THE BARRETT SPACEMASTER

Looey's amazing Eco Squad and his Ark II project recently reminded me of a space toy first posted here 2011, the Spacemaster.

Some of the old links may not work now, sorry.

It maybe interesting for new readers nonetheless I hope.

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The above mystery ship recently appeared on fleabay [seller neuelectro]. It was described as the "Space Master Spaceship Made in England by A. Barrett & Sons, 6.5 inches long and complete with box and figures."

The overall look and particularly the rear engines reminded me personally of Stingray. Anyway, having heard of neither the toy nor the maker I asked several blog readers for their ideas.

Scoop recognised it immediately as similar to a two man escape craft used in Dan Dare’s Operation Saturn story from around February 1953. 

Scoop kindly sent me the two scans shown below, the top one depicting a shorter version described as a "small two-seater spaceship" and the bottom 'cards' showing a longer version, bottom left, called the M.H. Test Ship, which for me is the more similar of the two compared to the toy.

Reader Paul V kindly explained a little about the toy company. 

"Before the war, Taylor & Barrett were competitors to Britain's in producing metal figures. Also competitors to Meccano Ltd in making railway staff and small lineside items (which Meccano made for their 0-gauge Hornby trains, before the cars and some of the figures evolved into Dinky Toys). 

I think I have some platform equipment of theirs amongst my Hornby stuff. When the war ended and toy production could resume, Taylor and Barrett operated separately, both with sons. Still producing metal toys, though turning to plastic in the 60s and continuing production until the early 80s I believe. The figures in the bag are mentioned on the box flap [below]."

Thanks everyone for help identifying this toy. NB. Please note that the item has been relisted this week on Ebay as a metal reproduction made in 1994! Woodsy

Today's earlier post on the Barrett Space Master has proved interesting for Swordies. Reader Arto wrote to me: 

Hi Paul, what an interesting case, which brought back to me this quite recent LiveAuctioneers item. It seems that Morphy's had to re-auction the item with a revised description six months later, as the pictures used are exactly the same. And thus also the price came down from $550 to mere $60. As the first description states, there's a picture of the Spacemaster in Blast-Off! (p. 114).

Cheers,

Arto

I'm grateful to Arto for these links and to make it easier I've shown them below along with the date of the auction, the pictures and the basic description given.

Morphies Auctions January 2011 [pictured below] Salesman's Sample. "Very little wear overall. Includes original salesman sample box. Item was never put into production and there are only a few known examples. Pictured on page 114 of "Blast Off" by Mark Young, Steve Duin, and Mike Richardson".

Morphies Auctions August 2011 [same picture as above] Contemporary Copy. "This is a contemporary copy of the original prototype ship and comes in a laser-copied box".

I also found this online record of a Christies blue 'factory sample' sale in 2001:

Christies 2001 Factory Sample "Barrett and Son. Rare Spacemaster Rocket Ship, factory sample, never issued (perspex cover missing) and three Hill aliens." Sold for £235 [were the Hill aliens related to the Space Master in some way? Woodsy]

Reader Ferryman has also wrote in: Hi Woodster, I have a little more info for you on the 'Space Master' blog post. There are apparently only three known original examples of this toy in boxes. They were all salesman's samples and it never went into actual production. Cheers, Ferryman.

So Swordies, the toy never went into production and only three boxed salesmen's samples are in existence!

Presumably the 2001 blue factory sample was either one of these [or a fourth?]. The Morphies' and Ebay auctions appear to have been yellow and red reproductions respectively and no doubt, because of the collactability of this toy, there will be more. 

Do let me know if you have any more info regarding the elusive Space Master!