GIL GERARD R.I.P.

Sorry to read that actor, Gil Gerald, best known for playing William 'Buck' Rogers in the TV series,  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century has sadly passed away aged 82.

Our sincere condolences to his family and friends. 

A Tiny Bible Charm

 I had one of these as a kid.

A miniature plastic bible.

They appear to be still around, in various colours too!

They were very tiny.

This one's by Cosmo ( found online, not my hand!)

The secret was inside seen through a small peep hole.

The Lords Prayer no less!

It appears that the magnification was all possible via a miniature Stanhope lens.

Stanhopes got around.

Here's a metal Chrysler Building TV viewer.

And more metal charms.

I'd still settle for a little black plastic bible like I had as a kid.

Part of my stash of little stuff back then.

Did you have such a stash?

Did you have a tiny bible? 

Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow: Masquerade Comes Full Circle!

The Masquerade hare has sold at auction.

I'm still thinking about it being buried! The jeweled gold hare buried back in the the late Seventies by Kit Williams and Bamber Gascoine. 

I so remember Masquerade, the mystery art book by artist Kit Williams. It was like folk horror with a prize 

I was 18 in 1979 and it was an essential bit of late Seventies teen geek culture, like say Roger Dean's book Visions was. Grown adults were enthralled too.

Williams's Masquerade's art was mesmerizing, very eerie and the clues in them were certainly not something I could work out the answer to. 

People did though and the hare was found in in Bedfordshire in 1983, although with a whiff of nepotism, the find was marred by scandal. Williams hid away for a long while. I was disappointed it was ever found.

Do you remember Masquerade?

You can read about the Hare auction here:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87ld115ndvo 

Dog Flight

 Being a huge fan of plastic Hong Kong novelties, here's another one I like for no other reason that it's cute and bonkers! 

The Cartoon Helicopter!

Basically a dog in a chopper, it's got everything going on. A stocking filler!

This auction example has tassel toppers missing I think.

Do you like it readers?

THE BLACK HOLE' PUZZLE BOOKS

 I recently picked up a Purnell 'The Black Hole' activity book. It's not in the best condition but  I do like the painted cover.

Here it is next to my Black Hole colouring book. Maximillian looks a tad bigger than I remember. 

The back covers.  The activity book has a selection of photos from the film, while the colouring book completes the wrap round cover painting.

The same books distributed in the U.S. by Whitman.

Whitman also released a sticker activity book, something I've still yet to find.

Merry Christmas from Woodsy

 

Merry Christmas Readers!

Thanks for all your views, comments, contributions and support on MoonBase this year.

Hope you have a fabtastic Xmas and a cosmic 2026!

All the very best,

Woodsy

CORGI CLUB SUPERIOR AMBULANCE

 

Another favourite of mine  from the Corgi Club - The Superior Ambulance on a Cadilllac  chassis. (437)

The Corgi Club has done a great job recreating this  familiar American streamlined vehicle.

 Corgi introduced the model in 1962, which featured  battery operated roof lights using their innovative 'Tran-O- Lite' system.

A red liveried version was produced until 1966, when after that the model was repainted  in pale blue and white.

This Corgi advert appeared in TV Century 21, August 22nd, 1966.

This TV21 front cover photo set up by Century 21 staff photographer, Doug Luke uses the earlier red version of the ambulance as set dressing.

Ghostbusters fans might  see similarities to the Ecto 1 which uses a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel Ambulance.

Dinky also produced a less -slick looking version  of the Superior Ambulance (number 267), but never the less desirable, which featured similar lighting, and also came with a separate stretchered patient in the opening back door .