T IN A CIRCLE SATURN V AND TARHEEL/T IN A CIRCLE ITEM NUMBER RESEARCH BY ARTO

top picture courtesy of WOTAN

Saturn V by T in a Circle - pictures courtesy of Arto

Hi Paul,

Inspired by your in-depth look into the company history of Tarheel, Inc., I began wondering whether the item (or ordering) numbers could tell us something about what might still be out there waiting to be discovered.

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So last night I went through my Tarheels and came up with this list:

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5917 - Task Force No. 2 (carded w/ T with kids logo)

5920 - Probe Force No. 1 (boxed w/ T globe logo)**

5920 - Probe Force No. 2 (boxed w/ T globe logo)

5925 - Moon Ranger (boxed w/ T globe logo) **

5926 - Moon Bus (boxed w/ T globe logo) **

5928 - Moon Prospector (boxed w/ T globe logo) **

5934 - Space Glider (boxed w/ T with kids logo) **

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This raises interesting questions. Firstly, both Probe Force No. 1 and No. 2 were issued with the same item number (5920). So was Probe Force No. 3 ever issued? It would seem that the box layout was designed but issued as NASA Probe Force No. 3, simply by using the NASA logo instead of Tarheel . At least it would be safe to assume that the photograph on the NASA box came from the same source as Probe Force No. 1 & 2 photos, so maybe PF 3 was planned but never made it to the Tarheel fleet. The NASA Probe Force No. 3 box has a similar overall design but no item number.

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Secondly, the "T with kids" logo appears only as the first and the last one of the list. The core of the series seems to lie somewhere between 5920-5928, all with the "T globe" logo. What was that number 5927 if there ever was one, planned or realised? For years I have been hoping that a Tarheel company catalogue including SWORD toys would come up, or even an order form of some kind. Has anybody ever wondered what a Tarheel SWORD toy catalogue would look like... (a suggestion for a future blog exclusive maybe!)

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Briefly about the "T in a circle" item numbers, the list is brief and numbers scattered:

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355 - Mercury Mark IV Moon Ranger (variations exist under different names)

356 - New Flying Saucer (A JR 21 Toy)

360 - Moon Bus - U.K. Patent No. 930855 on the underside

422 - Moon Prospector - U.K. Patent No. 936703 on the underside

425 - Apollo-X (issued in Germany as Saturn 5) - see pictures above*

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*The underside of the Apollo-X has a T logo and "NO. 425 MADE IN HONG KONG". I believe this is how it was repackaged for the German market. I have seen this toy in an English Apollo-X box also on eBay. The rocket measures 33 cm, the box on its straight side 35 x 14 x 9 cm.

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An interesting addition is that the Tarheel Space Glider toy has an embossed "350" on its underside. This number would seem to fit in the "T in a circle" series, even though the T logo is not present.

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Cheers

Arto

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** From blog reader Darth, who reports that there is a paper instruction sheet with each of his Tarheel Probe Force 1, Space Glider, Moon Ranger and Moon Bus. (Moon Prospector too - Woodsy - posted as a blog exclusive #3 in the side-bar to print and keep). What about Tarheel PF2 anyone?

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Brilliant research Arto! I'll add my Tarheel Novas and T in a Circle Hovercraft. Anyone got any other Tarheel or T in a Circle vehicles to add? Woodsy