This little guy was something of an obsession for me for the best part of 20 years! I saw one displayed like this in a local toy shop window in 1968. I was immediately drawn to him as I had recently had an ACTION MAN bought for me and was part of the first generation of UK boys to have had a 'doll' bought for them. I was of course mental for CAPTAIN SCARLET too so had to have one as I was avidly watching his adventures every week on telly.
Of course as four year old kid I was unaware of any stigma attached to the concept of dolls for boys and readily accepted all of my TV, comic and film heroes in miniature form. I never got one as a boy and had to wait until 1987. He was worth the wait! The accuracy of the Pedigree doll is very good. The only fault that can perhaps be levelled is that the body suit should be a dark grey as opposed to blue. , oddly enough the same blue was used by Century 21 for the trousers of their child sized 'SCARLET' playsuit. The tunic, belt, holster and gun are all very close representations of the on screen counterpart. The easily damaged drop down microphone on the cap again shows the attention to detail given to toys which were likely in pieces within days of the lucky kid getting it.
As the dolls for boys thing was still pretty new the volume in which this guy was produced was low in comparison to say the Dinky Toys or plastic vehicles so boxed examples in nice condition is rare although they do crop up. For me this is one of the jewels of my collection and I guess if I were to have to grab one item in an emergency it would be this fella!
Jim Lewis
Excellent post! I have to say though, I'm glad I didn't know way back when that such an amazing doll existed; I probably would have been driven mad with unfulfilled longing for it. I can only admire your strength of character in waiting all those years! I'm feeling pangs of desire even now, and I only just found out about it...
ReplyDeleteBeleive me if I could have nabbed one as a four year old back in 1968I would have! It's just that sometimes kids don't get everything they want. As a less well produced in terms of volume made I never saw one again unlike the Rosenthals or Dinkys for example. It took me almost twenty years to finally get one but the wait was worth it!
ReplyDeleteJim Lewis
i have one for sale if u would like it u can make me an offer on craig0039@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletehi I have two cap scarlets spare jackets hats one with the original mike still trying to work out how to correct the swing of the mike over 15 years I collected the two figs and any bits I could I have Gi joe action men geypermen the lot but these 1967 fellas bring back my childhood being from Australia Gerrys shows were the saterday morning thing and a bowl of coco pops
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post. Gerry Anderson was big in Australia wasn't he. Coco Pops were just the best and I still enjoy a bowl now fifty years later!
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