Monthly Archives: July 2017

Danish Retro (Pt 3)

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Welcome to the third part of Danish Retro.

In this edition we look at a variety of products as advertised in Denmark in the 1970s and 80s. Featuring: Jan books, Famous Five books, Transformers, Action Force, Kinder Surprise, MB Games, Matchbox cars, Matilda dolls, Lego, Tony the Tiger and Coco Pops. Thanks for looking!

Part Two can be seen here

Jan

Denmark. 1976.

Famous Five Books with… skateboarding

Denmark. 1987.

Transformers Panini stickers

Panini Transformers. Denmark.

Action Force

Action Force stickers. Denmark.

Denmark. 1988.

Mon Chhichi

Denmark. 1980.

Kinder Surprise

1988.

1988.

1989.

Superman

Denmark.

MB Games

MB Games. Denmark. 1988.

Matchbox

Denmark. 1980.

Matilda Doll

Denmark. 1980.

 

Lego

Denmark. 1978.

Denmark. 1980.

Denmark. 1981.

Kellogg’s Frosties

1988.

1984.

1986.

Coco Pops

1988.

 

Chapter 29

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“Write drunk, edit sober.” Ernest Hemingway.

Of course, many believe that Hemingway never actually said this. It’s more likely that he wouldn’t let anything interfere with his writing, and that includes a hangover. But in the spirit of romance, we surf on those words.

A votre santé!

48, 55, 73, 76, 81, 98.

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Do you have a favourite number? Can you find the numbers in the adverts below? What is the significance of the numbers in the post title? Some numbers may be relevant to you, others not. TVTA is proud to present a selection of twentieth century numbers. In no particular order. Join us as we countdown in three, two, one…

31.

007.

13.

6,000,000.

4.

5.

2.

2.

2000.

2 + A (1) = 3.

1664.

666.

999.

101.

France. Pif Gadget N° 616. 1981.

6.

UK. Film Review. July 1979.

1.

UK. 2000 AD. 1983.

440.

US. Weird War Tales. 1981.

5.

UK. Doctor Who Magazine. 2013.

1 – 90 or 1- 75 and other variations.

54.

100.

KerPlunk

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Kerplunk was made by Ideal Toys in 1967. Players load the tower with 30 sticks to create a ‘nest’ then place 40 marbles on top of the nest. Players take turns in carefully removing the sticks to prevent any marbles from falling. Fallen marbles accumulate in designated player trays at the base of the tower. The winner is the player with the least amount of fallen marbles at the end of the game.

Ideal Toys catalogue page. 1972.

Ets De Neuter catalogue page. 1995. France.

KerPlunk ‘Plunk’ / ‘Crash Plunk’. Ideal, France.

BIG TRAK

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BIG TRAK (US) or Bigtrak (Europe) was a computerised toy vehicle created by Milton Bradley in 1979. This six-wheeled tank-like monster came with attractive decals, a front-mounted blue photon beam headlamp and an integrated programmable keypad that remembered up to 16 commands which it then executed in sequence. The US version was moulded in grey plastic while the European version was white. A companion unit was sold separately – the Big Trak Transporter – a trailer which could be attached to the rear that carried and dumped loads in response to Big Trak’s pre-programmed commands. Big Trak was relaunched in 2010 by Zeon Ltd who produced replicas of the original. 

US. FAO Schwarz catalogue 1980/1981

Martin Landau, George A. Romero, Jodie Whittaker

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Two big screen adieus and a small screen hello, as TVTA learns that movie director George A. Romero has died aged 77. Romero is famous for bringing zombies to cinema. His celebrated budget zombie films like Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead are classics of their genre. I like Romero’s films for their simplicity, comedy, humanity and social commentary. RIP George A. Romero.

Martin Landau – one of my childhood heroes in his lead role as Commander Koenig in Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Space 1999 TV series, has died aged 89. Landau received due recognition with a best supprting actor Oscar for his role as horror legend Bela Lugosi in the 1994 Tim Burton film Ed Wood. RIP Martin Landau.

And welcome to British actress Jodie Whittaker who has just received the key to the Tardis in her new role as the 13th Doctor in Doctor Who. Whittaker shined in the acclaimed BBC series Broadchurch. I can’t wait to see what she will offer as the latest incarnation of the Doctor. Welcome Jodie Whittaker.

Ron Wing to rule them all

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US. Creepy Mag. 1980.

Wooof just came flying into the scanning room in a state of panic.

“What’s the trouble?” I said.

“I accidently messed up the settings on our new time machine,” replied the cat. “We have less than six minutes before time splits into two, erases our recent posts, and the bailiffs come to take our scanner! In addition to this, we’ll be talking in spoonerisms and nonsense.”

“Bloody hell Wooof,” I said. “We already talk enough nonsense at The Vintage Toy Advertiser as it is. And may I remind you, the last time this happened we ended up crashing into the darkside of Planet Jupiter!”

“Stop moaning,” said the cat. “And post up the ads!”

INSERT TIME TRAVEL NOISE HERE: Whooooooooshhhhhhhh…

(six minutes later)

Wooof just came skying into the flanning room in a plate of static.

“Trots the wubble?” I said.

“I maccidently assed up the settings on our new wine machine,” replied the cat. “We have less than six biscuits before time tits into sploo, erases our decent roasts, and the bailiffs come to bake our spanner! In addition to this, we’ll be talking in noonerisms and sponsense.”

“Hoody bell Wooof!” I said. “We already talk enough nonsense at The Toasted Sandwich Advertiser as it is. And ray I me-mind you, the last time this happened we ended up crashing into the backside of Janet Plutiter!”

“Mop stoning,” said the cat. “And toast up the pads!”

TVTA is proud to present a tantalising mixed-up time treat of inflatable bunnies, scarecrows, rollerskates, kangaRoos, monsters and spooks, and more inflatables!

Playmates Bunnies. Ideal Toys catalogue. 1972. UK.

Scarecrow Target Set. Ideal Toys catalogue. 1972. UK.

Lundi rollerskates. Denmark. 1980.

Pop Wheels. Italy. Topolino. 1978.

Gioca rollerskates. Topolono. Italy. 1978

KangaRoos. Denmark.

KangaRoos. Denmark.

Monsters and Spooks model kits. Airfix catalogue. 1984. UK.

Slim Jim. Jonah Hex. 1978. US.

US. 1976.

US. 1976.

Feel the love or feel the pain? Elastic Man and Elastic Monstre get stretchy. France. 1978.

Playmate’s Disney characters. Ideal Toys catalogue. 1972. UK.

Tom and Jerry Playmates inflatables. UK. Ideal catalogue. 1972.