Dream Chaser Under Construction

Hi

I just found this short video on You Tube, a time-lapse look at the Sierra Space Dream Chaser spacecraft under construction. Thought it would be of interest to fans of the Matchbox Sky-Busters version. The real thing is certainly small.

Dream Chaser - Tenacity - YouTube

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Vintage LB Hong Kong Remote Control Jaguar XK-E Plastic Car

I saw this old toy Jaguar on the Bay recently and its listed as LB and Lik Be. However, the crown logo is nothing like the normal devilish LP/LB motif and neither is the number 7002. See what you think yourselves.

QUALITY STREET ART

I distinctly recall this style of retro art in the Sixties and Seventies although I don't know what to call it.

Victorian? Georgian?

You'll know what I mean when you see it. Often found in Mackintosh sweet tins like Quality Street. In fact Quality Street maybe its gold standard as a style. There's dashing captains, bonneted ladies and fine horses.

The style may have influenced the more surreal art seen here on this old Board Game, again a style I can't name at all.

It reminds me of Terry Gilliam's stuff for Monty Python.

Have any of you got any idea about these styles?

THE CADILLAC CORONER

Hi

I bought a Johnny Lightning Coroner's car model. The first example of such a rare vehicle I have ever seen in die-cast.

The Coroner is a public official who investigates unexplained or questionable deaths. They may work with the Police, although not all deaths investigated by a Coroner are crimes, and so are not all Police matters. The Coroner may perform autopsies to determine cause of death. Naturally this requires them to have a suitable vehicle to transport bodies. These vehicles often resembled an ambulance or hearse, as the occupants in each case travel horizontally.

Ambulances and hearses (and dual-role ambulance/hearse Combinations) were often built on the chassis of large luxury cars as these fast, powerful vehicles had a smooth ride, and were long enough to carry a stretcher or coffin. In America such vehicles were called Professional Cars, but I am not sure if a similar term exists in Britain ? Coroner's used similar vehicles. Today vans and four-wheel drives are used, as there are few cars still being made that would be suitable.

Johnny Lightning make a die-cast 1959 Cadillac that is available as either an ambulance or a hearse, using the same basic body, but with different window treatments and roof lights. Both the body and baseplate are metal. I spotted this example recently, being sold as a 1959 Cadillac Coroner, and snapped it up. It is 1/64th scale, about 82mm long.

 The main colour is green, with a black roof, single red roof light, a siren at the front just above the driver, white wall tyres, and printed curtains in the rear side windows. The word CORONER appears in white on the front doors. The lights and grille are nicely finished. Being aimed at collectors these models are far more expensive than a Hot Wheels car - in this case nearly six times the price. But I doubt Hot Wheels will be doing a Coroner's car.

A brief history of the vehicle is given on the card: 'The 1959 Cadillac Coroner was built and assembled by the Miller-Meteor coach-building company in Piqua, Ohio'. The specialist bodywork being fitted to a Cadillac chassis. This firm also built the Combination Car used as Ecto-1 in Ghostbusters.

Photos of some older Coroner's vehicles.

 

what does a vintage coroner car look like - Google Search

 

More photos, mostly of modern vehicles.

 

what does a coroner car look like - Google Search

Paul Adams

NZ

THE APPLE OF MY EYE: SHRUNKEN HEADS

Hi

The world of toys is filled with great men and women, who have given us wonderful toys, and some of the sickest minds on the planet.

From the 1970s is this Shrunken Head Sculpture Kit by Whiting: a Milton Bradley company. Copyright date 1975. Product number 1516-X1. Fortunately, you did not need real human heads - dried apples would do, decorated with the various items included in the kit. The resulting Shrunken Heads could then be hung up and displayed.

The advertising begins 'Turn apples into shrunken heads with the Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Kit'. It then goes on to say 'Look for Vincent Price's pretty face on the cover'. Vincent Price, surrounded by heads, is indeed featured on the box top, with the quote "Create your own collection of delightful Shrunken Heads". Followed by 'A craft for the whole family', and 'Ages 12 to adult'. A boy and girl are shown on the side of the box.

Short article on this set.

Vincent Price's Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Kit from Whiting (1975) | Toy Tales

Old print ad.

The Vintage Toy Advertiser | Showcasing 20th century print advertising, toys and pop culture curiosities. Monthly Edition N°120. Currently on hiatus..

Photo showing the contents of the box, including a plastic device called the Shrinker for speeding up the apple drying/head shrinking process.

Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture by Milton Bradley - Sam's Toybox (samstoybox.com)

Instructions for the set.

Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Instructions (samstoybox.com)

Several photos of the box and contents.

vtg.1975 Vincent Price Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Kit Milton Bradley,monster | #1736275256 (worthpoint.com)

Good Grief!

Photo from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

More American Fish 'n' Chips

Further to the Fish 'n' Chips in the US post here is a photo of the seafood section of my local BIG Y Supermarket in Connecticut along with a close up of the Cooked food selection. In season they also boil fresh lobsters chosen from a sea water tank to save doing it your self.

At my wife's suggestion we just had fried fish sandwiches for dinner. There was no argument from me to that.

Terranova47

USA

Mystery Admiral

I'm on lunch at work. A song just popped in my head. Admiral Halsey by Wings I think. Who on earth was Admiral Halsey?

It starts with the song Uncle Albert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ma8OhzFdIA

ENOEDA SENSEI: MY FAVOURITE SHODAN

A complete diversion from toys but a wholly nostalgic trip down memory lane for me so here it is, Heian Shodan kata from Shotokan Karate executed by the leading Sensei of my teenage years, the legendary Enoeda!

Hi Ya!

Did you do any Shotokan or any martial arts as a kid?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpUAkkrwNVs