Park on the Moon

Park Plastics probably more well known for their water powered rocket toys, made this neat range of space toys in what I assume was the early sixties. So far iv'e been unable to track down any further info about them and have only ever seen one other model on ebay in the last ten years. Based on what I have, im assuming they are pretty early as the little NASA sticker on some of the toys is not even close to the real version - it is almost art nouveau in style with tall, spindly letters and a swirly background. Also the box from the Lunar Dump is very basic in some ways, yet has a very seventies feel to the style. Theres no date, patent info or anything useable on the toys or the packing, so this is all guesswork! Either way, they are a very distinctively styled toy, having that 'jet-age' streamline appearance and lots of chrome vents and greebly. The tracks are for decoration only and each vehicle (apart from the dumper bucket) has a pair of one piece solid axle/tyre wheels underneath. Made from rigid plastic, they haven't survived the rigours of the lunar landscape and the Moon Cat bulldoxer has fared worst, losing an arm from the bulldozer blade, its original canopy and worst of all the driver has lost his helmet, so that him off site for a start! Somebody call health and safety!

I originally got all four of the toys in one auction, including a loose Lunar Dump, but some time after I came upon the rather well preserved version still in its pvc wrapper - and unlike me, decided to keep it in its pristine state! The dumper bucket has large hard plastic balloon tyres very akin to the Prospector. The Tank has a firing cannon on the front and the crane has a small telescopic jib. All in all a very pleasing set, but if anyone can shed any light on their provenance, please do!