Master Model Plane Construction 1959

 

Check out this gorgeous British Pathe clip of trade modellers making a huge model plane in 1959.

Cor!

What do you think?

CHRISTMAS PATHE

Its the 1st of December folks!

Look at the glorious Christmases of yesteryear and all those wonderful toys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19DOkFBZnso

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0a1Ew7QH74

See anything you remember?

JAPANESE SWORD: PROSPECTOR, CAPE KENNEDY AND MOON BUS ON FILM

This is an interesting British Pathe short from the 7th International Toy Fair 1968 in Japan, made even more interesting by some Project SWORD action from three of the range's classic toys. There's more toys besides. What can you see readers?

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/238186/

Your Project SWORD film clips, home made or found online, welcomed!

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?

PROJECT SWORD BOXES HIDDEN ON A HONG KONG ASSEMBLY LINE

I'm always amazed what's hidden away on British Pathe footage.

In this film, amazingly, Hong Kong toy factory workers are using flattened Project SWORD Cape Kennedy Set boxes as assembly line table covers whilst making racing cars! Its at 1.08 on the counter.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA38SVVZCW74P7YBE5RXEE4OHWF-HONG-KONG-MAKING-CHRISTMAS-TOYS-FOR-1971/query/hong+kong+toys

This is a picture of the box top for reference.

A number of things spring to mind watching this footage. Why are Cape Kennedy Set boxes being used like this? Is it because its 1971 and the sales of SWORD toys, having been launched in 1967, will have ended and therefore the boxes are now redundant?

More intriguingly, could this have been the very Hong Kong toy factory that the Cape Kennedy Sets were produced years earlier on behalf of Century 21 Toys?

What do you think?

There are lots of Project SWORD toys on British Pathe. This is just one.

THUNDERBIRDS 1965 on British Pathe

Have a look!

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/109502/

FAB1 and FAB2! BRITISH PATHE THUNDERBIRDS 1965

 I mean, Wow! FAB1 and FAB2 the boat! The original workshop of dreams!

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/109502/

Industrial Model Making - Behind the Scenes

Here is a British Pathe film from 1959, in colour, on industrial model making. Large scale civilian and military aircraft, of the type once seen in the windows of travel agents.

Some of the airliners have clear fuselage sides, showing off the interiors. The models are shown under construction, and you can see just how large and detailed they are.

Wood, metal, and plastic are the main materials. Prices range from £3 to £1500 - and £1500 would have been a lot of money in 1959.

A Series 1 Airfix kit sold for two shillings in 1959. So £1500 would have bought you 15,000 Airfix kits !

The armed Jet Provost trainer is in the markings of the Royal Ceylon Air Force - now Sri Lanka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srukErH2dl4

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Racing Car Models on British Pathe

Here is another old British Pathe film from 1959. A look at an amazing collection of hand-built 1/20th scale racing cars.

The chassis is metal, with a carved wooden body. Very fine detail, and working parts, many of the models were built for museums around the world, as trophies, or for private collectors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCk4H4gAFQc&t=7s

There is also a 1/10th scale 1929 Mercedes.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Eldon Scenic Kit on Film

Hi Woodsy

I have just found these on You Tube, in case you have not seen them before, although I expect you have. Both clips are British Pathe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRb4Akm_RZM

British Toy Fair 1968, with a beautiful (and large) plastic car ferry, Pelham Puppets of the Beatles, toy guns, a space car that should interest you, and Airfix kits. There is even a made up Eldon 3D Scenic kit - the undersea one with the diver and shark - sitting on a table. 

The angle shows the curved backscene - these sets were a fair size. It seems to be on the Wells Brimtoy stand, so they must have been distributing these Eldon kits in Britain in the late 1960s.

Next up, the 1958 Fair with covered wagon pedal cars, Herald cowboys with interchangeable parts, dancers of the world, a dog sled, a gun for firing table tennis balls, ship kits, and a super shell garage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6vuEmGySmc

Several of these toys have appeared on Moonbase Central in the past.

Paul Adams

New Zealand

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?

JR21 LOOKALIKE MOTORBIKE BRITISH PATHE FILM

Last Sunday during my JR21 Motorcycle Day I posted the above still from a British Pathe film from 1964.

I've managed to relocate the film on Pathe but I can't find that still.

I have however found the section where the plastic motorcycle appears, which you can see as a different still below.

Its above the remote control Jaguar.

Here's the clip.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/1964-toys-on-show/query/1964+toys

Sears Apollo Saturn Rocket on British Pathe 1964

I've blogged this before many times. Browsing Ebay reader Tony K reminded me just how fabulous it looks recently and as I'm such a huge fan of the Project SWORD Apollo Saturn rocket here goes again. 

This footage from British Pathe depicts Christmas in London and around the World in 1964.

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

You should see if you watch closely what I assume is the US Sears version of the Apollo Saturn based on Tomy's Japanese original. There's no box, just the rocket as shown below but in black and white.

I know a few readers are lucky enough to own the Sears rocket. It was part of the Sears Turnpike range and actually emitted smoke.

There was also a mirror on the baseplate. Was that to reflect the smoke and give it even more dramatic umph?

By the way, If you are able to send me a clip of your toy rocket giving off smoke that would be so fab for me and blog readers to see!

St. Nicholas the Gift-Bringer in Holland 1967

Still just about in time for the closing holiday season I found this clip of St. Nicholas in 1967.

I found it on British Pathe and it was filmed in Holland. Very evocative and there are some toys you'll recognise!

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/st-nicholas-in-holland

american toys at frankfurt toy fair 1963

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/american-toys-on-show-at-frankfurt/query/toy+rocket

courtesy of British Pathe.

the toy factory 1972

This is fun. A British Pathe silent film about toy making in 1972. There's some familiar faces like the plush Rupert. 

Quite a few toy trains at the start too.

The dolls' arms mould at the end is fascinating.

Have ypou any interesting footage of toy making or repair?

the toy fixing air force of america

Just watched this amazing British Pathe footage of the US Air Force based in the UK fixing toys for kids way back in the Fifties. Apart from the BBC presenter's ridiculously plummy voice the whole things a delight. 

These service men could fix anything by the looks of it! There's even a paint spraying booth!

Who could we get to repair our old toys these days like this?