A short while ago I did a brief post on some of the cheap Larami
Space:1999 toys. I now turn my attention to just some of the cheap
toys that Larami produced for Battlestar Galactica.
The Larami
Corporation was a toy company established by David W. Ring in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during 1959, specialising in inexpensive
licenced toys based on movies and TV shows.
The toys were
made in Hong Kong or Japan, and intended as impulse buys. Apart from
the backing cards, rarely did the toys have any actual connection
with the film or TV series.
Following its
acquisition by Hasbro Inc. in 1995, it was renamed Larami Inc. before
being retired in 2002.
When it came to
Larami’s Battlestar Galactica line up, the backing cards were
generally all the same design. Four photos comprising of Starbuck,
Adama, Apollo and a Cylon, along with an illustration of a Cylon
Raider against a space background.
This is my example
of the Battlestar Galactica Galactic Cruiser, a small die-cast
three-wheeled space plane.
Unsurprisingly, it
has no connection with Battlestar, Galactica, but us collectors can't resist the lure of a collection!.
This toy came in
four different colours; red, like mine, orange, blue or green.
Another of Larami’s
hardly -space- related line up is the L.E.M. Lander. Not an Apollo
Lunar Module, but a simple box with elongated wheels, some chrome
bits and assorted stickers.
A Direction Finder, or compass. Use it to find Earth!
The curiously titled
‘Spectral Viewer’. It appears you spin the wheel to see bits of
coloured plastic create a kaleidoscopic effect!
The ubiquitous Disc Shooter, every toy line should have one.. Battlestar sticker missing though!
Larami produced other disc spinners.
The toys keep on comin'
Periscope scanner and Medic Kit.
No Battlestar Galactica fan should be without a Larami ‘Atomic Yo-Yo’!
Cylon Sunglasses.! Could a Cylon use them as they have a single pivoting eye?
The glasses turned up as Buck Rogers sunglasses. I wouldn't be surprised if every toy here was rebranded for Buck Rogers.
Battlestar Galactica Binoculars, another cheap plastic toy that got a lot of reuse.
Another cheap generic toy with plenty of milage, a Battlestar Galactica watch, and Pocket Watch.
And another watch set. The animal pictures on the clock faces make me think these didn't start out as Battlestar Galactica watches! At least the one above did have a Battlestar sticker on it.
Cosmic puzzles, which do actually feature the odd drawing from Battlestar Galactica. There was a couple of different sets of these puzzles.
Something a bit more
down to Earth, a Battlestar Galactica ‘Captain’ I.D. card and
wallet.
There was also a silver grey version of the wallet. with a print of a Cylon Raider on the front . This version didn't include the I.D card. and Captain badge.
Cylon Bubble Machine. This is unusual for Larami, a toy that is actually styled with the look of a Cylon. Okay, it's just a common bubble blowing toy, but I suppose it is a proper Battlestar spin-off. Even the backing card has a different look taking elements from the movie poster..
The Cylon top was also re- used for a Larami Battlestar Galactica pen.
Another toy using the movie poster backing card . This is ‘Space
Glow’ putty, which apparently glows when placed near a lamp, or in
sunlight! The putty came in different colours.
A Battlestar
Galactica Bagatelle game. This uses concept art by Ralph McQuarrie taken from the Battlestar Galactica opening episode ‘Saga of Star World’.
Larami produced several other Bagatelles with some nice backing art.
Larami produced dozens of other cheap dime store carded Battlestar Galactica toys. I couldn't begin to guess how many. The more I look on- line, the more I find, so well done, and my thanks to all those collectors who managed to hang on to them unopened, and shared their photos.
Before I go, here's a couple more!
The fighter at the top looks to be based on a Lockheed F-104A Starfighter.
The bottom fighter bears a striking resemblance to a SAAB Draken.
,
. Well, there you have it. A look at the cheap Larami Battlestar Galactica dime store toys. These are the ones I've come across, but there's more than likely plenty more out there in the wild waiting to be discovered.
