Johnny Seven - The Ultimate Boys' Toy of the 1960s
Johnny Seven O.M.A. (One Man Army) was a multi-function toy weapon which hit the shops in 1964 and, helped by a well-marketed television advertising campaign, very quickly became the best selling boys' toy by Christmas. All of the firing mechanisms were attached to the main rifle assembly and included a grenade launcher, an anti-tank rocket, an armour piercing shell, an anti-tank gun, a repeating rifle, a Tommy gun and an automatic pistol. The weapon itself stood on a twin legged folding stand which could be retracted inside the gun. The "Johnny Seven" box came in two variations - one a standard box showing a boy looking through the sights of the gun, and the second (Rare now for collectors) showed a "Battle field" scenario behind the mounted gun with a see through plastic lid. Today, an original in good condition and in its original box could cost you as much as £300.00
The 'Must Have' Toy of 1965
Doctor Who debuted on British television in November 1963 and although it won over critics almost immediately it wasn't until the first appearance, in all their glory, of the Daleks on December 28th, that the nation really took the show to heart. The Dalek phenomenon was instantaneous. School children in every playground up and down great Britain were soon imitating their grating voices as they chased their pals screaming "Exterminate, Exterminate!" The BBC were slow to pick up on the merchandising possibilities of the tin-pot creatures but as public demand increased so the race was on to get a Dalek model into the shops before Christmas 1964. The Dalek toy featured above actually arrived in 1965 and was produced by Louis Marx and Co Ltd. There were two types: one a battery opearted toy and the other friction operated. Standing at 6 and a half inches both were available in silver or black. The battery operated version was a 'bump-and-go' toy - which means that it happily went off along the floor until it hit something, at which point it would head off into another direction. The friction model was operated by simply pushing it over a surface until the wheels were spinning fast enough and then you'd place it on the floor and watch it go. Inside the neck section was a light that 'sparked' while the toy was moving.
Recommended Website: richardwho.com The place to be if you collect anything in the World of Doctor Who - Whether your passion is for original props, costumes, artwork, magazines, books, merchandise or the latest audio, DVD and video releases you will find others here that share your interests.
Give-A-Show Projector
Ronald Howes originally pitched an idea for a child’s slide projector to American toy firm Kenner in 1958. Quite simply, it was a torch with a lens given a contemporary child-friendly design and made out of high impact plastic. Kenner loved the idea and the Give-a-Show Projector was born. The company quickly secured highly lucrative licensing deals with major film and TV studios, and the toy became a massive hit! In five years between 1959 and 1964, Kenner sold well over 1,000,000 Give-a-Show Projectors. With a planned UK launch for Christmas 1961, full production of projector units and slide sets began at Chad Valley's main factory in Harborne, Birmingham earlier that year, and over the course of the next 18 years the company produced no less than 47 different Give-a-Show Projector sets including; Doctor Who, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Yogi Bear, Batman, Watch With Mother, Joe 90, Tingha and Tucker, Rupert Bear and Sooty.
Recommended Website: Give-a-Show Projector The most comprehensive Chad Valley Give-a-Show Projector resource on the Web.
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