Being a Spacex nut as well as a Swordhead I've long been fascinated by that US boxed wonder, the Miniature Apollo Exploration Set. You can see it here, unboxed, in the US Montgomery Wards Xmas catalogue for 1970 priced $4.77!
This boxed set pictured below recently sold on Ebay [for £50 +]. If you look in the top left corner you'll see an orange Spacex Space Patrol1. I'm sure that's not part if this set. And what is the missing vehicle that went on top of the blue stand? Here's the seller's description:
Miniature Apollo Exploration Set #48-24392 and it's original box. Box measures approx. 12" long. Marked, Hippo Toys, Made In Hong Kong. Fabulous original vintage set is complete sans a small space capsule that sits on a small blue platform (platform present). Has a couple extra pieces that were found with the set. All of the original pieces are in fantastic, unbroken, appears unused condition. 7 plastic parts bags are still factory sealed. Features: Astronauts, Monsters of Outer Space, Rocket with Friction Drive, Space Tank with Friction Drive, Space Vehicles with Rolling Wheels, Craters, and accessories.
But the biggest mystery of all remains, for me at least, the toy manufacturer. Hippo Toys? Now just who were they? Did they produce anything else?
Could it be the lil blue Mercury-type capsule seen in the catalogue picture?
ReplyDeleteWas $4.77 a lot back then?
I like that transparent Disneyland castle!
the blue stand supports the apollo service module and attachable LEM. I had them in a smaller LP boxed set.
ReplyDeleteHippo are probably just a distributor for the big set
No, Hippo just made the large rocket, while everything else is by LP. The set itself was a Montgomery Ward's exclusive that appears to've replaced their Golden Astronauts (Spacex) set of the year before.
ReplyDeleteBest
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Paul