GILBERT - Thunderball 18" Disco Volante

Comments

• texas007 Houston, Texas 77041Posts: 2,356MI6 Agent

  October 2010

  I don't think this exist.
• Dr No07 North AmericaPosts: 55MI6 Agent

  October 2010

  It DOES NOT exist, at least not commercially. I was in every toy store in the U.S. during Christmas of 1965 and 1966...or so it seems. The smaller plastic (non-battery) Disco Volante was available as a Gilbert James Bond Action Toy #16541, along with the dragon tank, and was also part of the Gilbert James Bond Toy Set 1 (#16561). I'd enjoy if you could please scan a copy of the Gilbert catalog page listing the 18" version. Thanks.
• themanfrombrussels BrusselsPosts: 187MI6 Agent

  October 2010

  unfortunately i do not have the catalogue myself ...
  
  but here is the announcement ....
  
  "GILBERT Dealer Promotional fold-out catalog introducing the new 1966 Toy line. 14 pages. includes dolls of James Bonds; Odd Job; Honey West; Man From U.N.C.L.E. stars Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin; Moon McDare; battery operated 007 Aston Martin; James Bond slot car road race set; the 18" battery operated DISCO VOLANTE Yacht from Thunderball; erector sets; electric trains; James Bond Brief Case; Man from U.N.C.L.E. Spy Magic set; My Favorite Martian MARTIAN MAGIC TRICKS. artwork of The Beatles. tight and clean and very scarce. possibly an insert from another book/catalog?"

  http://guysgunsgirlscarsanddanger.jimdo.com/
• Donald Grant U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters

  October 2010 edited October 2010

  I'm pretty sure the big Disco Volante only existed as a prototype. It was pictured in a brochure and perhaps the Sears wishbook. This evening I tried to find my own references to this in one of my books, but for the life of me I could not pinpoint it. Then I remembered the Her Majesty's Secret Servant interview with Doug Redenius. He answers questions about the large Gilbert Disco Volante, the Gilbert Emilio Largo puppet and the Gilbert kicking Bond and his reproduction box among other things. Here's the link to a picture of the large Disco Volante prototype:
  
  http://www.hmss.com/bondmarket/redenius/Disco_Volante_prototype.jpg
  
  Full article here:
  
  http://www.hmss.com/bondmarket/redenius/
  
  You'll have to page down to find reference to the large Disco Volante.
  
  DG

  So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
  
  "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
• themanfrombrussels BrusselsPosts: 187MI6 Agent

  October 2010

  thanx Donald,
  
  we will keep searching for the holy grail if it exists

  http://guysgunsgirlscarsanddanger.jimdo.com/
• Donald Grant U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters

  October 2010

  themanfrombrussels wrote:

  thanx Donald,
  
  we will keep searching for the holy grail if it exists

  
  You're welcome and please post it here if you find it.
  
  DG

  So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
  
  "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
• themanfrombrussels BrusselsPosts: 187MI6 Agent

  October 2010

  Donald Grant wrote:

  themanfrombrussels wrote:

  thanx Donald,
  
  we will keep searching for the holy grail if it exists

  
  You're welcome and please post it here if you find it.
  
  DG

  
  will definitely do that

  http://guysgunsgirlscarsanddanger.jimdo.com/