DURHAM AND TARHEEL TOYS

I've long been intrigued by the similarities between the two American Toy manufacturers, Tarheel and Durham. Both of them have roots in towns in North Carolina, Durham and Tarboro, which are located quite close to each other. Both company logo's are linked by the red globe (pictured above - what's the origin of this globe?). Like many 1970's toy manufacturers there also appears to be cross-labelling of some of the same toys by Durham and Tarheel. Examples I've found are the Apollo 2000 Robot, Astroids and just for the Wotan, a toy Sewing Machine! (all pictured below)

Above Durham (top) and Tarheel Apollo 2000 (you can just see the T on the left side of the box)

Above Durham (top) and Tarheel Astroids

Above Durham (top) and Tarheel toy Sewing Machines (sorry!)

Durham have made some interesting plastic toys in there own right and I've included a selection below all found online. A google search for 'Durham Industries Incorporeted toy' revealed several patents and many law suits, which may have hastened thier eventual closure (discovered on a Holly Hobbie site).

Durham Snowmobile above and below (showing a similar 'star' text bubble found on some Tarheel toys like the Rescue Helicopter)

Durham Super Tractor above

Durham tank above

and my personal favourite, the Durham Kung Fu action figure, which I've got somewhere (well a header card at least)

So the inevitable question is - did Durham ever distribute any Project SWORD toys like Tarheel? Answers on a postcard! Happy Christmas!

What's The Weather Like?

Pretty poor weather here in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. Snow. Ice. Car won't start this morning. Must be Winter! What's it like in your neck of the woods?

CRUISING TO CHRISTMAS: PYRO, ARCHER SPACE PORT AND MORE

Reader Grif has set me off on a trail to find more Moonship lookalikes by Archer, Pyro and the like. Here are a few I've found on the wonderful ALPHADROME Robot Database including an amazing tin version of the Pyro Space Cruiser (the same story as our very own Moonship coming in both plastic and tin!):

Alphadrome 1, Alphadrome 2, Alphadrome 3

Anybody actually got any of these?

KRIS'S DURHAM HELICOPTER, MARX MOONBASE AND JOHNNY 7 TANKS

Hello Paul, I did a Google search of Johhny Tarheel toys and the first that came up was a website called Project Sword Moonbase Toys. I see that your email's match so you must the Proprietor of this site. I sell toys to buy more toys, I collect mainly transformer toys and display them to the dismay of my wife. I have enclose some cool Marx stuff that I used to have and a Johnny 7 set from Deluxe Reading. I have lots of great toys pics but mostly Army men Marx/Mpc stuff . Sorry to bother you just thought It was cool to find out who was emailing me (about the Durham Helicopter). Thanks, Kris

No bother Kris. Thanks for sharing your cool toys. They're fab! Woodsy

I originally emailed Kris about his cool Durham Johnny Tarheel boxed helicopter (below), which he has up for auction on Ebay. More to follow on Durham Johnny Tarheel soon.

PYRO SPACE CRUISER

Is the beautiful Pyro Space Cruiser above the inspiration behind the Century 21 Moonship below?

When was it manufactured? What;s the box like? Or was there a NASA concept like this?

Super January 2009 Remembered

Hard to believe it's nearly a year ago but I can remember quite clearly the excitement I felt last January. There were new origins of SWORD and SPACEX vehicles discovered, a Time Line with loads of entries from readers and newly discovered toys. But the cream was a boxed Nuclear Ferry on Ebay. Things were absolutely buzzing! Yep, January 2009 will be hard to beat! For interested readers who may have missed it you can re-live it here.

LP AND TETSUJIN ASTRONAUT DIVER

Back in September Ferryman posted pics of his fabulous LP collection including this wonderful 'ASTRONAUT' with the Moonbus-like MOON EXPLORER pictured on the box. Whilst mooching through Ebay I've come across what appears to be the same figure - this time silver, Japanese and described as a Diver made by (?) or named Tetsujin. Does anybody know more about this robot-like character?

AVATAR 3D

Avatar is without doubt one of the best films I've ever seen. Just got back after seeing it with my buddy Mark - started at 9.15pm and finished at 12.15am! Its long! The hardware is fantastic, including a HUGE stealth-like space glider and some fabulous VTOLS! But its the landscape of Pandora and the overall look and feel of the film (so yes, the effects) that blew me away. You MUST see it in 3D too! The best £7 I've spent in a long time. Treat yourself and take a friend!