Air Ray Gun By Budson, non Flash Gordon Version?

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

I wonder if Wham-O just bought the patent from Budson for their Air Blasters? They look awfully similar and I'm sure work the same way.

[Joe K.]

Here's pretty compelling proof that the Budson Air Ray Gun was available before it became associated with Flash Gordon, having been originally released in October of 1948.

It's a single column article/ad in a May 1948 issue of Toys and Novelties, as seen (and enlarged) here:

 So, who has the original packaging (box?)?

 

[Nick Danger]

This just ended on eBay: what appears to be a bonafide, pre-Flash-Gordon, Budson Air-Ray Gun.  The box is a mess, but at least we can get a look at it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brian..]

Nice find. That's interesting early packaging with the crazy cartoon characters. 

 

The first version (non-Flash Gordon) appears in November 1947. Interestingly one advert refers to it as "a toy of the Atomic age"

 

 

[tikidoc]

On 6/21/2016 at 3:43 PM, Brian.. said:

Here's the best indication of that pre-Flash Gordon version. It's an ad from December 1947.

 

Notice that there are two odd looking alien targets.

 

 

 

 

It looks like those crazy alien targets ( as seen in an earlier ad ) are on the box and you just cut them off the box ! How cool is that. Considering it says it right on the box, I just thought I would state the obvious.

[Brian..]

That probably explains why there are not many boxes - the kids cut them up. Children and toys are a deadly combination. 

[Nick Danger]

To be fair, the kids were only following instructions.  In fact, we should applaud them for properly reading the box!