Last year I came across this intriguing 36 mm all-white hard plastic Mickey Mouse figure, still sealed in a plastic bag. On the bag it said "VISKO-GIFT - Collect All 13 Fairytale Figures".
(Photo 1. Bagged Mickey Mouse)
Visko was a Finnish detergent brand in the 1950's and 1960's, and in 1964 they advertised a "New Visko" packaging which had a free gift inside.
(Photo 2. Visko package front)
The full set included 13 different figures: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Huey, Goofy, Pluto, plus Snow White and the seven dwarfs Doc, Sneezy, Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy and Dopey.
(Photo 3. Visko package back)
Later I have been able to bag also loose figures of Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Snow White, and Doc the dwarf.
(Photo 4. Visko Disneykins)
My good friend Woodsy noticed the similarity of the postures to those of Marx Disneykins, which were produced from 1961 to 1973.
(Photo 5. Full set of painted Disneykins - Photo courtesy of Back to the Past Collectibles)
They even have a website dedicated to them http://www.disneykins.com/.
The original Disneykins were always painted. However, there was a Coca-Cola promotion in Mexico showcasing a large variety of all-white Disney figures of similar postures. The date of the promotion is unknown.
(Photo 6. Disneykins Coca-Cola Promotion - Photo courtesy of WorthPoint)
Mexico being situated on the other side of the world, it is difficult to find a connection between these two promotions.
But wait!... Who is that little party crasher on the right?
(Photo 7. Visko Disneykins with Pinocchio)
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Thanks to Woodsy for contributing to this post.
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Arto
Helsinki Base
Cool find, Arto. Against the odds to catch one still in an original bag after all these years.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony, it was a surprise new discovery and very intriguing. The packet pictured is also unopened so there is another bagged figure inside. Will open it in laundry emergency only!
DeleteThe R & L company who produced many of the cereal premiums for Kelloggs ended up selling a lot of the original molds and dies for the models to a company in Mexico. Mexican premiums are available today, but tend to be in garish flourescent colours. Its possible that the same fate befell the Visko moulds, or even the Marx Disneykins. Bill
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Bill, hopefully we'll find out more about the production history.
DeleteThose are great Arto! I've got a group of small white Flintstones figures but those have been an absolute bear for me to photograph.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Ed, I've seen The Flintstones Tinykins which are painted, but never plain white ones. Another promotion perhaps?
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, so well collected Arto. Small lovely things. Glad I could help a bit.
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