THE TEAMSTERZ SHARK LAUNCHER TOY

Here is something I found in a regular toy shop. A toy car launcher, for shooting Hot Wheels-sized models across the floor, in the shape of a very large shark.

The manufacturer is a British company called HTI Group, which was founded in 1952. The TeamsterZ is a range of die-cast and plastic vehicles, playsets, and track sets. The toys themselves are Made in China.

This one features the head of a shark, and comes with a single car. It comes in an open-fronted cardboard box, with the car held in a very thin clear plastic bubble.

The mouth of the Shark Launcher contains a flat plate, which is pushed back until it locks in to place. The car is placed against the plate, and the upper half of the head is pressed down. The plate is released, and propels the car across the floor.

I found two versions of the Shark Launcher. A dark grey and white version, with a black hot rod. The second is medium blue and white, and has an orange single-seater with silver-grey plastic parts. The back of the box shows a version of this with the upper wing in orange plastic.

The back of the box shows other TeamsterZ models, including a dinosaur-head launcher. I do not know if this is the full range.

The launchers are white plastic, with the painted upper surface colouring and black eyes. The internal mechanism, the complete upper jaw, and the two sets of lower teeth, are all a deep cream 'tooth colour', with painted deep pink gums.

Paul Adams from New Zealand