TAI HING CHUN: MORE DISCOVERIES

 This is a page from the Tai Hing Chun catalogue from 1986

Having ID'd the yellow submarine, I've had a go at finding individual examples of these toys online.

Here are my latest discoveries, which look very similar to the toys on the page.

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Snap Froen from Denmark. 

Not sure its Tai Hing Chun though [top right on the above page called Flip A Froggie].

Gyro Cycle.

not sure of the maker [top left on the above catalogue page, called Devil Cycle]

Pictures of the other toys on the catalogue page welcomed from readers!

See-Through Jumbo

Sorting out my load of Jokimaa car boot sale finds, I wanted to share with you this most interesting discovery and a bit of HK toy salvage - A 747 See-Thru Jumbo Jet!

Made by a Hong Kong manufacturer SN with item number 308 C, the Jumbo Jet has folding wings to fit it into the window box with an illustrated airspace insert.

The see-thru section of the two-floor cabin shows both passenger seating and upper lounge area.

This particular example seems to have been a salesman's sample, judging from the partially removed sticker on the box header.

I just love the idea of see-through / cross-section toys. Puts me instantly in a Nuclear Ferry mode!  Enjoy!

Arto

Helsinki Base

Seeing Red

Bull fighting is not my cup of tea at all so I'm always surprised to see anything to do with it amongst collectables. Here's an unusual toy baggie from Hong Kong complete with bull and matador.

Don't think its Tri-play though, the company mentioned the other day in Paul A's article.

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Thanks to Anonymous! Here's a snap of the proper Tri-play bull toy [courtesy of Ebay]

JOE'S DINER: TWO CHROME FENDERS PLEASE!

 Joe's Diner from Clifford Toys was the final plastic vehicle kindly donated by Bill that I had a go at doing up this week.

A gorgeous Sixties friction toy, it was basically all there except for a front grille, two bumpers and a couple of lights.

Oh, and Joe himself and his sunroof.

After a soapy bath, a rub down and a lighter liquid wash, I set to on the missing large front grille, cobbling one together from bits in my box and a patch of netting from an old bag. The C in the middle stands for Clifford I presume.

Complete and re-chromed, it wasn't the best job I'd done but looked OK' ish. I think I rushed it. A bit of old kit sprue with boiling-water bent-ends made a simple bumper. Two red lights finished the front.

Nothing to be done on the sides.

The rear just needed another bumper, once again a sprue did the trick.

Joe's still missing so no hot dogs just yet. Oh, and the sun roof!

Little jobs, big jobs. I'll keep you posted.

Hope you like it.

HONG KONG TOY PARADISE EXPO 2012

Check out Bonemask's Flickr photo gallery of what looked like a fabulous Hong Kong toy event back in 2012.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bonemask/sets/72157629371170013/

What can you see?

PROJECT SWORD: LABEL-BODIED

A good example of how Dymo labels appeared everywhere in the Sixties is this obscure but important footage of a Project SWORD toys exhibition in London, which we've seen before on MC.

The various SWORD toys held by the two ladies have embossed label strips stuck to them, although I can't tell what they say; possibly 4 characters on each. An exhibition stock reference of some kind? What do you think? I bet they were hard to get off when it was all over!

Worthy of note is the totally unique white-coloured Nuclear Ferry at the very start of the SWORD display. Since seeing this film a few years back I've come to regard this white ferry as maybe a prototype before Century 21 Toys released the final blue version, but this is pure supposition on my part. What do you reckon?

What else can you see in this footage?

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAF0AA1XY8DDIO7HWY7BW5N7XGC-UK-DISPLAY-OF-SPACE-AGE-HONG-KONG-TOYS-OPENS-IN-LONDON/query/hong+kong+toy+display

THE MOVING BUFFOON

This old Moving Buffoon seen on Ebay rings a a lot of bells.

I'm certain we had some as kids in the Sixties, although what I'm thinking of got hung up. Not sure what this Buffoon actually does.

Do you know readers?

TOYS MADE IN HONG KONG: THE LEGEND

This is an interesting look at the history of toymaking in Hong Kong.

There's mention of the Century 21/ JR21 New Flying Saucer too!

https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/tc/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/references-and-resources/history/CDI020170798_Ms_Lau.pdf

and here's a Chinese site about Supercar!

https://sledgehammer.pixnet.net/blog/post/406544860-%E8%90%AC%E8%83%BD%E8%BB%8A-supercar

What do you think?

MING TAT INFO

Company details for the old Hong Kong toy firm Ming Tat if you're interested in them.

https://www.hkgbusiness.com/en/company/Ming-Tat-Plastics-Factory-Limited

SALCO'S EARTH MOVING MOUSE

 

I'm always on the look out for small plastic novelty toys from Hong Kong. I wrote a book about the JR21 novelty range but there's always more brands to discover.

Here's a cutie. I saw on auction so I kept the image.

The Earth Moving Mouse by Salco. 

Its an awkward design somehow but I can see the appeal it would have to kids back in the Sixties.

Salco also released a chunky Batplane, a Batman rocket racer and a Motorcycle combo.

Do you like this mouse?

Postscript:

Saw one in a second hand shop here recently!

Hong Kong Plastic Toys

Hi

          Here is another 60s Child item from You Tube, called Made in Hong Kong. 

It covers, mainly with photos, many plastic toys of the 1960s that were made in Hong Kong. Doll manufacture was a pretty gruesome business judging from the introduction. 

 I did have one of the cap-firing rockets (shown at 3:43) that you dropped on to a hard surface to detonate it, but mine was red and silver. The Dawn Patrol set of WW1 aeroplanes (at 5:38) is also interesting, there were two movies of this title, in 1930 and 1938. 

I also had some of the toy animals, but I think mine would have been bought loose, rather than in a set ?

Made in Hong Kong ( cheap crap but fun ) 60s and 70s - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

UNCLE TIMS TOYS

I love the stock this fella has, Uncle Tim's Toys. I assume its a vintage toy shop in Hong Kong. Does anyone know? I saw this on Pinterest. Just look what he has in there!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/9a/de/1c9adef1ddda6eab429ad3ed1a05685a.jpg

FINS AND RADARS

Images: Ykessa

FAMILY INC. HONG KONG TOY DOCUMENTARY

This looks like an interesting documentary about a Hong Kong toy empire in transition. 

 This is the trailer. I haven't watched the doc yet.

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NEW TO THE BLOG: SWORD CAPE KENNEDY SET BOXES IN HONG KONG TOY FACTORY ON FILM

Hong Kong toy factory workers using flattened Project SWORD Cape Kennedy Set boxes as production line table covers! What do you make of it?

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

GRILLES AND BUMPERS

I love little silver grilles on the bonnets of space cars.

There's just something about them that suggests there's an engine underneath.

The fabulous Moon Explorer has such a one above. It also has a small curved front bumper , which is broken on the front of this old old auction example. It may have had a function.

Below is a nice specimen of the Triang SpaceX Cricket P-1. It also has a neat silver bonnet grille.

I mentioned the small plastic curved bumper. A few Hong Kong toys have one. Here's another, the JR21 X-60 Space Rocket. The truck has a small red curved front bumper, which again may have a function.

Have you any Hong Kong or plastic toys with front grilles and bumpers?

hong kong toys exhibition

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2075191/made-hong-kong-toys-exhibition-history-museum

An interesting read with a cool gallery of pictures.

Video too! Eagle-eyed Arto spotted the plastic Tarheel Nova spaceships in the central 'dome' display! There's also a Project SWORD Probe Force 3 in the first 'dome'!

Arto spotted this related robot and toy gallery too and you can see the domed displays a little clearer

http://www.ampmodelmag.com/mag/hktoys2/

What else can you see?

HONG KONG TOY STORIES

This is a cool vidcast about Hong Kong toy collecting. Check it out on Hong Kong Stories:

http://podcast.rthk.hk/podcast/item_epi.php?pid=472

HONK KONG CHAMBER OF TRADE BULLETIN CHRISTMAS 1968

Have a look at this vintage bulletin:

https://www.chamber.org.hk/FileUpload/201102081707499653/1968_Dec15.pdf

HONG KONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BULLETIN

An interesting Hong Kong trade magazine. Have a look:

http://www.chamber.org.hk/en/information/the-bulletin.aspx