A blimp on wheels ? The futuristic Manoil bus...

Futuristic bus, Manoil, USA, 1940's-50's

It's really hot ! Don't forget to water the flowers, will you ?

And what better way than to do it the Atom way ? This is my oldest Astro item, but what a gem ! You pour the water through the head and sprinkle through the fingers...

 

Tetsuwan Atom, watering can, ?, 1964, Japan 

Robocon flag game

I have never really understood how this thing was supposed to work (all instructions are in Japanese...), but this is the old version of the Robocon flag game (for the modern one, see below). This one came with little flags (for the robot to hold (not shown - if you have a set of these please let me know) and larger flags (in vinyl and plastic) for the kids to mimic whatever the robot did and said.

Robocon flag game, Popy, Japan, 1970's

Robocon flag game (modern version), Popy, Japan, 1999

C'est vraiment trop injuste ! It's really not fair !

Calimero keyholder, PAGO-GUTFER on wings, ?, 1970's

Remember this egg-head ? Generations have grown up in compassion with this little chick !

And another ugly bird from Jecsan...

Jason / Thierry, Battle of the planets, Jecsan, Spain, 1979

The new FAB 1

Talking FAB 1, Vivid, China, 2015

Well, this time they did not choose a Ford... and went back to British engineering. The two-tone grey and pink is quite nice. The correct car to introduce Thunderbirds to a whole new public ?

FAB 1, Takara - Tomica, Vietnam, 2015

Side by side with the Hotwheels car...

Un pour tous et tous pour un, ... One for all, all for one !

Fingerpuppet ? Top of Shampoo bottle ?

Dogtanian, no markings...

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (Spanish: D'Artacan y los Tres Mosqueperros; Japanese: ワンワン三銃士 [Wan Wan Sanjuushi; lit.,The Woof Woof Three Musketeers]) is a Spanish–Japanese anime adaptation of the classic Alexandre Dumas story of d'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers. Most of the characters are anthropomorphizations of dogs, hence the title of the cartoon. (Source Wikipedia) 

The 3 Musketeers - Les 3 Mousquetaires - Dartacão, Disvenda, Portugal, 1983

In France, the cartoon started airing in 1984 - but here in Portugal they had it one year earlier.

The funny thing is that each country retained the music score by Guido et Maurizio De Angelis, so the tune itself is known all across Europe...

FRENCH

PORTUGUESE

SPANISH

ITALIAN

GERMAN

Il était une fois...

Psi, Pierrot, Maestro, ... these are some of the Spanish toys made.

Il était une fois l'Espace, Psi and Pierrot in space pods, Comansi, Spain, 1985

Il était une fois l'Espace, Maestro at command post, Comansi, Spain, 1985

The box was generic and referring to another toy-line: Coman Boys 

Wyandotte Futuristic Plane

Futuristic Plane, Wyandotte, USA, 1930's

Taking example on nature, did we ? What better way than mimicking one of the most agile birds... 

Swallow in flight

It's a K-9 !

Dr. Who, K-9, Dapol, UK, 1996

Even in the future, men's best friend !

And another bluebird...

Bluebird. maker ? Slush cast - probably 1920's or 1930's, USA or UK ?

Anyone with additional info please contact me.

Pics from last week's toyfair

Plastic on cardboard...

baby blue suits... really ?

Sometimes, finding information about who made what in toy history is not an easy thing. Happily, people on the Alphadrome Forum are always eager to help. Thanks Ervino !

Astronauts, Germodels, U.K., 1960's 

Birdy on my keys ? It's ... La Fuerza G !

Mark / Ken keyholder (metal), ?, Spain, 1978's 

The plastic arsenal...

Blue Raygun with radar, MS, Japan, 1970's

Blue raygun nº 815, ?, Hong Kong, 1970's

Green raygun, ?, Hong Kong, 1980's

Pink raygun with sparks in plastic, ?

I'm seeing Tetsujin's everywhere !

... and that's just because I was playing around in Picassa with the FUNKO POP! vinyl Gigantor...

En voiture ! Autorail

Autorail, Joustra, France, 1960's

Smaller passenger lines saw a large array of different machines that were made to run on their tracks. Halfway between a train, a metro car and a bus...

Big names were trying out their machines : Bugatti, Renault, Michelin, ...

This toy could be based on the French Billard make... due to the individual bumper on each side.