Wednesday, 18 November 2009

CENTURY 21 SPACE NEEDLE


Century 21 and variations like 21st Century were popular brand names back in the 60's, an age when everything seemed possible. I suppose it had a futuristic sound to it like 1984 or 1999. Gerry Anderson and co obviously thought so when they re-branded AP Films as Century 21. And here's another Century 21, maker of this fab SPACE NEEDLE model kit. Anyone know where this was and whether Century 21 Models made any more kits and where they were based?

Not sure what we would class as a futuristic Company name nowadays? Century 22? The Millennium's come and gone. Does the future exist?

Picture credit: Gasoline Alley Antiques

10 comments:

  1. The Space Needle is in Seattle, built for the 1962 World Fair there. www.spaceneedle.com

    Best
    --
    Paul

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  2. The Philosophic Toad11/18/2009 5:59 pm

    Why is it described on the box as a "Souvenir Hobby Kit"? Was it sold at the building itself?

    Oh boy, do I wish I had one of these! Do you have a photograph of the kit contents, by any chance?

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  3. That may have been for sale at the building itself, but will certainly have been for sale all over the Fair ground and Seattle too. Chances are you can still buy souvenir models of it (tho not necessarily kits) in much the same way that other World Fair monuments still sell miniature Eiffel Towers and Atomiums.

    By the looks of it, our bloghost got his pic from gasolinealleyantiques.com who have two of these kits on offer for a mere $230-250 apiece.

    And especially for Wotan: a google shows me that there's also a special Lego kit of this tower! :)

    Best
    --
    Paul

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  4. Just realised that the name of the kit company was STALCO. The actual expo was called CENTURY 21. There's some great shots of the box and kit here

    http://www.collectair.com/plastickits.html

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  5. I have this model if anyone's interested in buying it. The box is in very good shape, and the contents are in their original packaging.

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  6. Hi Evan
    I've advertised it on the blog for you.
    Cheers
    Woodsy

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  7. evan - how much are you asking for the kit ?

    wotan

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  8. Thanks so much, Woodsy! I'm looking for something in the neighborhood of $200-250, I guess, though I wouldn't mind hanging on to it either. :)

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