MATTEL... SUPERFAST?

I was non-plussed when I saw this  ace TV ad on You Tube.

I was searching for Superfast die-cast cars.

Matchbox Superfast.

I found this 1971 Mattel ad first. Mattel?

Did they market Matchbox Superfast in the States?

and what is that car at the end? I had one of those! I adored it and had forgotten all about it. I need a name, I need a name!

DISPLAY BEHAVIOUR

This is a cabinet of vintage toys I snapped  in the Lister Park Museum earlier in the year [at least i think it was List Park]

There's Pelham puppets, a Fisher Price record player and more.

I always enjoy seeing random displays like this in Museums.

Have you seen a decent vintage toy display?

REMEMBER THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS?

I was chatting to someone today about basketball and I remembered ... the Harlem Globetrotters! 

How I loved those guys back in the Sixties. They were like global superstars. I've no idea if they were good basketball players but I imagine they must have been to have gone worldwide. The name that pops in my mind even now is Curly! He was the bald guy!

The thing I remember the most isn't the team themselves in real life but the cartoon that was on the telly. It was one of those fab animated series that graced the three - channel box. I recall it being in colour too. The Jackson 5 was another brill cartoon in a similar vein. 

Did you like the Harlem Globetrotters?

RUBBER SOYUZ

This is a superb set of space rubbers from Japan I've not seen before.

These were on Yahoo Japan so I saved these pics.

It reminds me of similar display cards of Project SWORD-styled rubbers I've covered here before..

Both are labelled as UFO.

This set appears to have a Soyuz style capsule on the header card - with the sticky-out solar panels - and the small yellow eraser below, with a more recognisable rounded front.

Do you recognise any of the other spaceships?

EASTERN PROMISE

Japanese miniature novelties are just ace. Like this bundle I saved the pic of on Noppin. Looks at all those cool craft and vehicles! The green one with the number 7 on the back has a whiff of SHADO2 from UFO. Do you like miniatures from Japan like these?

FURTHER ECHOES OF UFO: STRAKER'S GUN

Kevin D has kindly let me know that the Echo Gun did feature in the TV series UFO. It appeared towards the end of the second episode, Exposed, in the Straker-Harlington backlot. Here's a screen shot I grabbed online with Straker holding the pistol.

And reader MJ emailed me: 

Hi Woodsy, this [below] is very similar to the games console I had as a child. You can see the similarities with the electronic gun featured earlier on Moonbase.

regards, MJ Southcoast Base 

AN ECHO OF UFO OR NOT?

Being a fan of toy ray guns and space guns I've been aware of the UFO Echo gun since the 90's.

I haven't seen many of them turn up on auction but recently saw one so I saved the pics [similarly, I once saw an Agent Nick Fury S.H.I.E.L.D toy pistol at a toy fair which I've never seen again at all! You?]

Its an odd 'toy'. There's no mention of UFO on the box. Not being an expert on UFO I'm unsure if the name Echo Gun stems from the TV show or not. Do you know?

The grip hilt wood effect is odd. What do you make of it? It looks like Blue Peter sticky back plastic!

Have any of you had or do you have this toy ray gun?

BLAST FROM THE PAST: APPOINTMENT WITH FEAR

You Tube strikes again.

here we have the intro to the film series Appointment with Fear from the 1970's. I remember it completely and loved watching the classic Hammer Horrors they showed.

Do you remember it?