If you're like reader Arto and me then you'll love toys by Sixties Hong Kong toymaker and SWORD pioneer T in a Circle aka Tai Hing. Besides making the two toys, which I believe Century 21 used as the basis oif the SWORD fleet, the Moon Bus and Prospector, T in a Circle [not to be confused with US firm Tarheel] made tons more cool plastic toys and in particular vehicles. Over the past six months many new T toys have surfaced, which were both new to me and the blog. Enjoy.
Super Hi Way Copter c/o Ferryman
Moonranger, blue, in unusual flap lid box c/o Arto
Space Capsule, blue, c/o Vectis. The Capsule is clearly based on Japanese tin toys like this Capsule 5 below c/c Alphadrome.
Boeing 707 Battery Operated Jet Plane c/o Ebay. It may have been a copy of Clifford's/H's version below c/o Ferryman.
Boeing 727 c/o Ebay
Jumbo Jet Boeing 747 c/o Ebay
Air Plane c/o Woodsy
Above: Spanish clone of T's Amphibious Car [below] with different colouring and box art c/o Juguetes Antiguos Sevilla.
Last but not least, APOLLO 11 c/o Woodsy, which spun round the ceiling hanging from a nylon cord. There are many other versions by different toymakers inlcuding MOON TREK and this Japanese MOON SCOUT [bottom picture] c/o Ebay.
Footnote: I need a volunteer, who likes T toys, to update the T Checklist on the blog. If anyone is interested please let me know.
I believe Clifford was only an importer, who had their trademark printed on existing boxes containing existing toys. So far I've seen toys by Roxy, LP and now Tai Hing being sold by Clifford, plus a few where I don't know the original manufacturer. Much like Cragstan in the US, I seriously doubt they ever (had) made anything new (for) themselves, and that every Clifford toy will therefore exist in an original manufacturer's version.
ReplyDeleteBest -- Paul
Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that Paul. I'll keep an eye our for more Clifford copies. I think Moon Traffic maybe one.
ReplyDeleteMoon Traffic deffo. Made by Roxy, exists on cards with either Roxy or Clifford mark. Ditto for plastic car series, f ex.
ReplyDeleteBest -- Paul
I just bought an Amphibious Car made in Hong Kong. I used to stick my nose up at toys like these when I started collecting toys in the eighties. I also keep my eyes open for futuristic toys on eBay. Cool stuff! Thanks
ReplyDeleteGlad you like toys like these now. Why not send me some pics of your new toy and any others you have? I will happily blog them. Email is at the bottom of the page: Woodsy. Thanks.
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