1952 - Rocket Space Ship 305 By Automatic Toy Company

[Joe K.]

Here's the dated cover (which also appears in Blast Off!, page 85):

 

<a href="http://i6.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/32/13/f073_1.JPG" target="_blank">http://i6.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/32/13/f073_1.JPG</a>

 

And this page, specifically:

 

<a href="http://i5.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/32/13/f797_1.JPG" target="_blank">http://i5.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/32/13/f797_1.JPG</a>

 

Here's another page from the same catalog that also appears in Blast Off!, page 86:

 

<a href="http://i15.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/32/13/f1f3_1.JPG" target="_blank">http://i15.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/32/13/f1f3_1.JPG</a>

 

Here's a Database photo of the craft:

 

<a href="http://www.danefield.com/data/albums/userpics/normal_401.png" target="_blank">http://www.danefield.com/data/albums/userpics/normal_401.png</a>

 

Initially, I thought this was the Dan Dare Space Ship by Mettoy. A review of the Database caused me to see the error of my ways. Here's a nice comparison photo:

 

<a href="http://www.danefield.com/data/albums/bh7/normal_post-648-1207944970.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.danefield.com/data/albums/bh7/n...-1207944970.jpg</a>

 

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Here's a related thread for a possible yellow color variation of the "305":

 

http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/index.php/topic/11908-advert-rocket-spaceship/page__gopid__112710#entry112710

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Here's the dated cover (which also appears in Blast Off!, page 85):

And this page, specifically:

Here's another page from the same catalog that also appears in Blast Off!, page 86:

Here's a Database photo of the craft:

Initially, I thought this was the Dan Dare Space Ship by Mettoy. A review of the Database caused me to see the error of my ways. Here's a nice comparison photo:

[ANZinSpace]

I recently bought this ad sheet from a seller on EBAY. It apparently comes from her father's collection - he was a toy designer in the 50's. The seller dates this to the 1952/53 because the toys listed were from that time period but there is no dating on the sheet itself. I tried using the company names and even some of the toys but there is a confusion of dates from those.

 

The item of interest of course is the Rocket Spaceship 305 and in particular the fact that the artist's rendering is of a colour scheme not used on these toys. The basic design - 6 windows on top, different coloured band around the body, windows in the wing, intakes under the front windows etc - is a match for what was sold. So was this a prototype design that was never produced or is there a yellow/cream 305 out there somewhere?

 

[dratomic]

Wow, that's a great looking ad! Big, bright, and bold... :)

[Joe K.]

Nice find, ANZ!

Here's the Timeline thread for the more traditional red color "305" from 1952 (note that the Magic Crossroads toy is also pictured on the same catalog page):

http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/index.php/topic/8866-1952-rocket-space-ship-automatic-company/

So... has anybody ever seen this yellow color variation?

[Brian..]

I notice the little track toy, the Dragon Ride 325, is a variation of the Masudaya Universe Ride http://www.danefield...p_display_media I wonder is it ealier or later? So Automatic are selling Masudaya items, unless they've reworked the toy, or vice versa.

[ANZinSpace]

One of the things I found interesting in my initial study of the toy is that the toy itself have no maker's name on it but the later 306 does. Also the design would appear to be a European/German one and from the 30's so I've often wondered if the Automatic Toy Company was involved in American efforts after WWII to rebuild Germany by buying toys from German companies to resell in America. If they were doing that then maybe they were also involved in a similar trade with Japan. It'd be interesting to find out.

[Brian..]

December 1952:

[Joe K.]

One more 1952 sighting, this time in an Otasco Christmas catalog:

The ended listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1952-OTASCO-Christmas-Catalog-From-Oklahoma-Tire-amp-Supply-Co-/113224714966?hash=item1a5cb80ad6%3Ag%3AHhAAAOSwY8Bbhgx7&nma=true&si=v9m9znqphYNdIsyAZXBgNFFTBNQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557