Playmobil adverts from Italy

Posted on February 28, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Time for some cool Playmo adverts from Italy. These adverts would have appeared in numerous comics and magazines during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It’s good to see some of the aviation line of toys as well as some great sets from Playmo’s extensive Wild West series. What I really like about some of these ads is the depiction of the packaging alongside the toys. Seeing those blue boxes brings back fond memories. I also like the impressive dioramas and photography, which for me is typical of Playmobil and their attention to detail when it came to advertising their products.

Big thanks to TVTA’s good friend Zerocal for sending me these scans. Please visit his excellent Playmobil site over at: Playvender.blogspot.com

Farewell Spock; Leonard Nimoy who passed away today

Posted on February 27, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

I was sad to just learn that Leonard Nimoy who played Spock in the Star Trek TV series and films passed away today aged 83.

New York Times report

I always thought Spock was an iconic character and was played well by Leonard. Rest in peace dude.

Here are a few vintage ads I’ve dug out featuring Spock.

USA. Starlog 93. 1985.

US. Creepy Mag. 1980.

USA. Starlog 65. 1982.

USA. Starlog 99. 1985.

Comic covers: 2000 AD Judge Dredd and Co.

Posted on February 21, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

British comic 2000 AD has always been a firm favourite since I was a kid. For me their titles have consistently provided a colourful and anarchic, black-humoured universe full of sharply-observed characters.

My favourite characters were often the ones found in Mega-City One… Judges Dredd, Anderson and Hershey, The Dark Judges, the Angel Gang and so on. I’ve pulled a few random covers from my collection to show here. Some of the covers are from Eagle Comics which reprinted 2000 AD stories in a US style format during the mid-eighties. Hope you enjoy.

Historical overview: 2000 AD history

As I was preparing this post during the week I learned the sad news that Brett Ewins had passed away on the 16th February. Brett was a major contributor to many 2000 AD titles. The first two pictures in this post are by Brett. RIP dude.

1986. Brett Ewins cover.

1986. Brett Ewins cover.

1977. Kevin O’Neill cover.

1985. Eric Philips cover.

1985. Brian Bolland cover.

1985. Dave Gibbons cover.

1986. Brian Bolland cover.

1986. Ad for Strontium Dog. Carlos Ezquerra.

France. Judge Dredd 4. 1983. Brian Bolland back cover art for Judge Dredd.

Shoot… 1970s football goal-scoring action with added facial hair!

Posted on February 12, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

This football game released by the Meccano company during the late 1970s in France required you to take control of an Adidas-clad toy footballer who tried to scored goals against your opponent who operated a (less-than-impressive) goalkeeper.

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

Our goal-scoring hero – with his Errol Flynn / Clark Gable-esque pencil moustache – certainly makes for a stylish presence on the penalty spot. His flocked hair makes you think immediately of Action Man / G.I. Joe, as well as his football strip done out in full Adidas style. Alternative coloured jerseys were available made in the colours of French teams. There’s no way this goal scorer can fail to rock!

A flock (hair) of seagulls (Cantona).

The same cannot be said for the poor goalkeeper who has to make do being a cardboard cutout. He does get a funky moustache though.

Cardboard cutout goalie ready to move left or right in dramatic penelty-saving cup action!

Cardboard cutout goalie ready to move left or right in dramatic penalty-saving cup action!

Shoot box detail.

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

Badaboum! The balancing game

Posted on February 12, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Badaboum was a family educational game requiring skill and balance. Released by the Capieta toy company in France, this 1979 advert offered the chance to win a day at the circus.

France. Pif Gadget. 1979.

Badaboum. 1979 Miro-Meccano catalogue page.

Mini-jeux, Kinder Surprise, Big Jim and the end of the LEGO-Shell love affair

Posted on February 8, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Mini-Jeux are mechanical games based on the Japanese Tomy hand-held games.

In the UK these were marketed as ‘Pocketeers’ by the Palitoy company. See TVTA’s post POCKETEERS

France. Pif Gadget. 1979.

100 new surprises… more beautiful than ever.

1978 Kinder Surprise ad from France. More Kinder Surprise here

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

Big Jim helicopter. 1978.

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

LEGO Sea stuff.

Lego used to have a corporate deal going with the Shell oil company. For years the Shell logo appeared on numerous brick products like tankers, petrol stations and oil rigs – until recently (2014) when Lego finally cut its ties with the oil giant following a sustained capaign by Greenpeace

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

PLAY-BIG / BUSY BODIES

Posted on February 6, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Play-Big is a German toy figure and accessories range created in 1974. In the UK the brand was known as Busy Bodies. The figures are similar in style to Playmobil.