Just heard that Sir Roger Moore has sadly passed away. I'll be raising a glass (and an eyebrow ) to him tonight in the pub.
Our sincere condolences to his family.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Brooke Bond Race into Space
Following on from Woodsys collecting in the sixties post, I thought it might be worth reposting this early bloglet!
Back in 1971, I wasn't much of a tea drinker. Im not really now, much preferring a good stong black espresso. But back then, opening a box of tea was a little adventure and something to look forward to. Brooke Bond had for years previously, provided a collectable card inside packets of loose tea and also in (what was then a bit posh) teabags. There were lots of different series to collect, but three will always stand out for me - The History of Aviation, The Sea Our Other World and most notably, The Race Into Space.
This set couldnt have come at a better time for me, as I was in the thick of space mania and surrounded by space themed materials, comics, posters, toys, models, tv and film. Viewed as a stand alone piece of information, the set is excellent, giving a wide view of the space technology of the day and a look into the near future, beautifully illustrated throughout and with a focus on vehicles worldwide. Prior to this little album, I had been unaware that Japan or France had satelites or rockets or indeed any interest in putting anything in space, such had been the influence of the american space programme which had dominated the media two years before. The cards also highlight some of the more obscure russian craft such as Venera and Zond.
What really excited me more than anything though, was the futuristic section near the back - and on the cover - which showed nuclear propelled shuttles and a programme to reach Mars. My interest in all things nuclear had been fired up previously with toys such as the spacex Nuclear Pulse and the (then) unattainable Nuclear Ferry. The Mars Mission featured huge, modular vehicles, vaguely reminiscent of the Booster Rocket with fuel tanks clustered together. This unique arrangement of vehicles also cropped up in a poster featured in Countdown comic around the same period and I was excited to see the same vehicles presented in two different formats. Ill look at this project in more detail later, but for now, lets look at the cards. Ive scanned the pages of my original album very quickly and you can clearly see how the cards have been slapped into the album very roughly. For some reason my dad started putting the cards into the album, but trimmed off the white border with scissors - something I was completely unable to manage neatly a you can see! It took me a while to get all the cards in the series, but card 13 - Ranger 3, eluded me for months after I got the other 49 and it was only after a visit to an aunties house and the obligatory cup of tea, that I discovered it lying on a windowsill in the kitchen! I have since found a near mint set and album, so if anyone would like clear, professional scans of the set, let me know. Meanwhile, enjoy.
Back in 1971, I wasn't much of a tea drinker. Im not really now, much preferring a good stong black espresso. But back then, opening a box of tea was a little adventure and something to look forward to. Brooke Bond had for years previously, provided a collectable card inside packets of loose tea and also in (what was then a bit posh) teabags. There were lots of different series to collect, but three will always stand out for me - The History of Aviation, The Sea Our Other World and most notably, The Race Into Space.
This set couldnt have come at a better time for me, as I was in the thick of space mania and surrounded by space themed materials, comics, posters, toys, models, tv and film. Viewed as a stand alone piece of information, the set is excellent, giving a wide view of the space technology of the day and a look into the near future, beautifully illustrated throughout and with a focus on vehicles worldwide. Prior to this little album, I had been unaware that Japan or France had satelites or rockets or indeed any interest in putting anything in space, such had been the influence of the american space programme which had dominated the media two years before. The cards also highlight some of the more obscure russian craft such as Venera and Zond.
What really excited me more than anything though, was the futuristic section near the back - and on the cover - which showed nuclear propelled shuttles and a programme to reach Mars. My interest in all things nuclear had been fired up previously with toys such as the spacex Nuclear Pulse and the (then) unattainable Nuclear Ferry. The Mars Mission featured huge, modular vehicles, vaguely reminiscent of the Booster Rocket with fuel tanks clustered together. This unique arrangement of vehicles also cropped up in a poster featured in Countdown comic around the same period and I was excited to see the same vehicles presented in two different formats. Ill look at this project in more detail later, but for now, lets look at the cards. Ive scanned the pages of my original album very quickly and you can clearly see how the cards have been slapped into the album very roughly. For some reason my dad started putting the cards into the album, but trimmed off the white border with scissors - something I was completely unable to manage neatly a you can see! It took me a while to get all the cards in the series, but card 13 - Ranger 3, eluded me for months after I got the other 49 and it was only after a visit to an aunties house and the obligatory cup of tea, that I discovered it lying on a windowsill in the kitchen! I have since found a near mint set and album, so if anyone would like clear, professional scans of the set, let me know. Meanwhile, enjoy.
century 21 toys project sword badges: hidden astronauts - a footnote
Whilst clearing away my Project SWORD toys after videoing about badges I had one final and pleasant surprise.
I took these two Probe Force 1 and 2 boxes to re-box the vehicles.
I re-positioned them back in their inner card packaging.
Flipping back the card ends I noticed two blue items.
Two blue ASTRONAUT badges taped down no less!
I am unsure if I taped these badges down or whether I bought them like this twenty years ago.
Whatever the reason it means I require two less badges on my shopping list of those missing! Yay!
I would be interested to know if anyone else has hidden SWORD badges taped down like this on inner packaging that is maybe folded over.
Might be worth checking!
Monday, 22 May 2017
stamp collecting in the sixties
I was never a trainspotter as a kid but I did collect stamps for a while.
In fact everyone I knew collected something. My brother collected matchboxes and someone collected beer bottle tops.
My stamp collecting wasn't really that serious but I did enjoy the little philately I did during the late Sixties and the early Seventies.
I had a large hardback book on stamp collecting, which I really liked. It was probably published by Stanley Gibbons via Hamlyn or Collins. I'd love a copy of it now.
My actual stamps were all classics of their day from around the globe. I recall the World Cup, Concorde, Christmas but above all I remember dinosaurs. I think they may have have been marked Polska or Magyar something [Hungary?]. I adored those pictures .
They reminded me of my plastic model dinosaurs by Revell I think. the box art was equally as cool as the stamps.
Did you collect stamps as a kid or maybe something else?
project sword and spacex on bear alley
Whilst reading the late Roger Perry's article about Century 21 Publishing's book Animals as Pets I checked out Steve Holland's ace Bear Alley blog for references to Project SWORD and SpaceX. Here they are, enjoy:
Roger Perry, Project SWORD annual and SWORD toys dead stock
https://bearalley.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/perrys-picture-post-part-13.html Moonbase Central even gets a mention by Roger!
Tri-ang SpaceX
Make A Model Books and Eric Eden
final picture in the article.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
abba and the mystery of century 22 publishing
Searching for books released by Gerry Anderson's publishing arm, Century 21 Publishing Ltd, can be a lot of fun.
Occasionally searches cough up a curve-ball ... or should that be a fur-ball?
One such book is this on Abba Intermezzo, a German ABBA book list site:
ABBA: A Lyrical Collection
At some point in the early '80's Century 21 must have picked up a licence to market ABBA joining dozens of other publishers at the time.
For some reason this is the only book I can find that Century 21 published. It's listed as being published by Century 21 Merchandising and not the publishing arm, which may have folded by 1982 [I have previously found an ABBA poster from 1982 as well].
The real mystery are these further four ABBA publications listed on Abba Intermezzo, the Abba books website, including one re-issue and a magazine.
They were released by Century 22 in the early 1990's from the same location as that listed for Century 21 in the 1980's, namely Iver Heath in Bucks!
So just who are Century 22?
Any ideas readers?
animals as pets; century 21 publishing book identified at last!
In 2013 my good friend, blog supporter and space toy enthusiast Arto gave me a Finnish book about pet animals called Eläinystäväni.
It was published by Gerry Anderson's books arm Century 21 Publishing Ltd no less.
For the last four years I have been searching for the British version of this book from which the Finnish book was translated.
As usual whilst not really looking for that particular Century 21 book I find it!
It was called Animals As Pets and was one of a series of four hardback books by Century 21 Publishing about animals, the others being
Animals of the Countryside
and Animals of the Farm.
The fourth one's title remains unknown to me.
Animals of the Countryside
and Animals of the Farm.
The fourth one's title remains unknown to me.
I found a picture of them on the brilliant Bear Alley blog https://bearalley.blogspot.com/2016/05/ as part of a long series of articles by the late Roger Perry of Century 21 Publishing.
I cannot find any other reference to these books online.
If anyone has any I would be grateful of any pictures and further info for the blog.
Saturday, 20 May 2017
SHADOGUESTS
Here's some of the guests that will be hopefully attending Shado con next month.
Director Alan Perry who is always entertaining.
Here he is in full flow at Cosford, with focus puller, Robin MacDonald laughing in the background.
The charming and amiable Shane Rimmer is attending. He's best known to Anderson fans as the voice of Scott Tracy of course, but he does have his UFO connections.
Ayshea Brough who played Operative Ayshea Johnson throughout the series will be there. I'm happy to say I've met Ayshea a couple of times now and she's still a lovely lady.
Here she is on stage with fellow UFO actors, Georgina Moon and Jeremy Wilkin.
Keith Alexander, who played Keith Ford in the series will not unfortunately be attending in person but organisers are hoping to set up a live Skype link from his home in Australia. Sounds like something that would happen in UFO!
Photo: ITV Studios
Susan Jameson and Michael Jayston, who appeared together in the episode 'The Sound of Silence' will be attending.
Photo: ITV Studios
Gary Raymond, who played Col. John Grey in the episode,' The Man Who Came Back' will be there.
He appeared along with cult TV star Derren Nesbitt in that episode.
Photo: ITV Studios
Plus yet another guest has just been announced - Alan Harris, who appeared in UFO in several episodes, in particular as the Skydiver sonar operator in the episode, 'Destruction'.
So, a great UFO line up for whats shaping up to be a great one day event.
Scriptwriter, Ruric Powell who was going to attend, sadly passed away earlier this year. Our condolences to his family.
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