In the summer of 2013 I saw the following description online of a short film held by ITN News Source:
"ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED DISPLAYS OF SPACE-AGE TOYS EVER SEEN IN LONDON WAS ON VIEW AT THE HONG KONG TRADE CENTRE TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN THE CROWN COLONY'S TOY MAKERS LAUNCHED A BIG DRIVE FOR THE BRITISH MARKET. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DISPLAY, WHICH LASTS UNTIL 14 JUNE, WAS REPLICA OF THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, LITTERED WITH SPACECRAFT OF ALL KINDS.
THE MOON TOY INCLUDED NOT ONLY ROCKETS AND SPACESHIPS BUT ALSO A MOON PROSPECTOR WITH A ROTATING SCANNER AND SEARCHLIGHT, A MOON BUS FOR TRANSPORTING MEN AND EQUIPMENT, AND A SCOOP SHOVEL FOR OBTAINING GEOLOGICAL SAMPLES. THERE WERE NO CHILDREN AT TODAY'S OPENING - ONLY BUSINESSMEN AND NEWSMEN."
As soon as I saw the names Moon Prospector and Moon Bus I knew that this was Project SWORD and got in touch! Alas, despite pleading blog poverty, over a six month period in 2013, the ITN Archive were charging £150 to put the clip on DVD and even then only for personal use! I was gutted and forgot about it....almost.
Fast forward nearly three years to February 2016 and ..... hold the bus! Checking the ITN site for any change in the price I was AMAZED to find that they now provide public previews of their film clips, including the Project SWORD short! Yes! Result!
So without further ado I am truly excited to bring you the link to ITN Source Clip BGY506 300558 0.You'll find the film video preview about half way down. Click on it and expand to full screen! The film is just shy of 2 minutes long and appears to be silent. The date of the film was the 25th May 1968. There are more technical details on the ITN page.
Not only is the film a Project SWORD toy bonanza, there is also a WHOLLY NEW toy 'variation', which is just sensational! Its featured at the beginning, at the 7 second mark for a mere 2 seconds, but boy oh boy! Don't blink or you'll miss it.
Enjoy readers, it doesn't get much better than this! Observations/ identifications/feelings and remarks really welcomed. What can you see?
Ultimate SWORD Bliss! Devastating to see the albino Nuke Ferry with the rest of the fleet. But where's the Moonbase Set? All in all thrilled to see a display dedicated solely for SWORD fleet. The date should make it easy to track down some printed remarks on the event. A veritable SWORD breakthrough! Woodsy you've made it once again!
ReplyDeleteThanks Arto. I'm just glad I checked that site again!
DeleteTotally delighted for you Woodsy!
ReplyDeleteIt's a thrill for me to see that clip, so I can imagine it must've been a total mind-blow for you. :) Brilliant stuff indeed.
Cheers and cheers again
--
Paul
Cheers Paul, it was mind blowing!
DeleteBrilliant stuff Woodsy, there's even a couple of Scout Force toys in the mix, and I spotted a wonky fronted Zero X just like yours ;D
ReplyDeleteThanks Scoop, ha ha, the Wonky X, its a must have! Those Scouts - even number 3 I think - are all there. And what about the white Ferry?
DeleteBit more at 30 seconds here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/RTV/1968/10/17/BGY507050309/?s=toy%20fair
Best -- Paul
Superb Paul, well spotted! From London to Japan! Yay!
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