This week Arto pointed out a strange label inside a Project SWORD Prospector so I thought I would pull together all the label posts we've had over the years in one place.
Taking in both Tarheel and Century 21 toys, which have featured on Ebay over the last 8 years, here you'll find inspection slips, packing labels and factory stickers.
This Tarheel Talking Rabbit Hunt set included a factory quality inspection slip - pictured above - sorry about the quality of the picture! On closer 'inspection' it doesn't actually have any reference to Tarheel on it and could be for any toy I suppose.So all in all not that significant.
Empire of Tarboro was the successor to Tarheel. I wrote to Empire in the mid-1990's but they were unable to send me anything about their history, which I've since attempted to compile on this blog. So it was with great interest that I found this pre-production Empire toy listed on Ebay US, which had the original factory tag:
"13" long, resin with plastic wheels Made by Empure, Tarboro, NC- with "Not a Production Sample" tag. Marked copyright Carolina Enterprises 1970 on the underside."
And here's the toy WORM once in production in 1973 with its box!
If only a pre-production TARHEEL SWORD toy or some paperwork would turn up! Now that would be a very enlightening!
What did turn up was this inspection slip inside this Tarheel Moon Prospector, approved by Inspector no.68! Note the lack of SWORD branding on the box and toy.
Here it is close up.
Tarheel was completely de-branded by Consorti for the Italian market. The redacted boxes had their label stuck on as you can see top right on the lid.
and close up.
This genuine article by Century 21 also had factory labels on the box. A number of these labeled toys have turned up over the last few years.
Close up we can see the label quite clearly.
Finally and most recently this mysterious slip of paper turned up inside a Century 21 Moon Prospector box. Its an address label for Ronson on the Isle of Wight. Ronson were a well-known cigarette lighter brand. Neither Arto or myself have any idea what its doing with the Prospector!
Have you come across any labels with your old toys readers?
