2000 COBRAS

 

I quite like these Greek space planes, Cobra 2000.

Its a design I've seen before in the old Gay Toys Laser Force 2000 range, which were soft plastic hollow vehicles.

Is it a design you know?

THE SPANISH JOHNNY JOLLY SEVEN: AGENTE ESPACIAL 009

As you'd expect, I love this big toy rifle from Spain released in 1968.

Its got those 007 Jolly Seven chops with a Johnny Seven vibe throughout, just my cup of cha!

It was manufactured by Spanish toy giants Jyesa and came in this marvellous box.

Baddies didn't stand a chance!

The rifle came with a detachable pistol and had sound and light effects.

It took three big batteries up the butt. You can see the Jyesa round logo here too, JYE.

It wpould have been spectacular on the shelves of Spain's toyshops in 1968 and featured in catalogues of the day like this page here, where it's shown top left.

Interestingly its very similar of not the same toy as the Leizer 2000 from Greece we've seen before.

See also my history of the Fireball XL5 rifle for another perspective of this toy gun [click on the label below].

What do you think readers?

THE GREEK JOHNNY SEVEN

I've written about these before but I'm always amazed when they turn up on Ebay, the Greek Leizer 200 made by Alpha.

Its clearly a Greek knockoff of the much more famous Johnny Seven by Topper, but still its got some style of its own.

The red pistol at the front detaches too.

It would look the part in a Johnny Seven toy collection or even a Fireball XL5 toy rifle collection!

What do you think?

I'VE GOT MY EYE ON THIS ION

I recognised this old Greek board game straight away. You?

A Christmas classic!

LYRA MAN

This torso is by Greek company Lyra. I'm unsure what this toy man is called. He's clearly a type of military Action Man style doll.

The face is unusual!

Anyone know this fella?

*

Brian at Monsterbase says he looks like Greg Brady aka Barry Williams! ha ha. I have to agree!

GREEK JEEP

 This plastic Elvip Lyra military jeep caught my eye online.

It reminds me of the plastic Century 21 Toys Hurdler ...

But it also has a flavour of one of my big 3 tinplate toys I had as a kid in the Sixties, the wonderful Desert Patrol Jeep, a toy I managed to replace about 20 years ago.

Have you any Jeeps or did you have readers?

MYSTERY TANK BOX ART

 

I saw this old toy tank recently on the bay. I think its Greek.

Isn't that Klaus Kinski on the box lid?

Looks like a film poster. Any ideas readers?

COLLECTING JANET AND ANN GRAHAME JOHNSTONE

 

Macdonald's Greek Myths and Legends was one of my favourite books as a kid in the Sixties. I still have a copy to this day [sadly not my original].

One of the huge draws for me was the artwork, which was done by the wonderfully talented twins Janet and Anne Graham Johnstone.

Their style is instantly recognisable, with tall muscular nymph-like figures with mod hair cuts. I love it and still do.

Another book they illustrated was the bigger hardback Jason and The Golden Fleece. I still have my childhood copy from a Zodiac Toys shop.

One of my favourite paintings in the Golden Fleece was of the Gorgons. I was mesmerised by the tusks!

Checking this artwork online I was amazed to see that this original illustration is actually for sale at the Book Palace! How cool is that! Not that I could afford the price but its great too see! How marvellous it would be to collect original art. Do you readers?

As you would expect the Grahame Johnstone twins' art is beloved worldwide and there is a lot about them online. One nice website is Daisy's online shrine to the pair https://beautifulbooks.info/illustrated-bibliographies/janet-and-anne-grahame-johnstone-a-complete-illustrated-bibliography/

Do you like the Grahame Johnstone twin's work?

have you any of their illustrated books?

STATIC FROM THE ATTIC

 I ventured into our attic today.

Hard to believe this used to be the office for my international power selling ebay toy shop 15 years ago! What a mess!

At least one corner is more or less tidy!

I went up to find a Century 21 Mobile Tank turret that Wotan gave me 12 years ago. As expected I didn't find it but I did unearth lots of old tat toys!

A very tall knockoff [KO] Spidey from a Greek holiday I think.

An old colouring book with a gorgeous space cover, one of the first things I ever found at a car boot sale, maybe 25 years ago.

Old super hero stuff, calender, paper cups and easter egg boxes. I kept everything!

Vintage games including one from Zodiac Toys, my fave toy shop when I was a lad.

Another Mediterranean holiday find from years ago. Mystery Man. I love this Batman KO!

The pose of Mystery Man looks familiar. Ring any bells?

A more recent morsel. Gorilla! Old Kongy has light-up eyes and likes to eat rockets - alas not included - but I did get a plastic palm. From a pound shop about 10 years ago.

Ahh, our old black and white telly! me and the Missus watched everything on it at one time when we were just married paupers in the early 80's. A casualty of the tech wars now. You'd just get static from its analog brain. What would Alexa say?

And even older, a Rosedale electric organ, the very same model I had as a kid in the 60's. I adored this instrument and when I saw one at a car boot about 15 years ago I snapped it up. The reedy misty sound is amazing and even David Bowie thought so too. He used one on his first album Space Oddity on a track called Memory of a Free Festival!

Anything look familiar readers?

THE AA BRAND

Not Greek in this version!

Terranova47

USA

THE AA TOY BRAND LOGO

I see the AA toy brand logo a lot. 

This neat space toy, Lunar Transport, has the brand on the box and it makes it clear its made in Greece.

the listing for this toy name the Greek toy outfit as Ananaides.

Do you have an AA toy?

POLYPLAST JR21 NEW FLYING SAUCER: THE GREEK BOX

 We've featured the Greek version of the JR21 New Flying Saucer by Polyplast before.

But we've not featured the Greek box before.

Have you got one?

You can see the Greek text on the side.

The front and second side are however in English.

The distinguishing features of the toy are the silver saucer ring and the name Polyplast below right above the battery unit.

This example was on Ebay via superboffer9.

CONTINUING THE CONTINUOUS ACTION TRAVELER

This is the Continuous Action Traveler released by Century 21 Toys in the Sixties.

I've blogged this toy a few times - see the labels below.

The toy's brand still remains mysterious.

The box clearly says its from Century 21 Toys.

The undercarriage has the AA logo, which I believe is a Greek toy brand.

What do you think?

OLD YELLERS

Not sure if I've seen yellow LP-types before but here's a whole academy.

I clocked the piccy on Ebay or Etsy ages ago. They may be Greek.

Have you any old yellers like this?

GREEK GREEDO?

I saw this little Greek Airgam Boys figure by Plast Toys online and thought .... by the force, that's Greedo!

What do you think?

A Greeko?

Are Plast Toys Serie Space knockoffs collectable?

Here's Kenner's original figure 1977 as seen on Ebay.

GREEK MOON SCOUT MADE BY ALFA

This is an interesting take on the Moon Scout I saw on auction.

A more bitty version of the well-known walking toy. It seems to have been made using plastic tiles and shapes.

The base appears to be the same as the Scout.

The ALFA box is reminiscent of a Greek cake box in my eyes.

What do you think of this toy?