Brian H's Space Plastic Collection

Hi Woodsy

I know this subject is popular on Moonbase.

 Here's part of my space hard plastic collection comprising Tudor Rose, Kleeware, Pyro and other manufacturers. I was lucky enough to meet Lester Harrison back in the day and he was generous with his information.

For the sharp eyed there are a few undocumented pieces sitting there.

 I'm always keen to trade. My current passion is Dan Dare.

Brian H

Brian's Kleeware Supersonic Jets Space Set

Hello Woodsy

This is the toy that got me hooked on collecting space plastic. 

The Supersonic Jets Set.

 It's another example of the English reuse of American moulds, in this case Marx and Pyro. I was addicted to tin robots at the time but a hoarder's instinct made me put this to one side.

The set comprises three Marx copies, the #1 Double Gun Plane, #4 A Wing, and a Car of the Future. The fourth spaceship is the odd-man-out, a Pyro copy Rocket Car that's a bit more solid than the others. For researchers the label is priceless, proving that all four belong together despite their different origins. The set comes in a plain cardboard box with a paper label.

The plastic is thin - they feel lighter than Tudor Rose spaceships, and they're very brittle. There's a translucence about them, unlike the more opaque originals. Out of the box I can't see them surviving for long. There's no maker's mark on the box though each vehicle is marked with a tiny Made in England in a circle. 

I'm fairly sure it's by Kleeware, though I'd welcome thoughts.

Regards

Brian H

UK

Ed's Red Pyro Sighting

Woodsy,

These photos were culled from fleaBay many years ago and show yet another Pyro space toy.

From Vegas Base

Ed

More of Ed's Cool Pyro Space Toys

Woodsy,

These are the only other Pyro space toys in the collection. Prices for early Pyro have become so outrageous it's beyond belief having seen single toys selling for over $700!

From Vegas Base

Ed

Brian H's Tudor Rose Rarity

Hello Woodsy

I've been quiet online for some time but have been busy collecting. I visit Moonbase Central regularly and it's just about the only place I can find new information about some of my Interests. 

I've been concentrating on early English space toys: Kleeware, Selcol, Tudor Rose and, especially, Dan Dare. 

I thought you might like to see an interesting acquisition I made recently.

It's a battery powered Tudor Rose shop display featuring two of those spectacular Atomic Space Ships along with a batch of motorbikes and sidecars. 

One ship has a motor connected to a battery pack. The other has a lead counterweight. 

The whole thing spins around in an alarming manner. 

If you can use it on your site please feel free. If you'd like more Tudor Rose, Dan Dare or similar stuff, I have plenty of novelties! 

Here's a Youtube video of it in action:

 

https://youtu.be/GnwtVm5FjRg?si=nXJiFNCr_N4JeiL-

All the best

Brian H.

UK

Terranova47's Frank Collins Space Pirates Strip

In the OKAY ADVENTURE ANNUAL, this space story is illustrated by Dan Dare artist Harold Johns:

SPACE PIRATES by Frank Collins.

Terranova47

USA

Terranova47's OKAY Adventure Annual

Hello Woodsy

Further to the Boardman published books from 1954 I also have the OKAY ADVENTURE ANNUAL with works gathered from a number of sources, one story in particular is space related and illustrated by Dan Dare artist Harold Johns; SPACE PIRATES by Frank Collins (watch this Space).

It also contains an Iron Man story that predates the Marvel creation.

Here also is my reissued Pyro x-200 from the late 90's.

Terranova47

USA

Ed's Adventure Annual Pyro and Archer Toys

Woodsy,

The recent posts by Arto and Scoop regarding the Adventure Annual (and others) were fun.

 I too have a copy of the Adventure Annual and some of the toy-inspired characters and spaceships I have in my collection. Pictured.

 However, now it looks as if I need to track down the Cheriliea figures!

From Vegas Base

Ed

Arto's Cherilea Monsters

Arto recently picked up the 1950's Spaceways and Adventure Annuals. 

Arto says:

 I'm thrilled to see those toys, X-300 and the X-400 and Cherilea monsters like the Lizard and the Ant-Man (which I have as metal figures) featured in the Annuals' stories. 

(Pictures below.)

 I was unaware of this kind of connection until recently, and it adds a whole new dimension to the Pyro / Cherilea lore. 

It would be nice to know which came first, the annuals or the toys.

 The Pyro toys may have been already around in the U.S. at that time (ca. 1954), but how does the publication of the annuals relate to the launch of their Kleeware / Tudor Rose counterparts? 

Was there some kind of planned synchronicity?  

Arto

Helsinki Base

Will's Plastic Rockets

Hi Woodsy,

I've been really enjoying Arto's posts of the plastic rockets. Here's a couple of strange ones. The first one has a metal tab , I think to mount it on a bike handle. The second is a whistle.

Will O