Way back in the mists of the late sixties, when space toys were everywhere and could be bought for a few shillings, I got a neat little blue friction drive rocket. It came in a nifty cardboard box which went in the bin about an hour after I got home and began revving it around the lino. On the back of it was a rotund silver spaceman, who would whirl around in gleeful circles as the rocket rolled. Many long hours followed, but ultimately things began to break and fall apart due to careless storage and hard playtimes. The chubby spaceman broke at the shoulder and his arm came away and the rocket itself became separated into another pile of toys.
Over the years, the rocket would be cannibalised for parts and the little spaceman disappeared from view. Then, somehow he popped up again on the radar and was discovered in the bottom of a box, still smiling, but missing the arm. I tried to repair him in various ways, but always managing to make things worse and wearing more and more of the lovely chrome finish off, till he looked almost black.
Fast forward again to the early 90's and the advent of the internet spurs a revival of my interest in Spacex and Sword toys and after a search online reveals a fellow collector with similar interests, I dug out all my old space toys with a view to sharing some photos. The little spaceman is unearthed again, along with a handful of battered Golden Astronauts. His ship is long gone, but he's still smiling, despite half his body cavity being filled with Plasticine.
Hit the forward button a decade on and we find that the rocket was one of a small series of toys and quite instrumental in the history of plastic space toys.
Cut to the present and a slow day at work sends me off looking for stuff on ebay and a search for 'thunderbirds model' flags up a listing for a blue rocket, erroneously identified as JR21 Thunderbird 1 Rocket. A swift 'buy it now' later and the rocket begins its trip to a rendezvous with our little space friend.
Glad you were able to find another example of your childhood toy, and were able to return that spaceman to his proper place atop the rocket.
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to plug a gap in a collection!
DeleteYou just regaled us with a true SPACE ODYSSEY. Well done.
ReplyDeleteAn extraordinary example of resurrecting a lost toy through perseverance! I would have been haunted by that Space Rocket if I had it as a kid, too! Fine work! SFZ
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific rocket and a great save! Way to go Bill!
ReplyDeleteExcellent job, Bill. This Space Rocket is one of my LP favourites. The little astronaut floating in space gives the toy an existential aspect that few toys have.
ReplyDeleteBuying another example for spares, only then I realised that it comes in two reversed colour schemes.
Lovely circular story Bill. That small spaceman has travelled with you through time, through thick and thin and now you've repaid his loyalty with a new body. Its as if you and he were waiting for the right technology to come along! He's home once more.
ReplyDeleteNice work! I was reading through your post, thinking "he can fix that!"
ReplyDelete