I'm new to the forum and thought it would be cool to do a challenge for the members. The challenge is to post an actual picture of the item show in the comic book ad. Here's one below. I've always wanted one of these subs.
Thom
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I'm new to the forum and thought it would be cool to do a challenge for the members. The challenge is to post an actual picture of the item show in the comic book ad. Here's one below. I've always wanted one of these subs.
Thom
Hi Thom, Great challenge. Her is is photo of my X-Ray Spex and an advertisement to go along with it.
Hi Thom, I like your Challenge! Her is is photo of my Book safe and an advertisement to go along with it.
Thom: I don't recall the motorized submarine. It wasn't even on my radar as a kid or as an adult. But now I wanna know what the actual product looks like as well. If anyone out there has an example, I'd love to see it too.
I’m going to have to go with my old tried and true favorite, Sea-Monkeys®. That was the novelty ad that ignited my imagination as a kid. It also ended up having a big influence on my life; my sense of humor, creativity and general sensibilities.
Here is a picture of the classic Sea-Monkeys® comic book ad with the envelope and ingredients you received in the mail when ordering by mail along with the carded retail version you could buy in stores. — TRM 😎 😎 😎
TRM: I remember the Sea Monkeys as a kid in the 60's. My sister actually tried to grow them. You needed a microscope to see them. Had my Dad known they would be come shrimp, he would have fired up the barbecue!
Eddie: I know you supplies Kirk D. with lots of items for his book from your collection. But what about this one?
I love that it grows real grass!
@drsab I can't even begin to imagine what this REALLy consisted of for only $1.00. I'm betting the "real" grass was a "real" disappointment as was the case with most mail-order items from back then. I just hope the little turtles arrived safely and lived long lives. Truly another time.
I’ve been curious about this odd little item as well, Dr Sab. I love all of the old bio-grow / pet / toy novelty items from back in the day; turtles, chameleons, seahorses, ants, plants, Magic Rocks, etc.
Here’s another similar comic book ad that I would LOVE to find the product for, the “Live Toy Circus” with a free performing live chameleon from the 50s.
Anyone out there have have either of these items or remembering ordering them as a kid? — TRM
Now let’s see where did I Put this one huh?
Here's another classic ad from Johnson Smith catalogs and comic book ads ... The SPY-PEN-RADIO! This little beauty just sold on eBay last night for $510.00 plus shipping. Pricey but super cool and in great shape with original instructions. Proof that there's still a healthy market for these old mail-order treasures. Love it! -- TRM
TRM: I had that on my watch list just to see what it would sell for. Crazy!
I thought Max had a Shoe Phone. When did he switch to the Spy Pen Radio?
Agree. Too much money for me. But I have spent that kind of bread on items more focused on my mail collecting interest. Always happy to see something like that surviving the test of time and finding a home where they’ll be appreciated.
What’s tops on your want list, Dr. Sab?
TRM: This is a long shot on my "to have and build" list. The Herb Bartlett Flying Saucer Plans. This is the ad from Boys Life magazine. Not sure where I would "fly" it but Herb looks pretty safe in the standing position.
Here you go. Good luck. HA!
@TRM No way! Is that in your personal collection? Is that a repro? Thanks!
Thats just an internet download I had on my computer. But I have the blueprint in my collection somewhere. I can get you a high-res scan when I run across it. It is fairly good size but I’m thinking I can get it in two 11x17 scans and splice em together. — TRM
This is another mail order item I was interested in as a kid. You can be the star of your own Horror Movie. The Guarantee Co. is the same outfit that sold the rubber Vampire Bat. Interesting, the character in the ad looks a lot like the Ghoul from the Haunting Record. Copyright issue? I challenge Eddie to have this poster with his name on it.
OK. This item wasn’t on my radar at all. And it’s cool.
EDDIE: WAKE UP! You’ve been challenged! Dr. Sab wants to know if you have this item with your name on it. And now I wanna know too. Or anyone else out there?
This is a fun idea for a new product to offer to sell. I’m thinking of how I can put a Sea-Monkey® twist on this for Yolanda to sell at sea-monkeys.com .
Love this item, Dr. Sab!!! Thanks for sharing!!! — TRM 😎 😎 😎
Now this is a cool item! I've never seen this one at all, but it seems like a cool idea. I think Eddie should make one for each of us...free of charge of course...hahaha.
I have some good news about all this...First the Bartlett Flying saucer was reproduced and sold by me in 1999. I used to get them printed at Kinkos now Fedx office. The wife of the late Bartlett gave me the ok way back. I stopped selling them when the printer which was able to print 22" x 24" was decommissioned so were my sales. I used to sell them on eBay. I still have about 5 copies left which I could send one to the... NOW famous Dr. Sab should he be so kind and send me his address. I don't want Mr. Tod who has become world famous in his new upcoming film to get hurt looking for them. His new Film " The SeaMokey King now speaks and you best listen!" If not he will unleash on you his triten and shock your rear so hard that you will look like the below photo>>>
AND NOW THE CHALLENGE...The so called poster which only appeared in the Boy's Life magazines prior to 1974 and sold by the Elusive Melton/ Guarantee Co.. Both the same...A company that I have tracked down for over 40 years with very few answers in the search of the 7 foot Monster Robot plans. Yes they are more famously known for the 7 foot Monster Ghost and the Hideous Vampire Bat..See below>>>
They also sold self dancing shoes and Horror kit and a few other stuff.. All found in early issues of Boy's Life Magazine. AAAA! Yes the poster it measures 11 X 17 and looks just like the add and came with cheap stick on letters A to Z for you to put your name on it. I believe mine which I purchased at a flea market is English town NJ back in 1992 for $3 which either got lost in the fire I had in 1995 or it is somewhere in my storage. The later sounds more realistic because I think I saw it while searching for a lost small UPS Truck my brother in law wanted, and I was looking for it....Everyday whenever I can I go in search for things that go bump in the night...One which is for Mr. Tod who is hounding me with more than 7 calls a day for his Hair Growing Igor.......SO! Dr. Sab. I promise to look for it and keep you posted. Dr can you please transcribe my friend Mr. Tod some tranquilizers since he has gotten so famous he now says his nerves are killing him....After all he is a ruler of a vast seaMonkey empire which keeps him busy 8 days a week HA! Wait until Yolanda gets the bill from Houseoftheunusual.com for his use!!! You see Dr sab Tod Machin was acquired by The Houseoftheunusual.com.. we had him both Trademarked and Patent because he is like no other...We Love him here and he has become a very good possession of the Houseoftheunusual. Please visit his blog on our site...He puts me to shame by his post. OOOO! I would so love to have such talent!
P.S. One last thing....Does anybody have these D__M!!! Plans?????
AAAAAHHH! feels good to get that last part of my chest!
Dr. Sab sorry for the late response been working crazy hours for the Christmas season. Welcome and great to have you onboard. Please be a part of our podcast which airs every wednesday at 3:00 am Eastern. We record at 10:30pm every Wed. See if that works for you to be on.
Mr. Eddie: What do we do with you? But what would we do WITHOUT you? Lots of great information in this post. And some great jabs. Made me laugh. (I'll deal with you later, Mister. HA!) -- TRM
Eddie: Thanks for the generous offer to send me the Bartlett Plans and for your amazing reply. If I could only figure out how to PM you with my address.
When I first saw the pictures in your response, I initially thought it was a Reverse Challenge so I said “let’s see if I can locate this stuff.” Well I found three out of four. The Gayle House Ghoul Mask was manufactured by Devils Workshop and shows a remarkable resemblance to the character in the Haunted House Poster. Is it possible that the three companies are related (Gayle House/Guarantee Co/Melton)? Maybe a clue to find the elusive Monster Robot.
Englishtown Auction….now that’s a blast from the past. I could start a post on my adventures there but it wouldn’t fit the forum. I think I found a Ventrillo there!
Dr. Sab: You can email Eddie directly at houseoftheunusual@gmail.com .
I did not misspelled transcribe from prescribe. I did not want Dr. Sab to get in trouble for practicing Medicine without a license HA! Truth is I misspelled it. (: or is it :)....You get the point.
Hey Mr. Tod stop posting cheap copies of the Bartlett plans you almost made me lose my site trying to read it...What fame does to a man??? WOW!
The Gayle house mask that you have in the photo was done by the devils workshop when I asked him after I spoke on the phone with him concerning putting out a special edition of the Gayle house record. Which I am in the process of re-making. The reason I didn’t go forth with that is because he started selling the mask on his site with reference to my site. I originally wanted to do it as a combine thing. I got turned off by that. Yes the mask is a work of art, but that’s a new item the mask for that ghoul never existed. So the Gayle house is not the same as the other two companies the Gail house was just the one company that sold a few different items. The Melton company and guaranteed company are the same company with different addresses to the same building. Later they move to Miami Florida and had PO Box D and E. Anyway you can contact me at houseoftheunusual.com or just call me on the phone 786-662-9949 anytime you like.
I am available now if you like to talk.
Here's my most recent addition to my overall mail-order collection — "Genuine Soil from Dracula's Castle" circa 1979. Here is the advertisement from Warren Publications "Eerie" magazine along with the necklace and certificate. It took me awhile to find a set at an affordable price, complete and in good condition. -- TRM
TRM: Very cool! It looks great with the ad in the background. Would make for a very nice "framed" piece.
Tod...This set has been on my "want list" forever. Nice to see one went to a good home.
Next Eddie will be selling dirt from his front yard telling everyone its "Genuine Mars Soil"....LOL
@Joe Pavlansky Yes! With your love of all things Dracula, one of these definitely needs to live at your house, Joe! And Dr. Sab is right, it would look great in a small shadowbox frame with the ad, certificate and necklace all together. -- TRM 😎 😎 😎
Follow Up: So I posted the original challenge at the end of November hoping someone would have a photo of the Motorized Submarine. Two months and no show. I'm starting to feel like Eddie with his Melton Monster Robot Search. Perhaps we need a good name for this infliction.
I will try to post a sub soon as I find it. I might run across it soon. Looking for stuff to give Mr. Tod
I ran across this while sorting through some of my random old comic book ads and don't recall seeing it before.
EDDIE: It looks the "monster" equivalent to the 7 Dinosaur set you have. I'd love to see what this product actually looked like. Anyone? -- TRM
Ok Mr. Sea Monkey King...I have mentioned these items to you in the past. They are the same as the dinosaurs only line drawings of the monsters. I bought one on eBay back in 2003, the red llewoocam. The head floats above the body...very not so nice looking. I saw a man at chiller pay $85.00 for the green one....THIS MAN IS CRAZY! I said...$85.00 for a stupid latex balloon...I could see if it was made of gold or something...A few months latter I gave $879.00 for the Johnson Smith 7 Foot Ghost, also part latex balloon...I walked away with my head in shame! TOD! I have no idea where it is... Please give me a few months as I keep going through my stuff to find it...and yes i only payed $13.00 for this one.
@Houseoftheunusual.com And ... Dear Mr. Guevara, I have mentioned to you before that you talk faster than I can hear. 😂
But actually ... I do remember us talking about this but didn't have a visual of the ad to fully understand. The monster in the ad looks interesting but the reality of what you described does sound ... well ... dreadful.
You don't need to look for it. I just thought it was an interesting item. You will run across it someday when you're looking for something else. At least that's the way it works for me.