I've blogged this before many times. Browsing Ebay reader Tony K reminded me just how fabulous it looks recently and as I'm such a huge fan of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn rocket here goes again.
This footage from British Pathe depicts Christmas in London and around the World in 1964.
You should see if you watch closely what I assume is the US Sears version of the Apollo Saturn based on Tomy's Japanese original. There's no box, just the rocket as shown below but in black and white.
I know a few readers are lucky enough to own the Sears rocket. It was part of the Sears Turnpike range and actually emitted smoke.
There was also a mirror on the baseplate. Was that to reflect the smoke and give it even more dramatic umph?
There was also a mirror on the baseplate. Was that to reflect the smoke and give it even more dramatic umph?
By the way, If you are able to send me a clip of your toy rocket giving off smoke that would be so fab for me and blog readers to see!
A great clip and a great rocket, thanks for blogging Woodsy.
ReplyDeleteThat Merit Two-Stage Rocket Set is also very interesting, much more scarce than the square-boxed Lunar Rocket version.
You're welcome Arto. I love seeing SWORD toys on old film reels and British Pathe is a treasure trove. I will have to re-watch it to look at the Merit rocket. I know I had a Merit water rocket as a kid but not sure which one! It was great fun. I wonder how many of those Tomy Rockets were sold in Europe back then.
DeleteThats a lovely, evocative clip. Good to see the old Woolies store doing brisk business. The Sears Saturn gets a good showing, you can clearly see something going on behind the engine panels. Ive got the Tomy version and the mechanism inside is so simple, you wonder how it works! My version has suffered some heat damage and the soft rubber hoses on the smoke device have perished. The Merit Rocket is a staple on Ebay, theres always at least one set on there at a time. I had the 80's red and white Timpo re-release which was in turn taken from the Park Plastics remoulding of the original Merit.
ReplyDeleteYoure the only person I know of who has a Tomy Rocket in Britain Bill. Were they even sold here?
DeleteI think they would have appeared in larger Woolworth stores, Woolies must have had a deal with fellow american company Sears, as I recall seeing the lareg 8 wheel Moon rOver with the Matt Mason astronaut in it, while I was on holiday down south.
ReplyDeleteSo do you think it was the American rocket for sale in Woolies or the Japanese Tomy version Bill? In the Pathe clip its a rocket on its own. There's no gantry like the Sears version. There's also an old TV21 advert showing one of the rockets 0n its own - no gantry - in a lad's arms. It looks like its either a Sears or a Tomy to me. You?
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