bad. LOL

I must admit I wanted to see I could still artfully combust a monster one-hitter in Toker II style, and I could.

But fuck combustion! Preaching to the choir, I know.

The carb on the Toker II, allows one to build both heavier and lighter hits, the former by feathering the restriction and slowing the draw (the Toker II allows the tiniest of breaths to keep airflow moving) and filling the bong with dense vapor. And less restriction make a lighter hit. You can feel how to work the carb after a little practice to get the desired type of hit.

It is the perfect device, in my mind, for people to lean the (now almost lost art) of feathering a carb to get one's optimal hit, whatever "optimal" might mean.

They really are extraordinary bongs. No kidding.

Trying one is all it takes to know why this one is/was a "legend."

Give 'em the axe!

Bill
Thanks for the info.
With vaping, even from a bong, I feather the air intake with my mouth and the mouthpiece, no need for a carb. As for clearing the chamber, only need to do that on the last hit! Heck, people store the cloud in bags, so why not in the chamber until the last hit?
 
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Spy Car

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Thanks for the info.
With vaping, even from a bong, I feather the air intake with my mouth and the mouthpiece, no need for a carb. As for clearing the chamber, only need to do that on the last hit! Heck, people store the cloud in bags, so why not in the chamber until the last hit?

Waiting to lift a bowl to clear a chamber is a positively barbaric way of using a bong in this man's estimation.

I understand that is the fashion these days, but ¡qué horror!

The art of feathering a carb is a skill that--in the main--seems to have been lost, and I consider that a shame.

When one uses a bong like a Toker II that one can semi-clear, then build, then semi-clear, all in one hit (or whatever), puts the user in a position where the draw and the restriction can be modulated to get one's optimal hit.

No small thing in my estimation and no bong I've ever used is as excellent for that purpose as a Toker II. Really.

It is a seriously upgraded experience to a carburetor-less bong. And still the best within the class of bongs that still have carburetors.

Big claims, I know. But I'm confident about making them.

Bill
 
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Flotsam

Member
i truly loved that tale, especially how it was reacquired . Yes it looks like a fine piece of glassware, much better than the plastic bong i had. $50 back then was a good amount about what an extraordinary Oz of weed might be. (we were more like the $30/35 ballpark)

The bong i remember the most was a ceramic tokemaster circa 1979. It was owned by the guy across the hall in my fraternity who had these pair of Allison speakers perched in the room corners. I pondered those speakers while we smoked out of the tokemaster. The bass was awesome.

I think we might have learned from an issue of High Times that vaporization was a possibility but NO One had anything like that at that time. Dabs wasn't a thing back then. Too many other distractions as well coke, acid etc. The weed was mostly seedy except those $50 oz.

 

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
I'd forgotten about those Tokemasters.

They certainly were another highly esteemed water-pipe of the era. It was very cool how they have a shelf for your stuff.

While they were a high-status item, and for good reasons, they still didn't hit like a Toker II, which is not unusual--as nothing does, really.

As to vaping, the closest we got (and I'm not sure it counts), was doing "hot knifes," especially with good old school trad hash.

In terms of pure style, I might have to give that one to the Tokemaster as the classic of the 70s era. They were beauties.

Thanks for jogging my mind.


Bill
 
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TedJones

Well-Known Member
Looks pretty nifty to me and could be up my alley. Big ass mouthpiece too :o Much different than the typical globe styles. Hard to tell, is it just a down stem with no perc? Or are there little notches cut out at the bottom of that?
 
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Flotsam

Member
Hot Knives. I remember doing that once. This thread is bringing back stoner memories that were repressed! What was the Sativa you were mentioning earlier?
My one roommate had this cheapo bong that was a beer bottle but stretched out on top . Haven't seen those online but i did see a Tokemaster on ebay
check this one out. $125 is a bit giddy


the label on that Toker II is so 1970s
 
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old-fart

Maybe not the oldest, but possibly the fartiest!
In 1980, when I was a high school senior, I made a bong out of clear PVC and silicone caulk. I sort of remember it had multiple chambers, but I cannot recall the configuration. I was, after all, stoned! And yes, it had a carb :-)

I also remember KFOG, the best rock station in the Bay Area and possibly the universe, playing “smoke two joints” by the toyes every Friday at 5:00pm. Ahh, good times!
 

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
Hot Knives. I remember doing that once. This thread is bringing back stoner memories that were repressed! What was the Sativa you were mentioning earlier?
My one roommate had this cheapo bong that was a beer bottle but stretched out on top . Haven't seen those online but i did see a Tokemaster on ebay
check this one out. $125 is a bit giddy


the label on that Toker II is so 1970s

In the late 70s we were smoking a variety of pure sativas. The most predominant type was "California Sinsemilla." It was glorious. Was grown outdoors to full maturity. Very long grow season. Plants got big. 12 feet and taller with huge kola buds covered with red hairs which dripped with resin. You could not touch this stuff without having ones fingers get sticky from the trichomes. The terpene profile leaned towards pine, rosemary, Cascade hops, sometimes grapefruit, and citrus. Pre-skunk weed. Very sweet. Extremely fragrant.

Other top tier sativas of the day included Thai, which mostly came unadulterated, but sometimes opiated "Thai Sticks" (the buds were actually wrapped with thread into a stick) came around. The straight Thai was sweet and delicious. Energetic high, like the CA Sinsemilia.

The other great sativias of the day that were had common access to were from Hawaii, Maui Wowie being the most famous of them.

Those non-hybridized with indica varieties all had very energizing/uplifting effects. They made one want to gab and to argue with friends about how we could solve the world's problems. Stuff like that. Very potent herb, but not soporific "stony" weed that would knock one out.

People have their preferences in what medicinal qualities work for them. For me, a clean energizing, cerebral high is optimal. The sativas of that period were perfect for me. Unfortunately the growing demands of those sativa stains were not compatible with indoor greenhouse methods, so in large measure they have gone extinct.

Speaking of weird methods.

Did you ever do "honey slides?" Since one was already ruining the silverware with "hot knifes" (LOL), with honey slides one would take two large tablespoons. One would be filled (incompletely) with honey. The other would be filled with ground herb. The spoon with the herb would be slowly toasted/roasted over a gas stove flame (avoiding combustion) until the was "decarboxylated" (a term that was unknown to us then, but we understood the concept).

When the herb was ready, the spoon with the honey was place upside down over the spoon with the toasted herb, and once there was good contact between honey and the herb, the spoons (as a unit) would be flipped to the opposite orientation, with the cold spoon with the honey (that was now encrusted in herb) on the bottom. The top ("hot") spoon would sort of be scraped to get all the product into the honey as it was pulled away. And finally the spoon of warm herb and honey would be popped into one's mouth and taken down in a "slide."

Ah the good old days.

One thing we did not have and that is today's beautiful vaping products. What a game changer!

Bill
 
Spy Car,

buford

Active Member
I had several Tokers. It was indeed a superb bong.

Some will recall the very elaborate multi-chamber US Bongs. I can tell you on very good authority that a certain Ivanka T. had a very fancy one in high school, and was a major wake'n'bake stoner.
 

Flotsam

Member
I LOVE this thread ! Brings back so many memories.

That Alien bong is amazing. I can see that in the 80s.

Those "honey slides" sound awesome as well.
I was in Eastern PA in college so everything seems to get distributed out of Philly. We did see Sinsemilla on rare occasion and it was special. The lineage we got was always suspect but the "Since" was truly amazing. Had that a few times. Expensive but worth it. Thank you California! Also got real Thai stick from time to time. What a treat! To this day i love that peppery taste of most Thai strains. Hard to believe these days we can now get multiple different variations of Thai, like Highland Thai or Laotian. The variety seems endless these days

Thanks Spy Car for bringing up this thread. The other i was going to bring up was the STONED conversations we would have when we were partying.

  • Remember Paraquat? the chemical they would be indiscriminately sprayed on Mexican pot fields. I think most people blithely ignored the warnings as most stuff still was coming from Colombia at the time. We just never understood why our government would want to do something that harmed its citizens.
  • Legalization was never considered viable by us sitting around and pontificating. Instead we would discuss the dangers of the Tobacco industry taking over the Marijuana market and how that could turn out with things just getting standardized ?? I guess that is sort of the case today with Monsanto and its growtech company trying to buy up failed dispensaries to try out their evil products . ( This topic deserves its own thread ! https://www.pbssocal.org/food-discovery/food/monsanto-poised-to-take-over-the-weed-industry )
  • We knew of the different (subspecies ?) of either Indica or Sativa, but mostly we got sativas. We also understood that the effects were different. & of course awed what we read in High Times about the Apapulco Gold, Hawaiian, Maui Waui or other exotics.

Let's keep this thread going!
 
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Spy Car

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Looks pretty nifty to me and could be up my alley. Big ass mouthpiece too :o Much different than the typical globe styles. Hard to tell, is it just a down stem with no perc? Or are there little notches cut out at the bottom of that?

It is a basic straight downstem and one gets two stems, one with a modern 14mm female connector (the one I've been using with vapes) and a traditional glass bowl for combusting. No perc on either.

IMO there is no cause to addd a fancier downstem, as the standard ones work beautifully.

The mouthpiece is large. I think that is part of what makes this such a "controllable" bong (along with the great carb).

The smallest of effort will keep a draw going. One can go from the slightest of gurgle, to lighting up big rips, at will.

And it fits so well in the hands.

A nice compliment to a modern modular desktop rig IMO.

In 1980, when I was a high school senior, I made a bong out of clear PVC and silicone caulk. I sort of remember it had multiple chambers, but I cannot recall the configuration. I was, after all, stoned! And yes, it had a carb :-)

I also remember KFOG, the best rock station in the Bay Area and possibly the universe, playing “smoke two joints” by the toyes every Friday at 5:00pm. Ahh, good times!

Circa 1976, when I was at UCSB the most popular homemade bongs in my circle were made from bamboo. The headshops sold an inexpensive metal stem bowl combos that suited the purpose.

The necessary drilling of holes and cleaning out of bamboo interiors would take place, then we'd melt beeswax (purchased from the hippy shop in Isla Vista, and we'd carefully build up layers of wax inside the bong to improve its water resistance.

In many ways, these were actually not bad. The biggest issue was people leaving them filled with water for too long and the wax sealant not holding well enough, so the bamboo could go bad. Still, a bamboo bong was pretty cool.

And then there was the epic floor bong I build with some dorm-mates. We used a 5 gallon glass carboy, of the sort once used for water deliveries, fitted it with a stopper, tubes, and a bowl. The method was two part. One, combust a huge bowl into the carboy. Two, clear the thing in a single breath. The first time I tried it I literally lost consciousness and woke up about 10 feet from where I started. Whoa!

Memories. LOL
Bill
 
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Spy Car,

coolbreeze

Well-Known Member
It is a basic straight downstem and one gets two stems, one with a modern 14mm female connector (the one I've been using with vapes) and a traditional glass bowl for combusting. No perc on either.

IMO there is no cause to addd a fancier downstem, as the standard ones work beautifully.

The mouthpiece is large. I think that is part of what makes this such a "controllable" bong (along with the great carb).

The smallest of effort will keep a draw going. One can go from the slightest of gurgle, to lighting up big rips, at will.

And it fits so well in the hands.

A nice compliment to a modern modular desktop rig IMO.



Circa 1976, when I was at UCSB the most popular homemade bongs in my circle were made from bamboo. The headshops sold an inexpensive metal stem bowl combos that suited the purpose.

The necessary drilling of holes and cleaning out of bamboo interiors would take place, then we'd melt beeswax (purchased from the hippy shop in Isla Vista, and we'd carefully build up layers of wax inside the bong to improve its water resistance.

In many ways, these were actually not bad. The biggest issue was people leaving them filled with water for too long and the wax sealant not holding well enough, so the bamboo could go bad. Still, a bamboo bong was pretty cool.

And then there was the epic floor bong I build with some dorm-mates. We used a 5 gallon glass carboy, of the sort once used for water deliveries, fitted it with a stopper, tubes, and a bowl. The method was two part. One, combust a huge bowl into the carboy. Two, clear the thing in a single breath. The first time I tried it I literally lost consciousness and woke up about 10 feet from where I started. Whoa!

Memories. LOL
Bill
Hot Knives. I remember doing that once. This thread is bringing back stoner memories that were repressed! What was the Sativa you were mentioning earlier?
My one roommate had this cheapo bong that was a beer bottle but stretched out on top . Haven't seen those online but i did see a Tokemaster on ebay
check this one out. $125 is a bit giddy


the label on that Toker II is so 1970s
For what it's worth, you could get a downstem with a 14mm GG joint on it to convert these smoking setups to vaporizers. OregonGlassBlower makes them.
IMG-3340.jpg


For the other bongs with the SS downstem and screw-on bowls, there's the Vapobowl if you can find one, a surprisingly effective vaporizer that's built to replace that bowl:
vapo-bowl.jpg
 
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vapviking

Old & In the Way
In my opinion, water robs some flavor from vapor. A lot if us use glass, but dry, usually as stems, jhooks, etc.

Hey, maybe try your bong/bubbler dry, you might be surprised. Same tool from your younger days, updated method, for vaping!
You get the cooling effect, and all the flavor.
 

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
For what it's worth, you could get a downstem with a 14mm GG joint on it to convert these smoking setups to vaporizers. OregonGlassBlower makes them.
IMG-3340.jpg


For the other bongs with the SS downstem and screw-on bowls, there's the Vapobowl if you can find one, a surprisingly effective vaporizer that's built to replace that bowl:
vapo-bowl.jpg

The Toker II ships with a vape compatible downstem in addition to the trad downstem as part of the package.

I did not realize that when I order mine (and the "sale" was not where near this good), so ordered a 14mm vape style stem. Now I have 2.

In my opinion, water robs some flavor from vapor. A lot if us use glass, but dry, usually as stems, jhooks, etc.

Hey, maybe try your bong/bubbler dry, you might be surprised. Same tool from your younger days, updated method, for vaping!
You get the cooling effect, and all the flavor.

I'm all about experimenting and I'm definitely a flavor chaser. !00%.

I'll try using the Toker II dry. Thanks for the idea!

Bill

 
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Flotsam

Member
OMG that was an awesome setup. whenever you get a chance i would love to get details on all, but especially about the ball vape.
 

Alan

Master JedHI
Manufacturer
Still have my Toker II from 1978. It is my favorite water piece, quite easy to clean. The lettering is black w/ yellow lines around them. It has an R instead of TM and patent number 3,882,875. The bottom lettering is Odyssey Glass. I also had a Toker, but it got broken. It is very easy to spill, so you do have to be careful. That is why there is a rubber stopper (w/ holes) in the carb hole. I prefer to use the carb w/o the rubber stopper for better air flow. In college we used a 5 foot long, 1/2” glass tube w/ silicone connector in the carb hole as a mouthpiece tube and used the the large mouthpiece as a carb. It requires three people. One person lights for you while another person holds the Toker II and carbs. Especially nice w/ ice in the water.
Here is a link to the patent and drawing.
3,882,875
US3882875-drawings-page-2.png

Glad to see they are available again. Too bad they are still using black rubber instead of silicone for the plugs. The 14mm female connection is a great option and some diffusion would be nice. The taste is definitely better w/o water, but it is not as cool. Happy toking.
 

coolbreeze

Well-Known Member
The Toker II ships with a vape compatible downstem in addition to the trad downstem as part of the package.

I did not realize that when I order mine (and the "sale" was not where near this good), so ordered a 14mm vape style stem. Now I have 2.



I'm all about experimenting and I'm definitely a flavor chaser. !00%.

I'll try using the Toker II dry. Thanks for the idea!

Bill
Missed that! Good move on their part.
 
coolbreeze,

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
Missed that! Good move on their part.

I missed it too. Cost me, whatever, $14 to add another. Call it "backup."
Still have my Toker II from 1978. It is my favorite water piece, quite easy to clean.

A man after my own heart. I wish I still had mine from 76, but the new ones are almost identical.

My memory is that the Toker II writing on my original was red. Might be an unreliable memory.

One thing that's made me laugh is that I made sure I ordered some extra "open" rubber stoppers (they also supply "closed" stoppers) because I'd remembered that my Toker II had long become disassociated from its stopper, and I didn't want to be in that position again.

Only, after a few days use, I remembered why I ditched the stopper in the first place. LOL

Like you, I prefer the carb w/o an open stopper in the carb hole.

Great post, BTW.

I am so jazzed to have a Toker II back in my collection. Won't replace a modern modular rig entirely, but wow!

The Toker II is my lifetime favorite waterpiece as well.

I trying not to sound like a shill, because at 50% off ($50) the current sale is an opportunity for folks to own what is not only an "iconic" bong, but one that is iconic for both functionality and design. A thing of beauty.

But you know that.

Thank you for the post. Greatly appreciated!

Bill

ETA: I tried (and cross-compared) the Toker II and the J-Hook that ships with the Lotus using both my TM2 PH with WPA and a Lotus.

The Toker II is not to be recommended (by me) for waterless glass use. The J-Hook won with both in what was not a close contest.

I did have some big fun with the Toker II and the Lotus the other night (massive hit) using water. This is a water pipe.

Also pairs nicely with the TM2. Positioned with the narrower (battery-side) towards the stem, the weight distribution is really sweet. I'm not saying either of these vapes "needs" water. Just that if you want water, the Toker II delivers. But not dry. Nope.

Would marbles do anything?

Bill
 
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Spy Car,

Spy Car

Well-Known Member
My original Toker did have red lettering like this one. I don't remember if it was also made by Odyssey Glass.
img_20140421_185411-jpg.399253

Just noticed that there is no carb hole on the Toker. It must have been added for the Toker II.

Yeah, red lettering, like that.

Only a Toker II.

Having a carb helps make this bong what it is, so glad not to have a Toker.

Thanks for at least semi-validating my memory about the lettering being red.

Bill
 
Spy Car,
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