Jump to It

Sometimes the simplest ideas have the most profound effect. Take this Stelco Space Rocket set. A suction cup with a stand and a spring inside, which when compressed, gradually forces the suction cup away from the base, making the whole assembly leap into the air. Couple this with a nifty silver space rocket or a nice green lunar lander and youre away!

I'd like to say I had this toy from childhood, but this particular version is an american toy which I came to via ebay. In the early seventies though, I did have a number of similar jumping toys such as a frog and a ladybird. During a memorable holiday in Devon, I found a small orange LEM. In the same series as far as I could see in the box in the sweetshop, was one of the iconic orange rockets which appear in may Apollo Moon Exploring sets. Unfortunately, as is always the case, I only had 5p of my pocketmoney left! Besides the rocket, LEM and possibly the Apollo Service module, where a spaceman and the aliens which abound in the AP EX sets, so somewhere around may be a garishly coloured jumping Wotan figure! Possibly the best part about the Stelco set is the lovely card back artwork though.

Ap Ex Rocket and Jumping LEM

Three original Jumping Aliens (at rear)