Glued VS Stitched RM Robin Mask

[josephcardone]

I have been looking for more information on this variation - there is not much out there. I imagine that the glued version came first and then the stitched - for the obvious reason that the former was not as secure. Are they around in equal numbers? Did the glue on some hold or did they all have to be re-glued over the years.

Somehow I missed that there was a variation of the mask - if anyone knows more info, it would be very interesting to find out more about it

[LonnieFisher]

Glued?

[LonnieFisher]

It seems like glued ones would be counterfeit.

[imp]

It seems like glued ones would be counterfeit.

No, the Glued ONLY (i.e. no stitching) mask is legit. I have confirmed this on a 1st Issue/2nd Version DC card — the "Original Kresge" card. Given how early that particular card debuted (approximately August of 1973), I would venture to say the stitched versions followed, and Joseph Cardone's reasoning in the first post seems quite sound to me.

- Benjamin

[Bronxboykev]

No, the Glued ONLY (i.e. no stitching) mask is legit. I have confirmed this on a 1st Issue/2nd Version DC card — the "Original Kresge" card. Given how early that particular card debuted (approximately August of 1973), I would venture to say the stitched versions followed, and Joseph Cardone's reasoning in the first post seems quite sound to me.

- Benjamin

Cool... From the Master Himself!

thanks for the hELP Ben

[imp]

Cool... From the Master Himself! thanks for the hELP Ben

My pleasure. I only wish I had confirmed this BEFORE completing the book, back in 2007.

- Benjamin

[josephcardone]

Thanks Ben

I was wondering why many of the carded RM Robins had the elastic separated from mask (in the package) - now we know. I guess that's why Mego decided to stitch them - then do away with it all together.

[imp]

I guess that's why Mego decided to stitch them - then do away with it all together.

I would agree with that. And all of that happened in a very short span of time. Mego's transition to the Painted Mask Robin occurred while the 1st Issue/2nd Version box (the "First Window" box) was in production. All Removable Mask Robin figures were gone by the subsequent box (the "4-Panel" box), which Mego started shipping in Fall 1973. This timeline suggests that Mego only manufactured RM Robins (whether with glued or stitched Masks) for about eight months.



Even if Robin figures hadn't sold well — which they did; most of them got snapped up by us kids right away — it's no wonder the Removable Mask is so rare.

- Benjamin

[josephcardone]

Wow - that is really interesting. The stitching was then a last ditch - futile effort - or else probably just a fast fix to get rid of existing stock before the transition.

I would agree with that. And all of that happened in a very short span of time. Mego's transition to the Painted Mask Robin occurred while the 1st Issue/2nd Version box (the "First Window" box) was in production. All Removable Mask Robin figures were gone by the subsequent box (the "4-Panel" box), which Mego started shipping in Fall 1973. This timeline suggests that Mego only manufactured RM Robins (whether with glued or stitched Masks) for about eight months.



Even if Robin figures hadn't sold well — which they did; most of them got snapped up by us kids right away — it's no wonder the Removable Mask is so rare.

- Benjamin

[josephcardone]

I thought of something else too - in regards to existing stock - is that possibly why there seems to be some Dick Grayson's with RM Robin heads?? (if that was actually confirmed or just a case of using the RM head as a stand in because it is so close).

[imp]

is that possibly why there seems to be some Dick Grayson's with RM Robin heads?? (if that was actually confirmed or just a case of using the RM head as a stand in because it is so close).

You lost me here. I mean, that would certainly make sense — and be in keeping with Mego's reuse/recycle procedures — but how are you differentiating the two heads? Just the varying resin colorations? Copyright inscriptions on the necks?

- Benjamin

[josephcardone]

Do you think that Mego used the remainder of left over RM heads with Dick Grayson? (it was just a thought)

[imp]

Do you think that Mego used the remainder of left over RM heads with Dick Grayson? (it was just a thought)

It's difficult to know for sure, but Mego definitely would have used any available inventory and materials, to complete an order. My instinct says that Mego would have used up all the existing RM Robin heads, responding to the glue failure by stitching an unknown quantity of masks required to complete the remaining inventory of RM Robin figures.

Also, there was a good year or so between Mego discontinuing the RM Robin and the factory producing the Secret Identities 'catalog specials' for Montgomery Ward (Christmas 1974). So, presuming there were any RM Robin heads leftover (and knowing Mego's tendency to reuse/recycle), I wouldn't be surprised if they would have had the factory simply paint black masks onto any leftover RM Robin heads, and sell them immediately as Painted Mask Robin figures.

It's all just fun speculation, though. I can't imagine how we could confirm any of this.

- Benjamin

[PNGwynne]

I could read these sort of threads every day--I love this sort of production minutiae.

It's surprising to me, at least, to discover just how rare RM Robin heads are.

[ignignokt]

I came upon this issue with Dick Grayson's flesh tone last summer and this is what Hobub told me:


hobub's Avatar hobub hobub is offline
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Answer to your PM asking me from the other day.

Since none of these were sealed up on cards but were sealed in baggies, and I have had Brian/Palitoy (and of course Luey and Chris in this thread) verify that he himself has seen bagged examples with the normal fleshtone and the markings on the neck, that they likely were released like that at some point because the heads already existed and why not make use of them. However, the consensus after interviewing several high end collectors, is that the mocha colored heads were probably made at a later time/location and with a slightly different pigment mixture (quite possibly just because it was not made in the same batch as the others) for Wards and were made after the molded cowl batman and masked robins were already in production. Therefore, it would be much less likely/impossible that you would find a mocha colored RCB or RMR that came from Mego that way.

I have seen examples that have the mocha color that have faint markings. I would also say the Mocha colored heads may be the more desirable only because they were likely specifically made just for the SI figs.

And a Secret ID Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent or Dick Grayson figure with a normal Superhero flesh-tone pigment head, could not only have been released by Mego that way, but are also so rare as it stands with all the unique clothes/accessories, that the supply is probably extremely limited on an original Mego production release that has all those correct accessories. Any that come available would be a highly desirable find for any quality original-as-released Mego collector. (Peter parker has blue eyes and brown hair. That's a no brainer).