Continuing my look at a few toy catalogues that are on auction online here's the Larami catalogue from 1969.
Being a fan of action figures and dolls I was drawn to the Gunfighter figure on the left. He looks a lot like Marx's Johnny West to me, which I adored as a kid.
The description holds the intriguing line about the Gunfighter being a 'replica of the man who won the west'. Is that a euphemism for knocking off Johnny West?
I had a hollow blow moulded polythene Cowboy that looked very much like this.
ReplyDeleteHe was light blue, with separate soft vinyl hands and head. He had brown polythene hat, waistcoat, gunbelt and boots. He had two black polythene six shooters and came in a plastic baggy with a cardboard header panel. I bought him very cheaply at our local Newsagent/Post Office in the late sixties.
I haven't thought about him in 50 years!
Glad we could help Looey! 50 years! Its a time machine full of plastic memories!
DeleteI'm not familiar with Larami, Woodsy. Although I'm sure I've seen The Gunfighter. If I'm right, then unlike heavyweigh Johnny West from Marx, this cheap alternative was made from lightweight hollow blown plastic and had very limited articulation. I'm sure the head sculpt was a direct clone of Johnny West. As well as the brown version shown in the catalogue, I've a feeling I remember seeing blue and green versions as well. I don't know if they were also Larami or competing KO cowboys by another company? Although any of these would make an interesting addition to a vintage action figure collection, as few are likely to have survived.
ReplyDeleteFascinating Tone. I shall look in my Toys of the Sixties book and see if the Gunfighter rocks up there too.
DeleteThat sounds like the cowboy figure I was thinking of, Lewis :)
ReplyDelete