Rebel Yell: My custom Johnny Yuma Toy Scattergun

 In 1993 I bought the brilliant American toy reference book, Toys of the Sixties, by the great Bill Breugman.

Among it's many many treasures that made an immediate impression on me was the Johnny Yuma Rebel Scattergun by Kilgore from around 1961.

A double-barrelled cap pistol with a distinct shape, it came in at least two dark shades, all of which appear to be very collectable.

It emulated the scattergun prop used by Nick Adams in the popular TV show The Rebel. Anyone know it? Here's Dell's comic version.

Here it is as well advertised top right complete with toy cap, belt and revolver.

 Always intrigued by it's design I thought I'd have a bash at a custom job.

I first took this cheap fancy dress toy flintlock to start with.

After some sawing and stripping, I added two barrels, a new silver panel and a Fimo stock. I then, opting for a darker look, painted the whole thing black.

See what you think.

Baby Boomer Mag Ads

 I'm enjoying browsing mags on holiday like an old US Baby Boomer Collectables one.

Seeing M&J Variety's ad again took me right back to reading the American Toy Shop newspaper pre-Ebay days. I adored that big newspaper crammed with amazing vintage stuff.

M&J were - are? - a vintage merchandise wholesalers. Everything could be bought by the dozen or by the case. I was always in awe of what they had and mused endlessly how they got hold of this stuff! 

It was based in Elizabeth, NJ. Anyone know if it still is?

Another ad that brought back memories was Toy Scouts Inc. I always loved there ace line drawing logo including The Impossibles, who I adored as a kid. I sent off for their catalogue and amazingly got one sent to me in the UK. That was the Nineties. I still have it.

Toy Scouts Inc. was run by the great Bill Breugman, a vintage toy collecting pioneer in the States. His 1989 book Toys of the Sixties is for me still the collecting bible and I still have my copy I got in 1992. I also have his book on Aurora models I think, both out of print now.

Do you have Bill's books or maybe bought something off Toy Scouts Inc.?

JOHN TOYZILLA MARSHALL ON YOU TUBE

I have a few of John Marshall's toy books. Like Bill Breugman before him, John helped bring vintage toys to the public eye years before the internet at a time when reference books were king.

I have his Schiffer books on Monster Toys, Comic Book Heros and Action Figures of the 60's. I look at them all the time. Superb pictures and John's great sense of humour shines through. He also loves Japanese monsters especially Red King.

You can still pick them up on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+marshall+schiffer

So I was pleased to see that John now has a You Tube channel he's started this year. He goes by the name of Toyzilla.

Have a gander readers. This is John's introduction.

He's just started but he has some more videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCskYn0UEXxcu3nT0psg0lWw

What do you think?

TOYS OF THE SIXTIES BY BILL BREUGMAN: MOONBASE BOOK REVIEW PART 3

Third and final part of my look at Bill Breugman's book

Toys of the Sixties.

Anyone else got this book?

TOYS OF THE SIXTIES BY BILL BREUGMAN: MOONBASE BOOK REVIEW PART 2

Part 2 of 3.

Enjoy.

TOYS OF THE SIXTIES: MOONBASE BOOK REVIEW PART 1

My review of Bill Breugman's seminal book Toys of the Sixties published in 1991.

This is part 1 of 3.