James Bond Spy Tricks Box
kees007
Posts: 88MI6 Agent
Hi, has anyone ever seen one of these boxes in real life? I've seen them in Lee Pfeiffer's book, I believe, but I don't ever remember seeing one in anyone's collection or at some convention. The item was made by the folks
from Gilbert, the same company that made the OddJob and James Bond dolls/10 Bond figures/Bond puppets and of course the Racetrack and a few other things. Maybe Alan Stephenson has/had one?
I'd be interested to see how much one would go for.
Thanks!
Kees
from Gilbert, the same company that made the OddJob and James Bond dolls/10 Bond figures/Bond puppets and of course the Racetrack and a few other things. Maybe Alan Stephenson has/had one?
I'd be interested to see how much one would go for.
Thanks!
Kees
Comments
Here it is tucked-away on display and on it's own. (Click the images for a larger views.):
I love this because: A) it's utterly inane and
Nick ["ohm5s"] probably has a different take in the U.K., but B.E. ["Before eBay"] when we thought these were impossible to find, I would occasionally spot them at shows for US$ 300-400. I see them now on eBay at the rate of one every six months or so selling for US $200-300. (I like to keep track mostly for insurance reasons.) I would say eBay has proven that they aren't quite so rare, yet dealers are now asking at shows for US$ 400-500.
Those are prices for complere units. Someone was recently selling the tricks on eBay individually at US $20-40 apiece.
*Thankfully, I'm only half serious. But only half.
I love the fact that you have one to play with!!
Are we the only collectors to have the battery operated Gilbert Disco Volante?
A battery operated Gilbert Disco Volante???? I've never heard or seen that. Wow! Do you have pictures? How big is it?
Thanks!
Kees
Actually, I don't have one! Only the Gilbert catalog. I always assumed that like the other versions of the road race set, they never got beyond the prototypes before declaring bankruptcy.
As a matter of fact, although I knew I didn't have the only one made, I was still totally gutted to see you also have tooling for the Connery puppet in your collection.
Here's the catalog shot (click the image for a larger view):
That's a rather personal question! Oh, you mean the toy! (Sorry, old Monty Python line.) "... 18 inches of inexhaustible play value!" (per the catalog description).
Nick, PLEASE post a pic; I was about to commission a 1/35 or 1/24th model thinking these didn't actually exist.
I have some of the small figure molds and also the original sculpt for thr Odd Job figure. I remember years ago seeing the original prototype RRace set and model for the 12 inch dolls. I had an opportunity to buy sheets of unmade Odd Job doll boxes once but it was a sealed bid scenario and I guess my bid was a bit light!
Would love to find one of the Thunderball Connery or Largo puppets. Have you ever seen the backing board for the Connery puppet?
Years ago I saw Bill Brugeman had a shop display for the Gilbert Bond dolls, I have nevr seen that
Nick
I'm guessing six or twelve. And they're vinyl, not latex. Trust me, I tried pouring one in latex!
I rememember it coming-up for sale in the early '80s. At the time, I think it was US$ 1,000 or some such that seems ridiculously low by current standards.
It was shown in L.A. in '94. I think one of the officers of the IFF owns it, or did then.
Spy Guise used to have unmade "diorama" packaging for the small figures.
Surprised you don't have the Connery; not that hard to find ... if you have the money. I still kick myself for missing one on eBay at US$ 65; I paid alot more for mine, though nothing like they're getting now.
I'm convinced the Largo puppet never happened (but then, I thought that same about the Volante until this morning) as I've only ever seen a drawing and never even a single photo.
Funny you ask about the backing for the Connery. You almost never see an OddJob other than mounted on a board yet I've never a Connery other than loose. (I'm certain the OddJobs were a warehouse find.)
It's like those black suits with the red tie that Gilbert made for the 12" doll; you see them stitched to cello-wrapped cards, but never in the frame box. (I was told by the son of someone who worked there that when the factory closed-down, Gilbert was in the midst of producing these and lots of employees walked-off with the unfinished outfits as souveniers.)
On that same subject, has anyone ever seen the Sears outfits for the Connery? The tux, naval, or casual clothes? Also, I have seen photos of their Bond doll and once stupidly passed one up at a shop (again, a pittance by today's prices) but never the OddJob in his mourning suit.
You're right: My posts are long.
Are you saying that they didn't come out with the Disco Volante, but just advertised it?
Also, the handpuppet of Gilbert, why would that be so expensive? I've got an Oddjob one. Are we talking about the same thing?
Here is mine:
Thanks!
Kees
The Thunderball Connery puppet has him in the scuba outfit holding a speargun, it was in the late 1965 catalog the one with the Beatles insert. Again I think the Largo was in this catalog and also the spring 1965 one.
I bought laods of the unmade cartons from Lee Pfeifer, I have had about 800 in all. A guy called Ed Sweet had more as well as factory sealed dolls. I probably single handedly ruined the UK market for these, it might recover one day but I don't think there is ever a week goes by that a small find of Gilbert toys turns up.
The Odd Job boxes were the full prints that had not been cut from the printers card, They would have looked fantastic framed.
I'm saying I have only ever seen catalog shots (and always the same shot at that). Nick appears to actually have one.
Not sure why they've gone up so much--I've watched them go from under US$ 100 to over US$ 400--other than they're this kind of goofy yet iconographic item. I've seen dealers asking as much as US$ 750 for the OddJob, not that I've seen them get it, mind you.
Interesting. I've always thought of the blue Connery as based on Thunderball; in my mind, it's supposed to be him in the PCS sequence. (Let's face it, the whole Gilbert line was pretty much TB-centric.) No idea there was another.
Does the catalog show photos of actual Largo and SCUBA Bond puppets? As I noted, only ever saw a drawing of Largo (and Illya Kuryakin, etc.).
There's a guy (Haskell?) in Florida that has cases and cases of virtually every Gilbert product, including the Aston. Why can't I ever stumble on one of those sweet deals ...
Although its not too clear here lower left on thst cat page is the Connery on the card!!
There's a guy (Haskell?) in Florida that has cases and cases of virtually every Gilbert product, including the Aston. Why can't I ever stumble on one of those sweet deals ...[/quote]
Wow! Do you know how I can get a hold of him. I live in Florida. Maybe he doesn't even live far from here. That'd be interesting to see.
Kees
I never knew there were more than the one of Oddjob, and the one of Connery.
I've never seen this. It's amazing!
Kees
Can't quite tell. Right time frame but I'm not sure. This is mine (click for larger view):
Sorry, yes, I have that photo; I meant I've never seen one on the market with the card. And that's the drawing I have of Largo so, again, I'm thinking it never got past that stage. However, the Illya next to him was definitely produced so I could be wrong.
He puts leg kicking dolls on Ebay that are faked up and also Swell rack packs which are original headers with a bag of used cards underneath.
Buyer Beware!!
Thanks for letting me know. Since I live in Florida, I'll make sure to only deal with him, if I can come pick it up.
Kees
Kees, either you misread Nick's post or didn't proof your reply; Nick is saying Haskett ripped him off by tampering with products. Personally, I didn't have any trouble, but I only bought a few items and he had been using me to vet some information about Gilbert beforehand so maybe he felt it best not to risk burning me.
Again, per Nick, buyer beware.