TRI-ANG, ROVEX, PIPPIN, RAPHAEL LIPKIN, SPACEX - BLIMEY!

Like PROJECT SWORD, SPACEX has a similarly convoluted family tree in the UK and Europe. Tri-ang, Rovex, Pippin, Raphael Lipkin - it's all so confusing! In an attempt to unpick it, here's my own potted understanding of Tri-ang evolution - there are gaps such as when Raphael Lipkin/Pippin was established and exactly when he teamed up with Rovex on the Spacex line (can anyone fill them in?):

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1. Tri-ang formed by 3 Lines brothes (3 lines of a Triangle!) 1924
2. Rovex formed by Alexander Vanetzian 1946
3. Tri-ang buys Rovex Plastics 1951

4. Raphael Lipkin files for various toy patents (see below) 1957
5. Tri-ang buys Mini Models and the Scalex brand (see pictured boat below) 1958
6. Tri-ang buys Meccano 1964

7. Tri-ang teams up with Pippin Toys ( Raphael Lipkin)
8. Tri-ang ceases trading 1971
9. Airfix buys Meccano 1971
10. Dunbee Combex Marx buys Rovex Tri-ang 1971
11. Dunbee Combex Marx ceases trading 1980

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For more on Tri-ang Rovex go here and here.

The Scalex brand - did it influence the Spacex name? (picture Ebay)

The original Spacex Tri-ang branding: Barry Forde Collection

The later PIPPIN/ ROVEX TRI-ANG Spacex branding: Barry Forde Collection

Above -The PIPPIN/ ROVEX TRI-ANG and the RAPHAEL LIPKIN/ TRI-ANG branding on two different boxed sets (LEM Apollo and MOONBASE) Woodsy collection
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Below - two patent drawings for different toy by Raphael Lipkin as early as 1957 including a 'track' filed with Yonezawa of Japan (more on the Espacenet site)






Below - a variety of Raphael Lipkin/ Pippin toys 1960's/70's (from Vectis, Willingham and Live Auctioneers sites)

WEETO'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY: MORE FREE GIFTS FROM THE PHILOSOPHIC TOAD

Blog regular the Philosophic Toad has sent in these great pictures of his WEETOS cereals 25th Moonlanding Anniversary free gifts collection:

Yellow Saturn V (mine's blue)

Splashdown

Astronauts rear

Astronauts front - and they're happy!

MEGO APOLLO LUNAR MODULE

We first came across MEGO on the blog when a SWORD Space Glider knockoff, SPACE TRACT, was discovered earlier this year and featured extensively. As I said at the time MEGO are not well-known for space toys at all, making their name with action dolls particularly the WORLDS GREATEST SUPER HEROES, which have a huge following especially in the US. I'm still sort of uncertain of this is the same MEGO?

Continuing their small back catalogue of space toys, here we have the boxed MEGO Apollo Lunar Module as seen on Ebay USA. It would definately sit well with its Space Glider stablemate. Are there any more MEGO space toys out there?

JAPANESE KIT EXTRAVAGANZA

Here are a few japanese only kits showing the incredible diversity that the far eastern kit industry has. A Gemini Capsule Recovery model, a NASA Observation Vehicle and the wonderfully exotic Q-Land Moonbase type kit! Far out!

25th MOONLANDING ANNIVERSARY BOWL OF WEETOS

In the 1990's I started putting away cereal packets that I liked. I dug them out today - below - to see if I had any space-related ones. There were certainly lots of Spider-man and Godzilla!

But lo and behold, here we have a WEETOS Moon landing packet below. I couldn't believe that it was for the 25th Moonlanding Anniversary and its the 40th one now! I put it away 15 years ago!

On the back are all the great little free gifts that came in the boxes. I didn't get any more boxes for some reason. Probably because I ate the cereals as per normal and then stored the box! Come to think of it I really don't remember the 25th being that much of a big deal.

But I did get the little bagged-up blue plastic Saturn V in the box I got. It fell straight in my bowl like a milky splashdown! Anyone got any more of this set?

MIDORI 'LUNAR TRANSPORTER' KIT

Our man in Japan has delivered the scoop once more with this wonderful Midori kit of the principal vehicle from the B-Movie 'Green Slime'. Apparently the basis for the Spacex Lunar Transporter toy, this model is a large battery powered version - probably about 8-10 inches long judging by the pics. Even bigger is the current bid, almost £200 ! Those inscrutable japanese do love their vintage kits!

NEW PROJECT SWORD PROBE FORCE 2 DISCOVERY BY WOTAN: POP ROCKET,MISSILE AIRPLANE

Whilst browsing Ebay the mighty WOTAN discovered this, up till now, unknown PROBE FORCE 2 related toy, proceeding to win and donate two to Collecione a la Woodsy! May I introduce you to the POP ROCKET, MISSILE AIRPLANE, made in Hong Kong. The plastic rockets are about 2 inches long and obviously came in a variety of colours, though they don't really bare any resemblance to the fleet pictured on the header card.

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And it's on the header - pictured up close below - where things really get interesting. Pictured is an instantly recognisable but unliveried Project sword PROBE FORCE 2 at lower left! Compare it with the original Century 21 PF2 box art - except for the livery, I would say it's a straight lift!

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Interestingly there is also a Fireball XL5-esque rocket top right. WOTAN remembers this as the Spacebird toy in the 1960's - anyone else? Finally there's a Saturn V-esque rocket in the middle and a standard jetliner in the distance. The card is double-sided with mirror images. Unpunched too! Beautiful. If anyone wants a scan of the header (both sides) leave a comment. I have most readers' email addresses already.

ZODIAC TOYS ORIGINAL 1960's LOGO

This is the only ZODIAC TOYS item I still have from my younger days, the aforementioned 1968 Jason and The Golden Fleece picture book complete with the original slanted Zodiac logo'd price tags in old and new money! Anyone got any more Zodiac toys?