1972 - Johnny Pick Up Push Toy, Astro Zapper Gun, Astro Trac

[Joe K.]

See:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/1974-Kusan-Toy-Catalog...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

The 1974 dated cover:

 

http://www.anttoys.com/ebay/tc274.jpg

 

And, specifically, this page for Johnny Pick-Up push toy:

 

http://www.anttoys.com/ebay/tc274f.jpg

 

And here, for the Astro Zapper:

 

http://www.anttoys.com/ebay/tc274g.jpg

 

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UPDATE:

 

See posting below for earlier 1972 catalog sighting

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

See:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1974-Kusan-Toy-Catalog...1QQcmdZViewItem

The dated cover:

And, specifically, this page for Johnny Pick-Up push toy:

And here, for the Astro Zapper:

[Phil R]

I could not find a date on my astro zapper. It also did not have a UPC code.

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

This is not hard evidence by any means but in my opinion the white version of the Astro Zapper makes sense for pre 1977 because at that time the prevailing "space look" was still based on the TV show Space 1999 (if you remember everything in that show was white). The box on Phil's version on the other hand is without a doubt influenced by Star Wars so I'd say it was 1977 or later.

Pretty obvious but I thought I'd add my thoughts nonetheless. :D

[Joe K.]

Here's an older Kusan catalog from 1972 that also depicts an Astro Trac pull toy.

The dated catalog cover:

http://www.anttoys.com/Kahmara/toy624.JPG

This page for the Johnny Pick-up push toy and Astro Zapper:

http://www.anttoys.com/Kahmara/toy624c.JPG

and here for the Astro Trac pull toy:

http://www.anttoys.com/Kahmara/toy624b.JPG

The topic title has been revised to reflect this earlier sighting.

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Here's an older Kusan catalog from 1972 that also depicts an Astro Trac pull toy.

The dated catalog cover:

This page for the Johnny Pick-up push toy and Astro Zapper:

and here for the Astro Trac pull toy:

The topic title has been revised to reflect this earlier sighting.