In the case of Wittrock (and the X-300) there has been a development.
Re. the eBay auction of 2012, I found my old photo files. Unfortunately, I had saved the whole internet page, which is why the photos were reduced to tiny 2 kb micro thumbnails. Except for those box ends, which I had saved separately!
What's more, Alphadrome has stored a photo of that boxed X-300 that was auctioned.
Which enabled me to compile these six photos, the first three featuring the Telex Wittrock box version which was auctioned in 2012, and the last three the Finnish Telex version.
As you may see, the Wittrock box ends state the toy as "Rumskib X-300" in Danish, with item number 123. The visible text on the side panel, "Rymdraket", is in Swedish. And there should be an additional Finnish name "Avaruusraketti" on the other side of the box, since the Space Cruiser itself is marked Telex on the underside (visible when enlarged). So the box says "Space Rocket" in three different Scandinavian languages!
The question remains how that three-language Wittrock box came to exist, and for which market it was aimed?
Furthermore, it is still unclear whether Wittrock issued the "Rumskib X-300" for the Danish market with an all-Dane box.
For comparison, the same three photos of the standard Telex box version, with Finnish and Swedish box ends.
Arto
Helsinki Base
Wittrock
Telex
It all comes down to three questions:
ReplyDeleteWhy the Wittrock X-300 Space Cruiser is marked Telex and not Wittrock?
Did Wittrock really manufacture the toys or act as a sales agent for Scandinavia?
Did Wittrock use the existing Telex toy to market it in Denmark (and perhaps Sweden) in a different box?
It's a fabulous toy conundrum Arto and thanks for sharing. I'd never heard of Wittrock until you mentioned it. Good old Brian and co at Alphadrome too!
ReplyDeleteRegardless of packaging, the original Pyro designs are timeless! Great write-up Arto!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. The premise here has been that the Danish toy manufacturer Helmuth Wittrock produced the X-300 for itself and Telex too.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe we should look at this the other way around. Maybe it was Telex that provided the toys and the plates for the box, of which only box ends were replaced with Wittrock hallmark.
It reminds me of T in a Circle and JR21 SWORD toys Arto. We know they're related - with logos changing, one brand in another brand's box and so on. All quite intriguing. I'm sure you won't be the only collector looking into Wittrock and Telex.
DeleteSo true Woodsy. Just like old times. Good old mystery keeps collecting titillating!
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to find a kindred spirit in Denmark, a toy collector with whom to exchange information about this case and others.
The Dane is Out There!
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