Mego stuffed King Kong

[cjefferys]

I have two of the stuffed King Kongs that Mego had made in conjunction with the 1976 remake. The smaller one is about 15" high, while the larger one is nearly 24" high (he's huge!). One of Mego's catalogues shows three different sizes that were to be available. Was the third size made? If so (or not), was it supposed to be larger or smaller than the other two? Anyone have any info about this? Here's a pic of the two I have, I just wanted to know if there is an additional one I should be hunting down:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~ephemera_japan/kong.JPG

In the top left of the pic you can also see the Mego vinyl Kong that Takara made and sold in Japan. I'm still looking for the Mego/Bullmark vinyl Kong. Anyone have one they want to sell? :juggleyes_y:

[kresge1]

I have two of the stuffed King Kongs that Mego had made in conjunction with the 1976 remake. The smaller one is about 15" high, while the larger one is nearly 24" high (he's huge!). One of Mego's catalogues shows three different sizes that were to be available. Was the third size made? If so (or not), was it supposed to be larger or smaller than the other two? Anyone have any info about this? Here's a pic of the two I have, I just wanted to know if there is an additional one I should be hunting down:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~ephemera_japan/kong.JPG

In the top left of the pic you can also see the Mego vinyl Kong that Takara made and sold in Japan. I'm still looking for the Mego/Bullmark vinyl Kong. Anyone have one they want to sell? :juggleyes_y:


Nice stuff.Love the two apes together like that.Also love the Cipsa Boxed Zaius

[batmanmc]

NICE STUFF. IVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN A KING KONG STUFFED MADE BY MEGO. thanks for sharing. mike

[Evel KMego]

I have the 15" one, but never saw the larger one before! Love the Mego King Kong stuff! Can't help you out with any info though.

[cjefferys]

Thanks for the comments guys. My toyroom is almost finished, and then I'll post some more pics. :)


Also love the Cipsa Boxed Zaius

Alas, I just have the empty box though. I need a Cipsa Zaius to go with it. Anyone have one they wanna sell to me? :grin:

[toys2cool]

That's a very nice set man,can't wait to see more pics:grin:

[kresge1]

Thanks for the comments guys. My toyroom is almost finished, and then I'll post some more pics. :)



Alas, I just have the empty box though. I need a Cipsa Zaius to go with it. Anyone have one they wanna sell to me? :grin:

Wish i could help.I am looking for Cipsa Bill

[Meule]

If they made 3 different sizes then I hope for your sake the 24" Kong is the biggest :wink_y:

[cjefferys]

If they made 3 different sizes then I hope for your sake the 24" Kong is the biggest :wink_y:

That's for sure. If they made a 3 foot tall version, I'm probably screwed. :smiley1:

I'm guessing the other one was planned to be smaller or in between the two that I have. Actually, John Bonavita's Mego book lists a 14", 20" and 26" Kong (the latter two say "unknown" for values). I wonder if he got that info from the 1977 Mego catalogue where these are supposed to be listed. Here at the Museum, there's a pic from the catalogue in the Kong gallery, but not of the write up below the pictures (there are scans from the 1977 catalogue in the library section, but no pages showing the plush Kongs, only the other Kong stuff). Anyone have a full scan of the page showing the plush Kongs?

Here's all I can find:

http://www.megomuseum.com/kingkong/images/plushkongs.jpg

[Count Creepyhead]

Other companies besides MEGO made those plush Kongs.

http://i8.tinypic.com/6cq2ogp.jpg

[cjefferys]

It is true that Mego didn't actually manufacture these items, but rather Samet and Wells did. Mego had the master toy licence for the 1976 film remake, but apparently let other companies produce some items that Mego then solicited and/or distributed. Another example was the two vinyl Kong figures that were produced for the Japanese market. They were actually manufactured by Takara and Bullmark respectively, but Mego was somewhat involved and got a piece of the profits (and their name also appeared on the packaging). Anyway, it's a technicality, but I consider the plush Kongs to be Megos. :)

[Earth 2 Chris]

In Bonavita's book, he says Samet and Wells was a subsidarary of Mego. Is this true? He mentions it in conjunction with the stuffed Fonzie doll pictured in the book.

Chris

[cjefferys]

In Bonavita's book, he says Samet and Wells was a subsidarary of Mego. Is this true? He mentions it in conjunction with the stuffed Fonzie doll pictured in the book.

Chris

Thanks, I thought I had read that somewhere, but couldn't find it in Bonavita's book. I didn't think to look in the Happy Days section, I forgot about the stuffed Fonzie. :smiley1:

I did a quick web search, but couldn't find anything. According to the tag on my Kong, Samet and Wells was located in Bohemia, NY. I wonder how they were related. I wonder if they were also involved in the Super Softies. Ah, more questions. :juggleyes_y:

[batmanmc]

thats cool cj. i like them and they are like the ledy's to me.

[cjefferys]

thats cool cj. i like them and they are like the ledy's to me.

Thanks, and I'm a big fan of the Ledys too! :)

[Blue Meanie]

Thanks, I thought I had read that somewhere, but couldn't find it in Bonavita's book. I didn't think to look in the Happy Days section, I forgot about the stuffed Fonzie. :smiley1:

I did a quick web search, but couldn't find anything. According to the tag on my Kong, Samet and Wells was located in Bohemia, NY. I wonder how they were related. I wonder if they were also involved in the Super Softies. Ah, more questions. :juggleyes_y:

Must be a coincidence(Sp?)...Megos main warehouse (The one that Bonavita visited in the pics on his old website) was in Bohemia. Samett and Wells was probably part of Mego. Sort of like a subsidiary of Mego. A side note: That warehouse is a Eckerds main warehouse here on Long Island. Been trying to get in there for a while now just to get a gander at the loading dock to see if the mural is still there. That place is like Fort Knox.

[Count Creepyhead]

I'm curious as to why some have a large MEGO logo on the back of the hang tag and some have Sammet etc.. Maybe Mego made the 18" and sammet did the others etc..?

But definitely Mego no matter what name is on the tag.

[cjefferys]

I'm curious as to why some have a large MEGO logo on the back of the hang tag and some have Sammet etc.. Maybe Mego made the 18" and sammet did the others etc..?

But definitely Mego no matter what name is on the tag.

That's a good question, I was wondering that myself. Sadly, neither of mine have their cardboard tags, so I can't shed any light on that. My 24" Kong just has a fabric tag that says Samet and Wells on it, but my 15" Kong is completely tagless.

[ramsey37]

Speaking of the 30" King Kong:
huge 30 inch KING KONG monster vintage 70's MEGO doll - (eBay item 230171573621 end time Sep-20-07 14:29:58 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/huge-30-inch-KING-KONG-monster-vintage-70s-MEGO-doll_W0QQitemZ230171573621QQihZ013QQcategoryZ1169Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
I'd be curious to see what the final bid will be on this one. :monkey:
George

[cjefferys]

Yeah, that one is interesting, I'd never even heard of it before, it's completely different looking from the others. I was skeptical about it even being a Mego one until I saw the tag (the US released ones don't even have an actual Mego tag like that). Makes you wonder what other Kong items were released in Japan that haven't been "discovered" yet. I'd love to get it, but it's pretty well out of my price range at this point. :please_y:

[toys2cool]

Holy crap that's huge MO FO!! pretty cool looking though :grin:

[batmanmc]

its really nice. i wouldnt mind one.

[GUYx1]

This may sound odd, but I have seen that figure before.
I have been searching Japan ever since I saw it last year on ebay on Jan31st, 2006. So far, Nobody in Japan has ever heard of it before.
I remember that auction was also in Belgium and the auction story was similar. The KONG listed in 2006 was also holding a superman.
JUST LIKE IN THE PHOTO. :terror:

90% certain it was the EXACT same kong figure. I will have to dig through my back up cds to be sure.

What are the chances of the same seller finding the same item and photographing it the same way?

http://cgi.ebay.com/great-KING-KONG-Mego-Japan-70s-PLush-doll-32-inch-high_W0QQitemZ6028357463

Sorry the link has gone flat, but something sounds odd about that.

[cjefferys]

This may sound odd, but I have seen that figure before.
I have been searching Japan ever since I saw it last year on ebay on Jan31st, 2006. So far, Nobody in Japan has ever heard of it before.
I remember that auction was also in Belgium and the auction story was similar. The KONG listed in 2006 was also holding a superman.
JUST LIKE IN THE PHOTO. :terror:

90% certain it was the EXACT same kong figure. I will have to dig through my back up cds to be sure.

What are the chances of the same seller finding the same item and photographing it the same way?

http://cgi.ebay.com/great-KING-KONG-Mego-Japan-70s-PLush-doll-32-inch-high_W0QQitemZ6028357463

Sorry the link has gone flat, but something sounds odd about that.


That is odd. Maybe the same seller then. Do you remember if he sold it the last time? and if so, for how much? (I'm afraid that if your ebay link is from Jan 2006, it's long dead).

I've never seen that Kong either in my visits to Japanese toy stores (I'm sure I would have remembered something like that!). Then again, if I had found one, I'd hate to have to lug a 30" tall stuffed ape back to Canada (let alone carrying it on a crowded train in Japan) :smiley1:

So you live in Japan? Any particularly good toy stores you know of over there? I'd like to check out some new ones next time I visit. :)

[Count Creepyhead]

I saved pics from the last time one of these was up on Ebay, it's not the same Kong. I mean it's the same style, just not the same doll. Oh and I believe it went for something like $36 or $63 something like that.

[GUYx1]

I saw it end the last time and it went for around $500 if memory serves me correctly.

It may not be the same doll, The painting on the teeth is nicer and now it has a mego tag.
But the background and where it was taken all seem pretty similar.

UNUSUAL that no dealer I talked to in Japan has ever seen this figure and yet TWO sellers from Belgium would know it's history.
It is a nice piece, but I am wish someone actually in JAPAN knew about it and not just Belgians with toys in the attic.

The 2006 listing is on the left, the 2007 listing is on the right
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GUYx1/kingkongcompare2.jpg

2006 on the left 2007 on the right
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GUYx1/kingkongcompare1.jpg

[kresge1]

Thats a pretty awesome Kong collectible.

[GUYx1]

Yes, it is nice. Nicer still if it is atually mego. I would be more inclined to believe it was a Belgian exclusive Kong doll, but it seems odd to me that two should show up in such an unusual place and both claim it to be Japanese.

Guess there were a lot of Belgian King Kong fans flying to Japan in the mid 1970's.

[toys2cool]

I saw it end the last time and it went for around $500 if memory serves me correctly.

It may not be the same doll, The painting on the teeth is nicer and now it has a mego tag.
But the background and where it was taken all seem pretty similar.

UNUSUAL that no dealer I talked to in Japan has ever seen this figure and yet TWO sellers from Belgium would know it's history.
It is a nice piece, but I am wish someone actually in JAPAN knew about it and not just Belgians with toys in the attic.

The 2006 listing is on the left, the 2007 listing is on the right
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GUYx1/kingkongcompare2.jpg

2006 on the left 2007 on the right
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GUYx1/kingkongcompare1.jpg

wow good call man,you actually kept the pics? LOL!

[GUYx1]

While I like chopping suff up and customizing it, I am first and formost an obsessed collector. I keep EVERYTHING.
If a "rare" item keeps suspiciously appearing to be less than rare, I usually have a photo for comparison.

[cjefferys]

That was cool that you kept the pic. It does seem too much to be a coincidence: both from Belgium, both posed with a Superman, and both using cardboard for a backdrop.

[ABMAC]

It's nice that he was able to upgrade his Superman. And his cardboard.

[GUYx1]

I think it's funny that the background BEHIND the cardboard seems to match. At least this Ape now has a "MEGO" tag. A mego tag was never shown in the 2006 photos. Could be it is just be a collector who just doesn't want to let it go, but wants to show it off.

[Count Creepyhead]

Here are some pics from the last Auction I saw for it, I think it was around Christmas time. It was listed wrong and went for pretty cheap.

http://i9.tinypic.com/4kchhq9.jpg

http://i2.tinypic.com/4mlycsj.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/4veekgz.jpg

[GUYx1]

Brilliant! Was this from Belgium, or where was the seller from?
I am thinking that this figure is from somewhere in Europe and not Japan.
Nice to know that there are a few lurking around as well.

Thanks for saving the photo.

[cjefferys]

At any rate, I appreciate you guys posting all the pics. If I had previously seen this toy pictured in an auction, I would have never guessed it was made by Mego. Gotta keep my eyes open for "hidden" Kong auctions. :)

[Count Creepyhead]

Brilliant! Was this from Belgium, or where was the seller from?
I am thinking that this figure is from somewhere in Europe and not Japan.
Nice to know that there are a few lurking around as well.

Thanks for saving the photo.


I think it might have been a UK seller. I avoided it because of the shipping, and I had no Idea it actually was KONG:enraged: I thought it was just some big stuffed Gorilla.

[cjefferys]

Good lord, $898 for that 30" Kong. Wow. Makes the 25 bucks I paid for my 24" Kong seem like quite the bargain. :smiley1:

[toys2cool]

Good lord, $898 for that 30" Kong. Wow. Makes the 25 bucks I paid for my 24" Kong seem like quite the bargain. :smiley1:

holy crap $900? wow!! it is a nice looking Kong though

[Megosean]

Awesome, never knew they made a stuffed Kong.