As a secret agent kid in the Sixties I adored spy toys.
One of my favourites was the 1965 Secret Sam attaché case by Topper.
I can see it now, a large black plastic case jam packed with spy gold like a fully compartmentalised rifle with detachable pistol and orange secret message missiles. The case even fired plastic toy bullets from the side! How damn cool was that!
Nothing really brings back the Sixties for me like Secret Sam!
Did you have a Secret Sam case?
As a collector and toy trader I've loved getting back various Secret Sam cases. I've completed a couple of incomplete sets and sold one or two cases on my old toy stall, which was fun, discussing classic spy toys with customers - in hushed tones of course!
I think only my Topper Johnny Seven One Man Army rifle topped my Topper Secret Sam case!
Here's a vintage Secret Sam TV ad from America when kids met other kids in trench coats and handed over attaches! How fab!
One of the neatest features of the Topper case was the secret camera. Real pictures of dodgy bad guys could be taken by clicking the button on the side of the case ...... and it really WORKED!
The detailed instruction sheet explained everything about the working camera and how to insert the film, standard 127 roll. No film was included in the case but it was widely available back then I imagine.
Alas I don't recall ever getting the film or taking any photographs, despite clicking that camera till it hurt.
Fortunately the Secret Sam camera is still popular among camera buffs and you can still see what sort of snaps it took online! I could only find black and white results but I understand the camera also took colour snaps too.
Here's a fabulous example of a modern Secret Sam camera enthusiast on Flickr, Tony Kemplen and his gallery of superb monochrome Secret Sam photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tony_kemplen/49459668008/in/photostream/
Out of curiosity I tried to find some 127 film available to buy now but found it hard to locate. One rare stockist, Analogue Wonderland, had this bundle for £14.
I wonder of any of you ever took any Secret Sam photographs?
Do you still own one of the 127 film cameras?
The Secret Sam camera also appeared in another Topper set, the Secret Sam Camera Book, a toy I have only ever seen in pictures online.
Did you have one?
I never had any Secret Sam toys, or any other spy toys, just regular Army and Cowboy toys. My Mother did have a 127 camera, with which all my childhood photographs were taken. It should still be in a box somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAre there any photos of you with yer toys Paul I wonder?
DeleteOddly - I had the camera for years, without realising it was from the toy. A lovely toy, Topper made some of the best toys in the sixties.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it looks like a normal box camera so easily done!
DeleteIf you have a Secret Sam camera, you can convert it simply to accept 35mm film, by using a 127 film roller cut in two. I use Analogue Wonderland a lot and they have some excellent film deals.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, thanks!
DeleteI was never issued with the famous Secret Sam attaché case as an undercover kid. My cloak and dagger operations were handled by double agent operative, Mike Hazard.
ReplyDeleteFab article Woodsy, packed with the nostalgic ethos of childhood espionage.
Me neither Tony, I was only ever given access to the el cheapo Redbox version, with a tiny pistol inside a yellow plastic cigarette case. I kindly gave this to a fellow blogger, but he quickly sold it! eh Woodsy ?
DeleteI did it to preserve world peace Bill!
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