Remember These?

Action Man: Pursuit Craft & Training Tower

Starting with a collection of Action Man items, the Pursuit Craft, a Training Tower, Eagle Eye Soldier and Eagle Eye Helicopter Pilot.

Action Man and his various guises formed part of my childhood, though he wasn't involved in any war activities, he was just a man living his life in a variety of different vehicles and different costumes. One of the things that immediately spring to mind is, his hair! That man knew what a crew cut was! Secondly, his boots, getting them on his feet and the faff of trying to get him dressed for whatever action was ahead, which was mainly just driving around in a jeep or pottering around in a tank!

1980 • Actionless driving around aimlessly man

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle

Next we have the Gyro powered (you wind it up with the handle – powered) wild do wheelies, Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle!

I can still remember the noise it made when you were frantically winding the bike up, then it zooming off hitting the wall or the dog! (who would then grab it and run off with poor Mr Knieval in its mouth)

1980 • “Wind it up and pray” engineering

Cherilea + Corgi: Jet Fighter, Jeep & Walkie Talkie

We have the Cherilea collection, with the Jet Fighter, Jeep and Trailer, both items would fit Action Man in them 👀 These were the items that became part of Action Man's collection. The cheaper but still robust additions to his array of vehicles.

Then there is the Corgi Walkie Talkie set with working compass and Morse code capabilities! The adventures of seeing how far you can communicate with your brother or friends.

1980 • Proper “outdoors voice” energy

Star Wars: Vader, Laser Rifle & X-Wing

No look back would ever be without the mandatory Star Wars inclusion! This page has a 15" Darth Vader (obviously has to be taller than Action Man! Although it looks like his is conducting an orchestra rather than holding his lightsaber) a Laser Rifle, an authentic model used by Stormtroopers! So I guess it comes with misaligned scope, though they still missed when up close. You have to wonder who actually purchased these rifles for the Empire. Probably trying to deal with budget constraints, I mean they had death stars to build and a ton of plastic white uniforms to purchase. Saved money on hand rails too, but that is another story!

Then lastly but definitely not least, one of my favourite Star Wars craft, the X-Wing Fighter, though this one is for the smaller figures! (It has been years since I had a smaller figure! 😏) The X wing fighter was the spitfire of space. The opening wings, the space for adding a droid in the back, for those necessary backseat beeps and weird noises. My other favourites were the tie fighters. I loved the way they looked and the sound they made. Am I right in thinking Lord Vader had a tie fighter but the wing tips pointed inwards? It was the only one I saw and I thought it would not be a good getaway, without being noticed, craft. Everyone knew that was his ship!

1980 • The Force was strong in Argos

Matchbox/Corgi Corner: 3-Tier Garage & Z Victor 4

No matchbox/corgi collection would ever be complete without the 3 tier Garage with hand operated lift, exit ramp and petrol pumps! The hours of fun of driving up a ramp, parking, then driving down a ramp and then refueling your car.

Along side that (and too big for the garage) we have Z Victor 4 police car. I think it is supposed to be a Triumph 3000, please let me know if I am incorrect (it does happen quite often!) Obviously this car was made just to deal with break-ins at the bank, whatever bank it was.

1980 • Petrol pumps + imagination

Chaos Shelf: Horror Make-Up, The Professionals & Mr Frosty

The next image includes the Dekkertoys Horror Make-up Set, (my sister would say that I wouldn't need the make up to be horrible, it was a natural state for me) Thomas Salter “The Professionals” Crimebuster kit. The kit includes a breakdown rifle with cap firing action and a real camera! Major George Cowley's boys Bodie and Doyle. Unfortunately the kit didn't include a Ford Capri or Ford Escort RS2000 for you to slide over the bonnet of, but your dad's Ford Cortina was substitute enough. Forgetting those studs in the backpocket of your jeans whilst trying to fling yourself over a car bonnet, yeah, dad wasn't ectastic about that.

The Palitoy Play-Doh Barber Shop. A blob of Play-Doh under the seat, press the button and watch the “customer” grow hair right before your eyes! Also, the smell of Play-Doh was lovely. If I remember right, you put the Play-Doh into the hollow person (they do exist in real life, I have met them!) sit them on the chair and then keep pressing the button and something in the chair rises, forcing the Play-Doh up and out of the head, so you can cut the hair or shave the beard.

Then Berwick’s Mr Frosty!! I think he is still manufacturing icy drinks! Mr Frosty provided brain freeze on demand.

1980 • The “I want it all” section

Stretch Hulk & Buzby Talking Telephone

Here is Stretch Hulk I don't recall ever seeing the Hulk stretch, aside for times he changes from Dr David Banner (Bill Bixby) to the massively green strangely haired and super eyebrow-ey Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) when he rips his shirt off and his pants become trendy shorts. I bet his mum was annoyed with him, constantly ripping his clothes! I remember getting kitted out for a school uniform, cost a fortune (apparently, I didn't have the concept of money then!) and the first day at school, playing football in the school playground, scuffing my shoes to bits and ending up with a hole in the knee of my pants, my mum was not a happy bunny, but I digress.

Buzby Talking Telephone Buzby, the lovely bird character that BT used to promote communication, then later used to try and flog you shares in the company.

1980 • Peak “why does this exist?” brilliance

Alvin the Aardvark

Now here is Alvin the Aardvark! He boings as he goes. Squeeze the bulb and his tongue shoots out with a squeak to grab the fuzzy ants and anything else fuzzy! Not sure I had ever seen an aardvark round by ours. For all I knew, aardvarks might well have been orange and boinged! Hmm ok, I guess it takes all sorts!

1980 • BOING BOING BOING

Mini-Mum Cleaning Set + Hoover Junior Toy Vacuum

And to finish off the page we have Welsotoys “Mini-Mum” Toy Cleaning Set comprising of an iron with lead and sucker, ironing board, carpet sweeper, dustpan brush and mop.

This could all be paired up with the authentic working model of the Hoover Junior Toy Vacuum Cleaner to complete the stereotypical gender sexist trope of the mum staying at home, though to be fair, it doesn’t state it is a girls toy. You too could get under the feet of a parent as you "helped" with the daily chores, until you grew a little and were asked to do chores and you didn't want to do them.

1980 • “Helpful”… and a bit 😬

Casdon Cash Register + Petite Sewing Machine

Next we have the Casdon Cash Register complete with buttons, spring release draw (I am sure it pinged when opening?) and paper reel. I think it came with toy money too! Pair this up with a post office set, or a shop set and you would have hours of fun.

Finally we have the Petite Battery Operated Sewing Machine. Controlled by a pedal switch and needle threader and spare needles.

The exclaimer at the bottom of the page would state a gentle reminder that none of the items are supplied with batteries, so you didn’t forget to buy a shed load! Nothing could spoil Christmas more than electronic toys and no batteries!

1980 • Batteries sold separately, obviously