#139 RICO - AUTOBUS (Ref. 49) (Around 1969)

Rico is together with Payá the the most important Spanish toymaker ever. This company was founded in 1911 by a few Payá ex-employees. In this entry, we commented that in 1909 Payá attends a regional fair in Valencia and in 1910 the national exhibition in Valencia and another one in Buenos Aires. In these successful years (and because of this success) concurrence appears. The first concurrents are the same Payá employees who start new companies themselves. The information for this article comes again from Mr. Raimundo Payá, who also allowed me to publish the picture of the Rico workers in the 1910s. Thanks for all!

The first ones to become independent were (among others) Miguel Pina Pérez (painter and photographer), Agapito Bernado Verdú Verdú (mechanic), Jaime Esteve Bastant (blacksmith) and Joaquín Domenech Rico (carver). They started a regular cooperative in May 1911 named “A.B. Verdú y Cía” to produce and sell metallic toys. This cooperative had an equity of 6000 pesetas (36 Euros), paid by Mr. Pina, Mr. Verdú and Mr. Esteve (2000 each). Mr. Domenech was an industrial partner, but not a shareholder.

The company was located in the 61, San Blas street in Ibi. The company grew very quickly and so it did the number of employees. Not everything was that idyllic, there were also bad times and some members of the company were replaced by new ones, and so the company had to change its name several times between 1914 and 1920.

In 1917, Santiago Rico Molina joins the company with a financial contribution. He was until that moment the head of the sales department. The company changes its name to “Verdú, Rico y Cia”, and in 1920, after the purchase of shares by an italian group, “Rico S.A.”. From this moment on, the only shareholder from the four founders was Esteve. The other three sold their shares, but continued working in the factory.

Rico brings to the Spanish toy industry three new concepts: the no-family business, the appearance of the businessmen and the foreign shareholders/investors. Rico was the greatest concurrent to Payá and produced toys between 1911 and 1984.

1910–1913. Founding members: upper row: Jaime Esteve; Clement (Agapito’s son, not a member); Joaquín Doménech; Miguel Pina Pérez; Agapito Bernardo Verdú and the Palau Brothers (Antonio and José, at the time workers at the factory, but who would start their own toy factory years later). The rest are workers of the factory. Note that some of them are children, since child labour was still common those days.

The toy I present is the oldest toy I own by Rico. It is a "Pegaso" bus. I made some research on this toy, and I found that this bus is probably not a real model, but an invented one. Pegaso was a Spanish company that built many trucks and buses (but also cars and even race cars) from 1946 to 1994. I think this bus might be inspired by various american "Greyhound" models. The front of the bus is pretty similar to that of the GM PD-4106. The trapezoidal windows can also be seen in many american bus models from the 60s.

This bus is made of tin probably at the end of the 60s, or maybe in the first 70s, and comes with a friction mechanism. Maybe the most interesting parts of this toy are the front and the back of the bus, where we can observe the emblem of Pegaso, the license plates (A 4900, where "A" stands for "Alicante", and 49 is the reference number of this toy), and the destination (Alicante). Maybe it is neccesary to say that Alicante is the Spanish province in which Ibi is located and where this toy was made.

At the back, the S.P. plate (Servicio Público), the 80 plate (max. speed of this type of vehicle at that time) and ATESA, which is the name of the bus-line "Autotransporte Turístico Español, S.A.", a great company of road transports, that nowadays still exists as a rent-a-car company.

The sides are also interesting, because different people are depicted on each window. Note also that the name of ATESA is writen again, but complete instead of the acronym.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: AUTOBUS (Ref. 49)
• Scale: 1:40 (estimated)
• Year: Around 1969
• Company: Rico (Spain)
• Size: Around 30 cm

#138 STAR WARS – BARADA & YAK FACE (1985)

I have already explained that the last wave ever of many toy series or (most accurately) action figures series, are usually the most difficult to find today and the ones that reach the highest prices. This is, in my opinion, caused for one reason: the last wave is made when sales and popularity are sinking, and the toy companies do not risk much by making as many units as they did for previous waves, when the product was more popular. Kenner’s 3’’3/4 Star Wars action figures were no exception, and in 1984 and 1985, were the “last 17” figures released.

This term (last 17) is very common among SW collectors, because it’s the name given to the most hard to find figures in the whole collection. This figures were released under the line “Power of the Force” (short POTF), since figures for each film had already been released. POTF figures were 36, many of them (22) being re-releases, and including mainly many auxiliary characters and main characters in different outfits.

I am not a very experience collector of this series, but I own a few of this 17. Today I am presenting 2 of them: Barada and Yak Face.

Barada is a Klatooinian slave and mechanic appears in the film “The Return of the Jedi”. The colour scheme, however, come from another character named Kithaba. As a curiosity, the name Barada is a homage made to the film “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, in which an alien named Klaatu comes to Earth. The original line: “Klaatu Barada Nikto” is repeated over the film. George Lucas gave name to three Star Wars characters using these three words.

Yak Face is not even an “auxiliary character”, since it appears in the film “The Return of the Jedi” only for 3 seconds. It belongs to the race of the Yarkora. The figure however is one of the most valuable. The reason for this is that this one the last figure in the POTF line, and it came in production when the line had already been cancelled due to the low sales. The distribution plan for this figure was to send all these figures to Canada and Europe, and not the U.S.A. The Canadian version came with a staff, while the European didn’t.

Both figures share the same weapon, a staff, and both were packed with a “collectors coin” that I do not have. The weapons depicted in this article are both repro. I don’t think I would give away so much money for an “original” one. For these two, I gave 3 US dollars away (1,50 each).

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: BARADA and YAK FACE
• Toy Line: Star Wars: Power of the Force
• Year: 1985
• Company: Kenner (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 11 cms or 3,75’’

As annex, I copy here the list of these “last 17” figures:

• 1. Amanaman
• 2. A-wing Pilot
• 3. Anakin
• 4. Barada
• 5. EV-9D9
• 6. Han in Carbonite
• 7. Imperial Dignitary
• 8. Imperial Gunner
• 9. Lando General
• 10. Luke Battle Poncho
• 11. Luke in Stormtrooper Disguise
• 12. Lumat*
• 13. Paploo*
• 14. R2-D2 w/ Pop-up Lightsaber**
• 15. Romba
• 16. Warok
• 17. Yak Face

*All of them were released in 1985, except Lumat and Paploo, that were released in 1984.

**R2-D2 with pop-up lightsaber is marked 1977, because its cast was reused from the same figure (without the lightsaber) that year.

#137 TRANSFORMERS VAULT (PABLO HIDALGO)

This book was one of the gifts I received last Christmas. I have read it with great interest because I know almost nothing about transformers. The book is beautifully published: hardcover, with a sleeve, great paper quality and many surprises!

If you, like me, don’t know much about Transformers, this could be an interesting book for you. I sincerely doubt that I would learn something by reading it, if I were an expert on this topic: the greatest virtue of this book is to provide a great summary of the Transformers universe; there are no comprehensive listings, or whatever.

The first chapter deals with toys, from the very beginning to today, further chapters deal with comic-books, tv-series and the films made recently. I am mostly interested in toys (and only vintage toys), that’s why the toy-chapter seemed short to me, while all the others seemed long. And on top of this, the toy-chapter deals with many toys from the 2000 on, that don’t really interest me, but well, I guess you can't write such a book, and pretend that everybody’s happy with the contents. Anyway, I’m really happy with it, since I have learnt lots of things that I will use on future transformers entries.

A great point for this publication is the memorabilia and rare collectibles included. Many pages have some kind of “pocket” in which very special documents, catalogues, artwork… are included.

This book is published in English by Abrams Books, is very easy to find, and it is sold for a very reasonable price (check amazon), considering the quality of the book.

#136 CORGI – VW 1500 KARMANN GHIA (Ref. 239)(1963)

This german car was one of the most popular Corgi models from 1963, having sold around 730.000 units in 5 years (to 1968). It was released with the number 239, and sold like any other simple model in a cardboard box.

This ivory version with red interiors is the most common, but there are other colours available: gold, light red, orange and burgundy red. There are also some variants in the interior.

This model came with many features, which are maybe the reason why this model got to sell so many units; according to the box: opening bonnet, opening boot, opening engine cover showing engine, spring suspension (glidamatic), seats, steering wheel. Additionally (not mentioned in the box), we could say: shaped spun hubs, spare wheel, luggage, silver cast base and windows.

Often missing!

The luggage and the spare wheel are probably the most interesting points in the list above. They are tiny pieces that can be removed from their places, and therefore, very likely to be missing. A very nice detail with the spare wheel, is that once placed in the boot (at the front part of the car), it can be seen from below.

Engine glass cover

The next amazing feature of this model is that in the bonnet, the engine is located under a glass cover that separated the engine room from a kind of second boot. The luggage can be placed here or in the boot.

About the real car, it is interesting to mention, that the Volkswagen 1500 (or later 1600) has had many different versions through its history. A completely different VW 1500 was shown in this enty.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: VW 1500 KARMANN GHIA (Nr. 239)
• Scale: 1:46
• Year: 1963 to 1968
• Company: Corgi (G. Britain)
• Size: approx. 9 cm

#135 HE-MAN –VIZAR and KARATTI (Ref. 3369 and 3529) (1990)

We already presented two figures from the first wave of this collection; this time I’ll show two figures from the second wave and we will explore the package in which they were sold.

One of the figures (Vizar) is a heroic master, the other one (Karatti) is an evil mutant. Both heroes and evil mutants (as well as the accessories that were sold “carded”) have more or less the same card type. It has some kind of blue explosion in the bottom right-hand corner and in the background a starry sky. The logo of He-Man is displayed in the top center of the card, and below this logo, a small picture depicting the figure “in action” and its name can be found. Sometimes, a stickers have been applied to the card to remind possible buyers that these are the “new” Masters of the Universe. In this case, since my cards were intended for the Spanish market, the sticker is in Spanish, take a look at the top right-hand corner (“Nuevos Masters del Universo”), were Masters of the universe is written using the logo of the previous series.

I have to say that all He-Man MOC figures I own have relatively worn cards. I guess it’s just mine, but it could also be that the cardboard in which they’re printed is not that good. Some even present small cracks and holes, that are extremely rare in G.I.Joe: ARAH cards (made of heavier cardboard), for example.

Observe that the figure is inside a big bubble, and the weapons packed apart in another one, although both bubbles are the same piece (this is a difference to the old MOTU). Note that the bubble is shaped in a way that the figure cannot move or adopt some strange position, rather than standing at.

The backcard is also very interesting, because we find it written in 6 different languages. This type of card is often referred as “foreign”, in opposition to the US card, which was only written in English. The upper part of the card is a short description of the character. The rest of the card is divided in two, the left remaining side describes the featured action of the figure, and the right half is a small catalogue of the available figures, very similar to the one in the vintage MOTU series.

The first character is Vizar. According to his description: Vizar is a “brilliant surveillance officer from planet Primus. Has the skill and training to help He-Man gather information from behind enemy lines”. As most heroes, he seems to be a human. He comes with a two piece helmet (helmet and visor, from which his name derives), a laser pistol and a stealth hook. His featured action is a waist turn with punch, very similar to the feature of the original MOTU figures from wave 1. The cast of this figure was reused by Mattel to create one figure from the “Demolition Man” series a few years later (1993).

The second character is Karatti: “Bone crushing goan squad mutant from the evil planet Denebria. Has a rock hard head and a karate chopping arm and elbow”. It comes with two edged weapons that attach to his wrists. The action feature is a waist movement that moves both arms up and down, and with them, both weapons. There are two versions of Karatti, depending on the colour of his weapons. This one comes with silver weapons, but other came with black weapons. I don’t know which version is most difficult to find.

The figures in the second wave of this collection are:

HEROIC MASTERS:

• He-Man (same as in wave 1)
• Icarus/ Flipshot (same as in wave 1)
• Hydron (same as in wave 1)
• Vizar
• Kayo/ Tatarus
• Nocturna

EVIL MUTANTS:

• Skeletor (same as in wave 1)
• Kalamarr/ Slush Head (same as in wave 1)
• Brakk/ Flogg (same as in wave 1)
• Optikk (same as in wave 1)
• Hoove
• Lizorr
• Karatti

Update: some more pictures of a loose Vizar and some fighting scene between these two figures. Karatti without accessories yet.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: VIZAR and KARATTI (Ref. 3369 and 3529)
• Toy Line: He-Man (also New Adventures of He-Man) (Wave 2)
• Year: 1990
• Company: Mattel (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 14 cm

#134 POLISTIL – TYRRELL 011 and WILLIAMS FW 08C (RN 21, RN 22) (1982)

As a continuation of an old entry talking about some Polistil F1s, I bring two more cars made by the Italian company at more or less the same time.

The first car is the Tyrrell 011 Benetton, that took part in the championships from 1981 to 1983. In the 1981 season it replaced the 010 after 9 races, and in 1983, it was replaced by the 012 after 10 races. This model was driven by Michele Alboreto (number 3) in 1982.

Picture taken from http://www.blog.carsycars.com/

The second car in this entry is a Williams FW 08C, also from 1983. There is something wrong with this car, and is that the cast represents the model from 1983, but the race number from 1982. Number 6 was driven by Keke Rosberg in 1982. With that car, he won the championships, so the right race number would be number 1. In 1983 he didn’t that well and ended 5^th.

Keke Rosberg Detroit GP 1983 period hand-tinted b&w photograph by Allen Weiss. Can be bought here

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: TYRRELL 011 and WILLIAMS FW 08C (RN 21, RN 22)
• Scale: 1:55
• Year: 1982
• Company: Polistil (Italy)
• Size: approx. 7 cm

#133 TFTP’s 1st ANNIVERSARY!

This same day, one year ago, the first entry of this blog was published. I never thought I would come to publish 133 entries in this time, but I got it. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it, the increasing number of visitors, followers and friends are the reward to all those hours spent in writing and publishing the articles, and also taking the pictures for them. 

It is also very fulfilling to see how that what I have written is each time better positioned in Google, and receiving many visitors. Some of my articles have been referenced in other blogs, and I have achieved an important number of followers until now.

The most interesting thing is, in my opinion, that I have discovered what it is to be a blogger, and I have (virtually) met other bloggers that are also great people and very learned on toys, with which I can share opinions and knowledge. 

Thank you all for your support and comments!

#132 POLIGURI – PEUGEOT 405 TURBO 16 and MERCEDES 200 (1988)

These die-cast miniatures (~1:64) are pretty rare ones. They’re made in Portugal in the 80s (by the end of the 80s) and are very difficult to find. I bought them in an old kiosk in Portugal during a trip some years ago, together with a green trailer that I will show some other time. 
 

Die-cast models made in Portugal are relatively rare. The only brand I knew was Novacar, which I have read that it was part of the Majorette group. Another brand named Luso also built die-cast models in Portugal, but I don’t own any of their models.

Poliguri Indústria e Comércio de Brinquedos, Lda is the company we are going to talk about today. Apart from Poliguri, other names to refer to this company are "Guri" (which was also the registered trademark) and "Guricar". The company was founded in the 80s and had its base in Cacém, a city 10 kilometers west from Lisbon.

There is very few information about the company or the factory. Apparently, it was very difficult to obtain import-licenses from foreign toymakers at that time in Portugal, so a group of people thought that it would be a good idea to develop the casts and manufacture the cars in Portugal. The factory was fully automatized and had 52 employees working in two shifts.

The lifespan of the company was quite short, since it is believed, that the company closed around November 1989. In a catalogue it is mentioned that a prototype of a Lancia Integrale would be released on that date, but that never happened. Due to its short life, Poliguri only produced a handful of models, but with many variants in several colours each. Such a shame, because these cars are really quality toys, beautifully done in metal and using unique casts. I own only these three that I am presenting here.

At first look, we recognise that the Peugeot 405 could be a Siku model. The wheels are almost identical to those used by the German toymaker during the 80s. A closer look reveals that in the wheels, instead of “Siku”, we can read “Guri”. As far as we are concerned, Siku never released any Peugeot 405 Rally. Majorette did, but the casts are completely different.

A blick at the Mercedes models doesn’t reveal much, since the cast is again original. My models have a 5 or 8 radius wheels, but there are other Guri models with a three-radius wheel, that is, again, almost identical to those used by Majorette during the 80s. This Mercedes model was also released as a Taxi cab or Police versions.

These models are exceptions, since other models seems to be copied from (or maybe licensed by) Siku, for example, the Mercedes Unimog and the Mercedes 207 and 307. I do not own any of them so I cannot compare with a Siku model to confirm this supposition.

Apart from all the mentioned models, a 1:50 Fiat Uno was also made in many different colours and with different decorations. This car seems to be as well an original cast.

Information for this article was obtained from this site and this other site. Note that both sources of information could actually be the same. 

In the above mentioned links, a list of references can be found. It is also very interesting, that apart from the cars, small sets containing one car and some accessories were sold (a little bit in the “siku” style). These sets (named Guri Kits) mostly comprised a few traffic signs, plus some element like a bus stop, phone booth or gas pumps.

The cars were numbered according to those webs and catalogues 701, 702,… to (at least) 712, while the Guri Kits were numbered 700A, 700B, … to (at least) 700O

If you pay attention to the original packaging of the cars in the pictures, you’ll notice that all of them consist of the same blister and bubble (in which the car could be positioned over the card, or perpendicular to it). In all three cards, the reference is 700C. This does not match what I just said a paragraph above: my suspicion is that this could be because these models (or the models at this time) were the last produced ones, and they were simply sold as they could package them.

The cards are not printed on the back, and those red lines over gray background reminds a little bit of Majorette packages.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: PEUGEOT 405 TURBO 16 and MERCEDES 200
• Scale: 1:62
• Year: 1988
• Company: Poliguri (Portugal)
• Size: 6 cm