Toy OTD: Billiken B19 Maboroshi Tantei (Phantom Detective) Vinyl Figure

Some time ago, Billiken released a retro-styled line of various manga characters, complete with old-school bags 'n' hang tags! I bought a few Astro Boy figures, and later on, this Maboroshi Tantei toy (aka Phantom Detective, or National Kid). 'He' looks to be the star of a late '50s/early '60s manga, as well as a live-action television series!

If you like this style of vinyl figure, it's a really sweet toy! The sculpt is very simple and streamlined, emphasizing the graphic qualities of the original manga art. The colors are great, too - a perfect match with the comic's palette. I think most of the toy is made from dyed vinyl, which really adds to the overall look!

The pose is asymmetrical, but not so pushed that it would cause stability problems. While a display stand is never completely unnecessary, it's not as critical here. If I remember correctly, the feet rotate at the ankles, which can be very useful to help adjust the figure and improve its balance.

Beyond the ankles, there's the usual amount of articulation for this type of toy - neck, wrists, shoulders, and waist. For the most part, though, none of these rotation points really improve on the original pose very much.

The bag-n-tag packaging is appropriate to the retro-toy concept, but aside from the nifty tag art, there's not much to it.

You can still get this figure online, although I think it's a little pricier these days. I think I paid about sixty dollars or so for it at Kimono My House, but it's selling on eBay right now for $112.99. A little more bargain hunting may be in order... good luck!

Toy OTD: Dell Mickey Mouse Squeak Toy

I've had this toy since I was a kid - I think my folks bought it for me at a flea market. The squeaker still works, and it still stands on its own, even though I'm assuming it's around forty years old.

In spite of my love for the improvements in production technology, there's a lot to be said for the charm of a limited paint palette and a little overspray. Black, white and red are a classic color combination, and the off-white helps keep the toy warm and friendly.

It's a curious pose for a figure - it feels like Mickey is waiting or reacting to another character, as if a Minnie Mouse had been made as part of a set. Still, there's a real sweetness to the sculpt, even though Mickey isn't on-model in the strictest sense. His look and clothing are not exactly what we expect when we picture a Mickey toy, but it has its own consistent design integrity.

I have no idea what was paid for this 'originally' (i.e, in the early '70s when my parents bought it for me - probably less than a dollar. I don't see these for sale all that often, but you can buy one at whatacharacter.com for $55 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Fisher-Price Tick-Tock Clock #997 (1967)

This toy goes way back for me, though it isn't the original I had as a kid. It's a very simple idea - you wind it up, and it plays like a music box while the sun/moon disc rotates. Tiny scenes of a kid's day are revealed as the die-cut window on the disc rotates. Since I've heard the song since I was a tot, it's incredibly soothing, like watching an episode of Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood at any point in your life (If you're too young to remember watching it, just humor me).

Like most F-P toys of this period, it's mostly wood, with a little plastic used to its strengths (the plastic 'crystal' surrounding the clock face, for example. As with the Tooly Birds, this was made in an industry with far less licensing - there's references to Hickory Dickory Dock and Dick and Jane in the artwork, but that's basically it. The design is charming - maybe a touch bland - but it evokes storybooks from the early sixties very nicely. The only construction variation I've noticed is that some of the plastic handles are yellow and some are red, so keep an eye on that if it's important to you.

This toy is really tough - it took getting left outside in the sun and rain to ruin the one that we had, and even then the paper labeling got the worst of it!

Because the toy is so durable, it's not too difficult to track down a working one. The trickiest part is finding one with a nice-looking 'crystal', so it depends on how fussy you are, and how much you're willing to pay. There's two eBay auctions going right now, and the starting bids range from $7.50 to $14.99 + shipping. Make sure to ask if the music box works if it's not metioned in the product description - always approach eBay with a heaping spoonful of caveat emptor. Good luck!

PS - If you're a huge F-P nerd, you can buy a print of this toy's patent here.

Toy OTD: Schylling Reproduction Flash Gordon Rocket Fighter (2004)

I've never been a purist in terms of original toys vs. "repros" - if it's well-made, I'll happily buy a reproduction (of course, it helps if the value of the original is in the ionosphere). Still, this sparking friction toy is a great example of how good a replica can be!

It's huge - 12" long - and looks a great deal like the real thing (I can't be the best judge, as I've never seen the original toy in person). It sparks and rolls around like the real thing, and the colorful artwork's terrific! It's great to be able to own one without having to shell out thousands of dollars.

Indeed - you can still buy one at robotisland.com for $16.95 + shipping!