Red streamlining - straight from the 30's

This was the future back in the roaring 20ies and 30ies of last century America. Streamline was the fashion, from locomotives to Art Deco. Detroit was not going to miss this either, and some very avant-garde automotive designs were born in that period (Airflow, Scarab etc.) Mostly not really succesfull, maybe because they went to much ahead of their time.

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But in the toywrold, well, it's a whole different story. This Wyandotte boattail red sports car was so popular they made these in different sizes and during quite a long run. And building quality means that a little sort of a century later we can still see these in good nick.

Electric headlamps (made of glass - no toy safety test would allow that today !) were actioned through a lever on the right side of the driver. Still trying to figure out the battery used + electrical connections !

going artistic !

even it's shadow shouts speed !

White rubber says the Michelin man ! 

Speed (ster)

Fenders ! (no, not the guitars...)

Boattail roadster, Wyandotte, USA, 1930's

France ? Time to do some laundry, please !

OK, and don't forget the "cadeau Bonux" - little prize toys (a little bit like Cracker Jack's) that were hidden in the bucket of laundry powder. This was one of the ways Procter & Gamble France was able to sell the Bonux brand with very little advertising efforts. The prize in each package was enough for eager kids to influence their parents at the point of sales.

Lessons in drawing... note the "BONUX" lettering on the front left thigh of each figurine.
On the backpack, one can read in very small lettering "REX" and "DÉPOSÉ"

Astronautes, BONUX, France, 1950's-60's 

Very small backpacks... not really good for long spacewalks !

Size : small (seen here next to a Best Spaceman with gun to give a scale)

Why do drivers of flying cars wear busdriver hats in the future ?

S2 Air Car, S2, Japan, 1960's

Going faster... always... and till death do us part...

Plastic, rivets... and a little opening at front to pass a cord

A white "Bluebird" ?

Nice metal wheelhubs... 

Bluebird, blown plastic, 37cm, ?, Possibly England ?, 1960's

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