Vintage Australian Toys & Ephemera
Plaid Stallions turns Two! It’s hard to believe that it has only been two years since Plaid Stallions – the web’s greatest repository of 70’s toy legends and fashion implosions – first graced the world’s monitors. To celebrate the milestone Stallion-in-Chief Brian has remodeled his conversation pit in flame-resistant Dupont shag-pile, giving the whole site a lovely … Read More “Plaid Stallions” »
The Toltoys ESB Vader Large Size Action Figure Thanks to the great detective work of Bill McBride over at the Darth Vader Toy Museum we now have conclusive proof that persistent rumors of ESB boxed characters (other than Boba Fett and IG-88) being released at retail in Australia were true! Ever since I started collecting I’ve … Read More “Toltoys 12″ Empire Stikes Back Darth Vader” »
The White Rocket Mazinga Australia is a big country, with lots of storage space. A big country demands a big toy. A really big toy. In 1979 that demand was meet by the good folks at Mattel when they unleashed 24 inches of the biggest arse-kicking missile-packing robot that the kids of Australia had ever … Read More “Mattel Shogun Warriors Mazinga with White Rockets” »
Reversing the Toltoys diaspora – The Hulk returns! Thanks to the marvelous network that is the Mego Museum I was recently able to bring this Australian released Mego Hulk back home. He had somehow found himself in the unfamiliar climes of Italy, no doubt taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Roma. But like … Read More “Toltoys MEGO Hulk” »
Big Bubbles, Some Troubles. You’ve got to wonder what WHAM-O were thinking when they decided to market a toy to children that was designed to be inflated by mouth, yet was not safe enough to come in to contact with painted surfaces or furniture. (Re-)Introducing SuperElasticBubblePlastic. Basically you squeezed out a blob of this toothpaste-like … Read More “SuperElasticBubblePlastic” »
There they are, blast ’em! One of the coolest toys produced for the Star Wars license was Han Solo’s blaster, sold as the “Star Wars Laser Pistol” by Kenner in the US and Toltoys here in Australia. This was a top toy, fun sound effects and great feel in the hand. I still recall my … Read More “Toltoys Star Wars Laser Pistol” »
Bionic Blast Ice Creams – Better. Stronger. Faster. The latest installment in my continuing story of licensed Australian Ice Creams (Part 1, Part 2) features the rebuilt Colonel himself – the Six Million Dollar Man. SMDM was as big in Australia as anywhere else through the mid-70’s, we had the Kenner toys distributed by Toltoys, … Read More “Streets Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Blast Ice Creams” »
Licensed Australian Ice Creams Part Two – Comic Heroes Last year I carried on a bit about the wonderful licensed ice-creams and icy poles we had in Australia in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It seemed for a time that any film or television show, character or concept that could be licensed as an … Read More “Licensed Australian Ice Cream Super Heroes” »
Toltoys Special Offer Items Some of the most sought after pieces in the Kenner US Star Wars line are the “Special Offer” (SO) vehicles. To help move old product and keep large department chains happy Kenner would include one or more free items (usually figures) inside the box, advertising the fact with a flashy sticker … Read More “Toltoys Special Offer Items” »
Star Wars Month The Death Star playset Play-value. Great toy-makers have always known it’s the secret of a successful toy. In my opinion the best example of play value in the vintage Star Wars line is the Death Star playset created by UK company Palitoy, and adapted around the world by Kenner Canada, Meccano France, … Read More “Toltoys Death Star Playset” »