Saturns All

 

All four! Cor!

Apollo-X by Tomy: Japan's Apollo Saturn

 Hot on the heels of Ed's wonderful Project SWORD Apollo Saturn by Century 21 Toys. 

Here's some pics from Japan of the likely origin, one of a number of Japanese toys and kits which very likely inspired Project SWORD toy designs.

This is

Tomy's Apollo-X in its Japanese box, presumably for the mid-1960's home market.

(Their next or other version was the Ranger-7 in an English language box)

I'm not convinced this original version had a parachute capsule, although clearly the red tip detached. It's not clear.

Certainly the parachute capsule appeared in the next Tomy iteration, the Ranger-7 Interplanetary Rocket with the English box.

Century 21 Toys repeated the feature on their Apollo Saturn.

Has anyone got a Tomy Apollo-X in its Japanese box?

Ed's Century 21 Project SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket

Woodsy,

I got around to photographing the recently acquired Century 21 Project SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket and it is a beauty!

The seller didn't lead me to expect much based on the photos and description, but to my surprise the rocket was complete and in working order! 

It even came with two extra front red fins, and you've already seen the Project SWORD Manual that came with it. The plastic has yellowed with age but that's common with vintage toys. 

As well, the box has seen better days, but it is 96% intact. It takes two 'D'-cell batteries and runs forward and reverse, and the lights blink as they should. 

Overall, I'm stoked!

From Vegas SWORD Base

Ed

Space Cards Wrapper 1958

 

This came into my feed, an amazing wax gum wrapper from 1958. 

Space Cards by AB&C.

The rocket reminds me of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn toy ten years later.

Is this a gum card set you know? 

SPACE BALL: all Strung Up.

 This a a new one on me I saw online.

The Space Ball.

A ball with a parachute.

Chuck it in the air and it floats back down.

Neat and simple. A born stocking filler.

I wonder if it worked?

Did you have one?

The chute reminds me of the chute on the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn capsule.

The plastic ball makes me want to fill it with ice cream! Remember those?

THE CATWEAZLE APOLLO SATURN LETTERING

I've been trying to recreate the lettering seen on the Catweazle Apollo Saturn spotted by Bill Ev.

I removed TURN and blurred the rest in the hope that the SA was the WA I think I can see.

Its not the same. A completely different font.

Anyone know what it says?

Project Catweazle

Watching an episode of Catweazle this week and saw this!

The Project SWORD Apollo Saturn! 

Bill Ev

UK

TOMY APOLLO SATURN TOYS ON FILM

 There are two, yes two Japanese Tomy Apollo-X rockets in this footage of Tochgi toy village factory - is that a Tomy sign at the entrance?

 The Apollo X was the forerunner of the Century 21 Toys Project SWORD Apollo Saturn.

Enjoy this short British Pathe film: first half shows toy robot making [I love how they obediently stand up on the conveyor belt!] and the second part, with the rockets, shows other Tomy toys like the Space Nik track set.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVADBB7USTRWIDMFNANBI4GX912U-JAPAN-TOY-TOWN-PRODUCES-SPACE-AGE-CHRISTMAS-GIFTS/query/japan+toy

What do you think?

CALLING OCCUPANTS

Its always good to see some Project SWORD and relatives on surfin' forays. Here's an old chum, the TOMY Interplanetary Space Rocket, complete with parachute, a forerunner of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn toy.

Seen on Yahoo Japan.

Have you anything like this?

TEARS FOR SEARS

 Years ago the blog's focus was on Project SWORD toys and their many relatives.

One such relative was the wondrous US Rocket Base released by Sears in the mid-Sixties. Its an early version of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn. There are Japanese versions too. Bill has one of those.

I don't 😥

I've just found this short video on YT about the Sears Rocket Base. Have a gander. Do you have anything like this? What do you think?

WILL O'S PROJECT SWORD APOLLO SATURN AND TV21

 

Can you spot it in the boy's arms?

SEARS ROCKET BASE: PROJECT SWORD LOOKALIKE

 

We've featured the uber-cool Sears Rocket Base here many many times. Its part of the Project SWORD toy story.

I recently saw this picture on Worthpoint and it highlights again how similar this toy is to the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn. Here you can even see the transparent capsule rod and the folded red check parachute in front of the rocket, the same features that the Apollo Saturn has.

Anyone got either - or both! - of these toys! I've got the Apollo Saturn but not the Sears rocket.

APOLLO SATURN ANYONE?

 

I liked this modern toy box cover image.

It reminded me completely of these Project SWORD Apollo Saturn toys.

Anyone got one of these?

DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

The American relative of the Century 21 Toys Project SWORD Apollo Saturn.

The Sears Rocket Base on You Tube.

Cor blimey!

I'd love that rocket!

Anyone got one?

XMAS AROUND THE WORLD: APOLLO SATURN ROCKET ON FILM

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/xmas-round-the-world/query/xmas+round+the+world

Did you see it? 

TOCHGI APOLLO SATURNS

There are two, yes two Japanese Tomy Apollo-X rockets in this footage of Tochgi toy village factory. The Apollo X was the forerunner of the Century 21 Toys Apollo Saturn.

Enjoy this British Pathe film
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVADBB7USTRWIDMFNANBI4GX912U-JAPAN-TOY-TOWN-PRODUCES-SPACE-AGE-CHRISTMAS-GIFTS/query/japan+toy

BRITISH PATHE: SEARS ROCKET BASE 1966

Feast your eyes on this Sears Rocket Base at the 17th International Nurenburg Toy Fair 1966. It appears at 29 seconds with a pup barking at it.

The Sears Rocket Base was the forerunner of the Century 21 Toys Project SWORD Apollo Saturn rocket.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA2SQVZYBI990ARPHYFBIFHVWKJ-WEST-GERMANY-17TH-NURENBURG-INTERNATIONAL-TOY-FAIR/query/toy+fair

Anyone got one?

TO THE MOON AND BACK

Celebrating further the magnificent Moon Mission of '69, 

here's Project SWORD Apollo Saturn blasting off courtesy of some 3D effects!

For the US version there is a neat video on You Tube about the Sears Rocket Base, which, unlike the UK version, even has a real smoking effect from the engine!

Have you got this toy readers?

YONEZAWA ATLAS 7 1965 ROCKET

There is just something abut this toy rocket I saw on Ebay that reminds me of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn Rocket and its relatives below.

I thinks its the overall shape, the bottom fins and in particular the nosecone.

What do you think?

Here's the complete toy on Alphadrome showing the spinning rotor and the box.

http://www.danefield.com/data/displayimage-12-4802.html

Anyone got one?

SEARS ROCKET BASE: THE AMERICAN PROJECT SWORD APOLLO SATURN ON YOU TUBE

Have you got one?