Friday, 3 January 2025
Tri-ang Magazine 1964-65
A number of toy and model companies have produced a tie-in magazine to promote their products; or an outside publisher has launched a magazine carrying a famous, and well-established, brand name.
Meccano Magazine (promoting Meccano engineering sets, Hornby model railways, and Dinky Toys) was launched in 1916; and Airfix Magazine (promoting Airfix plastic kits, model railways, and later slot cars) followed in 1960.
There was also a magazine carrying the Tri-ang name, but this only lasted for ten issues, between October 1964 and July 1965. It was published by Outward Publications Limited, on the fourth Thursday of each month, and sold for 1/6 (one shilling and sixpence, or 7 1/2 New Pence in post-1971 decimal currency).
It was available from newsagents, and also toy shops, or by subscription. Very few copies appear to have survived the decades, at least judging by the lack of sales listings on-line.
A feature of the magazine was a double-page centrefold - a bit like the Eagle cut-aways, but not as detailed, and only in black and white. Only the front and back covers appear to have been in colour.
These pages show the front covers of all ten issues. The magazine covered a wide range of subjects, and was clearly aimed at boys.
The Editor was Douglas McHard. According to this article he had previously worked for Meccano.
Lines Brothers acquired Meccano in 1964, and soon set about merging various aspects of the two companies, to avoid duplication. Tri-ang Railways and Hornby Dublo became Tri-ang Hornby in 1965.
This also meant the end of Tri-ang Magazine, with the July 1965 issue. The August 1965 issue of Meccano Magazine announced that there was now just 'one BIG monthly hobby journal - The Meccano Magazine'.
The editorial stated that the black and white centrefolds had been one of the most popular features of the Tri-ang Magazine. It appeared to imply that the centrefolds would continue – or is that just my reading ?
In the event the centrefold in the August issue, depicting the Apollo Saturn C.5 rocket, was the only one to appear in Meccano Magazine. Obviously just using up a piece of artwork that had already been paid for.
This issue of Meccano Magazine can be found on the excellent Internet Archive site. Unfortunately, they do not have any copies of the Tri-ang Magazine.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Small and Smaller
Woodsy,
I took this picture back in 2012. The astronaut is a Tri-ang but I have no clue who made the diminutive Apollo Lunar Module. The trouble is - just where did I put these things?
From Vegas Base
Ed
Dream Stopping
Dreams are strange. Like a drunk projectionist staggering round your brain, you never know what's going to be shown on those juddering spools.
Unless, of course, it's a recurring dream that's topping the cranial bill.
I'd love to dream about running toy stalls or Thunderbirds or my Grandchildren.
But the projectionist has other ideas. My top billing is always the same. My old job.
I worked for a urban charity for 20 years, working my way slowly up to the position of deputy dog. I enjoyed the first - sort of - 15 years but the final 5 were horrendous. Stress Central and then some. I hated it and dreaded every single day. My health suffered and couldn't wait to get out, which I did in 2005, thank God!
You would have thought that nearly twenty years later I would have got it out of my system. Dreamt it out like sweat.
But no, my dreams, the ones I remember, are most often back there, with me facing the same interminable problems I faced in reality: my beleaguered team, the pompous Board, a skeptical City Hall, ambitious colleagues, ailing funds, headstrong personalities, bitter rivalries, major cock-ups and abject failures.
Usually, at some point, after the palpable tension peaks, I get sacked or walk out and the night's dose is thankfully over.
As I say, I'd love to dream about nice stuff. I've been running this blog for nearly as long but never dream about it. It's obviously too nice!
C'mon Thunderbirds! I need my dreams rescuing! Send in the Mole!
A new dream for a new year!
Do you dream readers? Are any recurring?
Thursday, 2 January 2025
SPACE:1999 PUBLICITY BROCHURES
As we're now entering the fiftieth year of Space:1999's first broadcast in the UK, well, actually it was September, 1975, but I don't need much of an excuse to blog about the series.
Anyway, here's some photos of my small collection of Space: 1999 publicity brochures, the ephemera that would have been given out a various press junkets.
The first is what I think is the brochure that would have been given out in the UK. It folds out, and curiously, it uses that same loge that was used on the Lyons Maid Space:1999 promotional card set. The brochure is about the same size as a long player record, and came in a card envelope, with the same logo on it.
The second brochure was used for the American and Canadian market. It's big, brash, and impressive.
It 's printed on glossy card, and contains several pages featuring large photos and fold out sections.
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Finally, the brochure released for Year 2, presumably for both the US and UK markets. While not as impressive as the American year 1 brochure, it's still very eye-catching.
KONGA CASEFILE
We saw this a couple of years ago but its worth checking out again, Konga's Pressbook over on Zombo's Closet. Have you got any pressbooks?
https://www.zomboscloset.com/zombos_closet_of_horror_b/2015/04/movie-pressbook-konga.html
Wednesday, 1 January 2025
One Small Step
Best wishes, Bill
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Paul Vreede's New Spacex Toys Website
A beautiful and comprehensive site dedicated to the world of Tri-ang SpaceX and Golden Astronaut Toys
Ed Berg's Toy Blog: Toys and Stuff
