The feathers of the mighty peacock...

Two indians with tomahawk, lead, John Hill, England, 1930's

When I was a kid, I would grab just any feather I found on the street and put it into my hair to be a Sioux or Apache Indian... Lots of pigeons feathers, basically... nothing really fancy.

These 2 figurines went the full Monty. Not really easy to go to battle dressed like that, but for the tribal dances they get first price.

O tinman ! Tell me the date !

Desk calendar / aluminium robot on plexi base, maker
 unknown, Mexico, 1960 ? 

It is always nice to know what day it is, and month... even if this means some manual fingerwork !

Nowedays our computerscreen has it all. This little fellow dates of times before computers, times of inkwells and fountain pens and...

I think Maria had one of those at her desk in Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS...

The man with the golden gun...

Spacegun, no markings, Taiwan ?, 1980's

Unusual raygun - Lisbon's fleamarket as usual... A battery version of this toy also exists called Space Commander 2001 and makes horrible (strident) noises... Just enough to send your parents to the madhouse, or to Mars, whichever comes first...

Internet foto on file

Say hello to "Le Robot"

Robot, Villac, France, 2000's

OK, looks like Mr. Michelin aka Bibendum - but this is a whole new design. Made by the French wooden toy company Villac (also known for their Babar and Tintin licenses), this wooden robot is quite classic all the way. I like the no nonsense red slits for eyes. And that big red button on its belly ? NOOOO - Don't touch the red button ! Images of end of the world come to mind... Limbs are fixed to the body by strings - so they are moveable.

Please don't smoke...

Yes, another find at Lisbon's finest fleamarket. Made of something feeling and looking like aluminium. No markings. It's like Batman's ride, but from the 30ies (Dark Knight in shinny armour, right ?)

Me ? I use it to keep my paper clips. On my desk. It just makes it look like a GM design office now. It's all in the little details...

So please, if you need to smoke, let it be your tires, or your engine... 

Car ashtray (?), no other markings

Know your tanks !

Anyone ? Nooo ? correct. This is the Dragon tank from Dr. No, one of James Bond's first true villains. Spot it here :

Dragon tank, Gilbert, England, 1965

When I was a kid...

Fort Apache, Oehme & Sohne, Germany, 1970's

 ... I played Cowboys and indians... the stories of Zorro and Davy Crocket and Rintintin... and I did it with this fort. I was lucky to find it back just as I remembered it. All wood. Felt for the door hinges.

Lots of great battles happened here, and I am really happy to have found this toy.

 

Beautiful artwork on red box...

Tintin made in Portugal !

Tintin e companhia , Bertrand, Portugal, 1970's

Our little belgian reporter has always been quite popular here in Portugal. These figurines were made with Heimo molds by the portuguese publishing company Bertrand. For the funny story, I started learning portuguese by re-reading all Tintin comic books in that language.

Are you also and international "connaisseur Tintinologue ?"

To know how or heroes are called in each language, go here.

Ceci n'est pas une pipe...

Blow, and my hat will rise...

Smoking is fun for your health...

Clown pipe, ?, Portugal, 1960's

Asjemenou ?

 

Loeki the lion, Delacoste, 1977, France

Loeki the Lion was an animated puppet who appeared on Dutch public television from 1972 to 2004. He appeared in sketches that often lacked dialogue and was noted for his clumsiness and his catchphrase, "Asjemenou"... We got to know him in Belgium because he was ending the commercials...

We all live in a yellow...

The classic lines, the fenders that don't give up untill there is no car left... oh boy. Streamlined beauty. All plastic. All classic.

Limousine, Renwal, USA, 1950's

Flexibility and elasticity

Marc, Orli Jouet, France, 1979

This is one of the most common renditions of Marc (Ken / Ace Goodheart (USA)) the leader of Gatchaman / Bataille des Planètes.

He was sold like this and also on blister card.

Unfortunately, only four out of the five members were made this way (Tiny (USA) / Alumette (FR) / Ryû (JP) never made it as a bendable figurine... )

Hail to the King of Speed !

This plastic toy is based on the Auto Union Rekordwagen Typ B "Lucca" from 1935. It was made under different sizes, colours and numbers by the US toy company Renwal and renamed "Speed King" (Dinky toys UK also made a version but kept the original maker of the car on the box).

How can you not go fast in such a thing ? It's flying even standing still.

Speed King, Renwal, USA, 1950's

The real deal... (Audi Archive picture)

Save the universe - eat potato chips / crisps

Before the European Community went bezerk regarding toys in food packages, it was common to have a little surprise in potato chips packs. The Italians, well, they went premium with this figurine of Capitan Futuro. Assemble limbs to body and voilá... ready to play.

Capitan Futuro, Sorpresina Patatine PAI, Italy, 1980's

The nice thing is they respected the correct colors of the figurine (sorry Popy !) and the figurine has a lot of detailing for something that was given for free.

O Canada ! Our home and native land !

Spaceships, Reliable, Canada, 1950's

Sometimes the "less is better" can apply directly to the toy-design world. This is definitely one example.. These 2 rather flimsy space toys were made by the Reliable company in Canada and ooze classic Sci-Fi design. Fins ? Check ! - Curves ? Check ! - and look at all these windows ! They seem to be cruise ships on the sea of stars...

Strangely, they have different coloured wheels and axles between front and back.