Space toys arrive in many different forms and one of the most overlooked is stationery items. As a boy, I would often get a multi-coloured rocket pen with ten separate phials of ink. Alongside the rocket pens, I would often find space erasers and pencil sharpeners. Today, they are difficult to come by, but I was pleased to obtain two prime examples from the sixties.
The first one is a classic rocket, three stages with small fins. The fins are removed to take the sharpener out and release the shavings. Its just under 3" high.
The second one, is Lunar Probe 1 and features elements which show the connection to Thunderbirds. The grey fuselage with white vertical lettering and red nose are very similar to the TB1, but the triple engine array is very similar to TB3.
Strangely, I also saw another auction for a friction Thunderbird 1 which came with a red version of the Lunar Probe. Sharpener synchronicity!
Gosh, I have only the vaguest memories of these, but I think I had a TB1 and a TB3, possibly contemporary with the show?
ReplyDeleteYes, these are early sixties, contemporary with first run of series
ReplyDeleteNice little items, Bill. The Thunderbird 1 looks quite accurate too.
ReplyDeletePicked tb1 up at comic fair in the Bluecoat, same one I met a youthful Scoop at!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! A long time ago, Bill, but good times, eh!
ReplyDeleteI was young and carefree then sharpener cost £1.50, you could drop the decimal point these days!
ReplyDeleteWhy where you wearing a blue coat at a toyfair Bill?
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, if anyone bought the recent ebay auction of friction TB1, thunderbirds red gun an little red sharpener and would like to sell or trade for the sharpener, let me know!
ReplyDeleteBlue coat is a bit like bluescreen, i can disappear at will!
ReplyDeleteI'll be posting a four-colour rocket-pen on my blog as soon as I've enough credit...but if you get down to your local 'The Works' you can have one for 99p!
ReplyDeleteheres a pound, lets go!
ReplyDeleteYou won't regret your purchase sir! It's brilliant, the four fins operate the four nibs!
ReplyDeleteExcept for a pen which looks like a UAV I don't have anything of the like in the collection yet. There have been some very nice - and very expensive - '40s era pencil boxes on fleaBay but I'm afraid the ransom money's not available for them from this pauper
ReplyDeleteI have that grey TB 'clone' rocket shown here with a yellow aft section in red variant myself, Bill, e-mail if such might interest you, always up for a swap.
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