I am a big fan of Century 21 Toys and in particular the more obscure non - TV toys which they produced. One of these appeared on the blog in its first year, 2008, and as such is somewhat of a legend at Moonbase Central. I am talking about the Century 21 Toys Mobile Bridge and Combat Tank.
In 2008 the only image I was aware of was a single picture from Ebay. It was incomplete, missing the folding bridge seen on the box and appeared to have a 21 painted onto it with tippex!
Discussing the Tank with Bill it was clear that he'd had one as a kid and after stroking his garage affectionately it conveniently regurgitated the tank's battle-damaged cockpit! Strangely, Bill's had a 21 'painted' on too. Closer inspection revealed that the 21 was actually a transfer. It was part of the toy!
Pictures of a complete example surfaced in 2012 on Ebay. This one included the folding bridge and was the first time in the 4 years of searching that I'd seen a complete one. Alas, the asking price was prohibitive.
Ebay
The origin of the toy is still a mystery. Did Century 21 Toys produce it outright or did they take inspiration from another toy firm as they had from Marx with their Hill Climbing series? It is possible. Marx created many toy tanks and some do look similar like this cap firing one.
vectis
Only recently though I came across a video from the amazing Akasikogorou collection on You Tube of a Japanese toy cap-firing tank, which looks remarkably similar to the Century 21 toy. It doesn't have the bridge unit but it does have the aerial and those 21's!
Is it possible that the origin of the Century 21 toy tank lies in Japan or it more probable that it's Marx inspired? We know that Century 21 took inspiration for their Project SWORD Moon Ranger from a Nichimo toy in Japan. What do you think?
As for those 21's, I had originally thought them to be part of Century 21 Toy's branding but seeing them on the Japanese toy put paid to that. A little research seems to have provided a plausible answer. They are likely to have been inspired by the various 21st Tank Brigades of World War II both in the British and US Armies such as pictured here, the British 21st Army Tank Brigade. Can't see a 21 on them though!
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Ill give you a grand for it! JESTY77
ReplyDeleteThe tank is a post war american design (I think M48 "Patton"), and the turret of the C21 version as shown is more accurate looking than Marx's version, so I think it was not inspired by it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there was an M48 bridgelayer tank, it wouldn't surprise me.
Timmy Toad has seen one of these recently. It appears to have its folding bridge, but is missing its controller and cord, as well as that long green rod which I presume connects the bridge to the tank. I'll have to go have another looksee at it to find out what else might be missing (the box is not in great shape either). What sort of price would one of these things be?
ReplyDeleteYes the bridge sits on top Timmy and during its battery-operated drive the bridge unfolds and lays flat on the ground. The long green rod is the gun barrel. I think there is a decent one on the bay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boxed-60s-CENTURY-21-Toys-Mobile-Bridge-Combat-Tank-exc-con/363300304806?hash=item549662b7a6:g:KGQAAOSwraNfloPI I bought a wreck last year for £20 and have been trying to restore it. It has no motor! A nice C21 Toys toy though and unusual. There are lots of pics on the blog. Just ssearch for mobile bridge tank.
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