Spacex
| Toy Brands and Manufacturers |
|---|
Spacex |
| 1960s - |
Spacex toys (not to be confused with Elon Musk's SpaceX company, with a "Big X") were an obscure brand producing space and science-fiction related toys in the 1960s, that became part of the sprawling Tri-ang (Lines Brothers Limited) empire in 1964. The toys periodically turn up on eBay, often still with their boxes. Our interest was in the Apollo-based toys, which included a Lunar Lander and an orbiting Command Module. Although we're not sure of size, these models are distinctive for the CM having a blue body with silver rocket nozzle and a red-and-clear plastic command module, and for the top part of the lander being transparent plastic.
These were very much inexpensive "novelty-type" children's toys, aimed at budget outlets like "Woolies" rather than at dedicated toy and model shops.
1960s: History
The range seems to have been current during the 1960s, and to have originated with ex-Guiterman employee Jack Rosenthal (thank you TriangSpaceToys.info , for that info-nugget). The history of this range of space-related toys seems to be rather complex, and includes Gerry Anderson's Century 21 brand.
Almost undocumented, the history of Spacex toys is now being gathered, organised and curated by the team at https://www.triangspacextoys.info/ . Rather than try to summarise the info on that site (and risk taking credit for their work), we'd suggest that anyone interested in the subject go there. Again, if anyone has further into on the range, those are the folks to send it to.
