Years ago I bought a book on Space Toys of the Sixties by James Gillam. Inside the Major Matt Mason section was reference to an unproduced toy called the Orbitor. It included a small crustacean-like alien called Or from Orr I think.
I did one post on the Orbitor about 12 years ago and this is my second one. Last time I mentioned coverage of the toy on the Wildtoys website. Alas, this amazing site appears now to have gone from the net entirely.
My old post is one of just a few that actually mention the Orbitor now.
There's a reference to the Orbitor on Wheeljacks Lab, describing it as an 'educational toy', but no other information or pictures.
In fact I couldn't find a single image of this unproduced toy anywhere on the web. I know there is at least one image in existence, because its in my Gillam's Sixties Space Toys book. It shows the Orbitor as a sort of spinner with the creature sat on top under a dome. Its powered by a kind of vertical foot-pump I think.
Have you come across Major Matt Mason's Orbitor or Or from Orr readers?
Alas, poor Or was never made. A pre-production model did surface and was bought by Frank May of the MMM collectors community I think. Or was a a small insectoid alien, who sat in the centre of a large rotor style saucer. A kid pulled a vertical ripcord arrangement, while steadying the launcher with their feet, sending the saucer spinning aloft. I think therein lies the problem with Orbitor, - as the kid stood so close to the angle of ascent, theres a good chance the kid could be injured as Or took off. John Eatons Wild Toys site has transmuted to our very own Blogger and can now be found here: with photos of Or!
ReplyDeletehttps://majormattmason.blogspot.com/
Bill
Small correction if I may:
ReplyDeleteFrank May built an Or & Orbitor from scratch, based on catalogue images:
https://majormattmason.blogspot.com/p/custom-or-and-orbitor.html
John Eaton does own an Or protoype:
https://majormattmason.blogspot.com/p/alien-or.html
Best -- Paul
That's just astonishing Paul, I'd no idea that a real Or and Orbitor existed. What a fantastic post that is; it must be like owning a Picasso. John must be thrilled with it. I do like the look of the new incarnation of 'Wildtoys' as a blog. I see you're an administrator; do you like the new blog format?
DeleteI actually delved into Johns blog after i responded and saw the little Or figure! amazing, but very flimsy. Bill
DeleteTo be honest, Franks is much better! BIll
Delete