Mego at the 1975 UK Toyfair

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At the 1975 US Toy Fair, Mego was making waves with it's new product lines and their fantastic launch party for their Wizard of Oz line. In the UK however, Mego had no toyfair presence other than the few companies that had picked up their lines for distribution, which resulted in a quieter presence. A



In 1975, the number one toyline in the UK (As voted by retailers) is Palitoy's Action Man with Pedigree's Sindy following a close second.

This article about Louis Marx mentions their new line of King Arthur and his Knights, what we all know to be the "World's Greatest Super Knights". Marx didn't create their own packaging, just merely put a sticker on the front window of the box, which are occasionally seen on the secondary market. What's curious is the mention that is a line of four figures and doesn't mention Launcelot, a journalistic error or did Louis Marx drop him from the line?





There is no mention of Superheroes, Planet of the Apes or any other Mego Lines in the 1975 Toyfair Highlights page but on the very last page of the magazine, we find a rather quick mention of Bradgates new "Startrek" line of action figures.

Palitoy (owner of Bradgate) would run with Star Trek for another two years, expanding into the Aliens.

More...

[rchatlin]

That b/w Startrek (sic) ad is brilliant!

Scotty is trying the Scottish Nerve Grip on the Klingon, to no effect.

Brian, in the original, can you confirm if those are the pink lipped figures?
My guess is that they should be.


r
o
b

[palitoy]

I can do better, I can give you a colour version:


Not only are they pink lipped but Spock is a prototype!

[sauce]

Sweeeeeet!
Has anyone ever seen that Spock prototype in person?
Great posts, Brian!

[megoscott]

These are great. I've never heard the name Marx associated with Mego like that. That's a great description of the King. Brian--Do you have a photo of that sticker on the knights box?

[palitoy]

took me a minute but yeah, it's from John Bonavita.

[toys2cool]

That Spock looks sweeet!!!!!

[Wee67]

Cool info. I had no idea Marx had a relationship with Mego.

Wasn't that prototype Spock used in some other catalog shots?

[Wee67]

OK, isn't that proto-Spock on the cover?

[Captain]

Kirk looks like a prototype too...something about the jaw line and profile of the nose looks odd. Any chance we could see close ups of the others as well?

[vulcan2074]

Awesome Pics and Great Information.
V~2074

[Dave Mc]

Kirk looks like a prototype too...something about the jaw line and profile of the nose looks odd. Any chance we could see close ups of the others as well?

I was thinking the same thing. That doesn't look like the Kirk we all know and love. Very interesting. Never seen a proto Kirk before.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Also, is it just me or does McCoy's arm bands look silver in the ad, too?

[miguet]

Neat pictures. I like the Spock proto-type.

[AcroRay]

Kirk's head looks hand-painted, and the texture at the hair line doesn't seem as sharp. Perhaps its a resin hard copy.

McCoy doesn't look like final product either...