Vintage Australian Toys & Ephemera
Here’s a ripping piece that escaped my clutches on Aussie Ebay a few years ago, an early 80’s Milk Bar Store Display for Pauls Donkey Kong Icey Poles (Orange and Pineapple Treats). It features a competition for Futuretronics (The Australian Nintendo distributor) Game and Watch electronic hand helds. Did they come in take home packs I … Read More “Donkey Kong Icey Poles and Futuretronics G&W” »
And finally we have the Toltoys pages from the Toyworld 1975 Christmas Sale catalogue! The 6 Million Dollar Man heralded the arrival of Kenner as a licensing force in toys, cemented a couple of years later by their securing of the Star Wars license. Toltoys would come to profit greatly by this relationship, coming under … Read More “Toltoys in the 1975 Toyworld Catalogue” »
A few more pages from the 1975 Toyworld Christmas catalogue… Croner Toys had an eclectic mix of international brands including the popular Janex talking alarm clocks, I’m still looking for a mint boxed Batman version! The Holly Hobbie sewing machines seemed to grace every girl’s dresser for a time, including my sister’s. I can’t … Read More “More from the Toyworld 1975 Catalogue” »
I remember Toyworld stores of the 70’s as the quintessential local toy destination, a medium sized store on the local strip, jam packed with toys of all descriptions. They had the latest TV backed hits, along with the wonderful cheapie rack-toys for the after-school run. This great catalogue showcases the range available for Christmas 1975, … Read More “1975 Toyworld Catalogue” »
The iconic Speederbike was one of the most loved toys from the Kenner USA Star Wars range, and they were also sold here in Australia in Kenner boxes during the ROTJ era. Recently though the keen eyes of Aussie super-collector Pat O’Brien noticed that some local versions were issued in a slightly larger box than … Read More “Toltoys Return of the Jedi Speederbike” »
These rifles show up boxed much less frequently than the smaller Han Solo Blasters, and finding one in Toltoys livery (Rather than Kenner) is near impossible, so it was great to see this relatively nice example appear on Ebay recently and subsequently make its way into one of the best Toltoys collections here in Oz. … Read More “Star Wars Toltoys 3 Position Laser Rifle” »
Things were getting a little wacky for ole’ GI Joe by 1975. Hasbro USA had ended his military duties in 1970 and enlisted him in the boy scouts as an Adventurer instead of a soldier. His English cousin, Palitoy’s Action Man, had stayed in (increasingly elaborate) uniform but added adventure sets to the line. Here … Read More “Kenbrite GI Joe / Action Man / Man of Action” »
You know those memories from childhood that flood through your mind when you hear an old tune or smell a long lost aroma? Well that’s what it was like when I saw this early 70’s Streets Whammy Stix Milk Bar display. It wasn’t so much the ice cream, it was those great little construction sticks. … Read More “Streets Whammy Stix” »