Promotional items such as advertisements, commercials and trade magazines helped generate hype in the industry and at trade shows.
Notice that the Eldon catalogs include "As Seen on TV" images on several sets. Some of these can be seen on the Commercials page.
Playthings March 1968 (pg 71) |
Playthings March 1968 (pg 324) |
Playthings March 1968 (pg 325) |
Chatelaine Magazine Ad 1968 |
Playthings March 1969 |
Eldon Ad 1969 |
Eldon Ad 1970 |
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This product insert came from a blister packed Scuba Scout figure and looks to be what was included in all the blister packed figures and vehicles in the UK. It lists all the individual figures, vehicles and accessory packs that were available at the time. The sheet is printed front and back on a 13 x 10 3/4" paper which is folded, rolled and taped then tucked into a well on the back side of the blister packs. I believe that these blister packs were only availble in the UK although there are some separate figures, vehicles and accessory packs listed in the US Eldon catalogs.
- Includes both gen 1 and gen 2 Space Scouts which suggests a 1970 publication date.
- Does not include Cargo Jet suggesting it possibly was not available in the UK.
- Includes addendum sticker regarding images showing combinations that may require more than one purchase.
Eldon UK product insert (1970 front) |
Eldon UK product insert (1970 front with addendum) |
Eldon UK product insert (1970 back) |
Scalecraft product insert (1968/69?, UK) |
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- Billy Blastoff is introduced in the Fall 1968 Eldon catalog.
- Jet Pack also referred to as "back pack".
- Prototype Jet Pack. Notice side clips, switch with plastic cover and white painted on/off lettering.
- Prototype Exploration Tractor. Notice inverted front hook.
- Prototype Radar Scope. No graphics on screen and differnt coloring.
- Prototype Space Gun.
- Prototype accessory jacks.
- Eldon company description and office location pictures on back page.
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1968 (cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1968 (page 20-21) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1968 (back page 40) |
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- Billy Blastoff and Robbie Robot make the cover of the Eldon catalog.
- Space Scout, Space Base, Robbie Robot, Cargo Jet and Construction sets marked as "New".
- Space Scout, Space Base. Robbie Robot and Scuba Scout marked "As Seen on TV".
- Individual accessory packs marked as "New".
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 2-3) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 13) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 4-5) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 6) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 7) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1969 (page 14) |
- Only Japanese Space Scout is for sale.
- Window packaging is introduced.
- First appearance of dealer displays for Space Base, Space Scout, Robbie Robot, Construction, Cargo Jet, Fire Fighter and Scuba Scout.
- Space Scout, Space Base, Construciton, Fire Fighter and Scuba Scout are marked "As Seen on TV".
- Walking Billy Blastoff is introduced with a re-styled look and square Jet Pack with the switch on the side.
- Space Base and Space Scout sets are re-styled with more NASA-like look and the Space Gun is replaced with a more peaceful Lunar Probe Camera.
- Robby Robot has his round Jet Pack replaced with the square pack and switch on the side.
- Robby Robot set is re-styled and the Grabber is replaced with a new Walking Vehicle.
- Billy and Robbie are now available individually.
- Space Base's Grabber no longer has the control buttons and therefor only goes forward and does not stall, go in reverse or cycle the claw.
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page ??) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970 (page 31) |
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This catalog came from a seller in England and for each image page with English description, there is a corresponding page with French, German, Italian and Spanish translation. Some interesting observations are:
- The layouts are nearly identical to the US catalog layouts without the "As Seen on TV" tags.
- At this time I believe that the US sets were sold with no modification in the English market but I have only yet seen one example of non-English box art and that is a German set. Also, Spanish sets were made by Nacoral. So, are there any other non-English language boxes out there in the UK/European market? And, did the US sets make their way into other European countries. Or, was this catalog only an attempt to open markets in other countries?
- The single Robbie and Billy figures seen in the US catalog are not seen here.
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 4) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 5) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 6) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 7) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 8) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 9) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 10) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 11) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 12) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 13) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 14) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 15) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 16) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 17) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 18) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe page 19) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1970
(UK/Europe back cover) |
- Snowmobile set marked as "New".
- Snowmobile and Scuba Scout are marked "As Seen on TV".
- Snowmobile, Space Scout and Scuba Scout are the only sets listed.
- Only Space Scout and Scuba Scout dealer displays are shown.
- Billy Blastoff Bubble Popper is shown under the Water Guns page.
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (page 23) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (page 24) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (page 25) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (page 51) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971 (back) |
- Includes Robbie Robot set where US catalog does not.
- Snowmobile set added since Fall 1970 UK/Europe catalog
- Space Base, Fire Fighter, Construction and Cargo Jet removed since Fall 1970 UK/Europe catalog
- Now "Printed in England" where the previous year was not.
- Each page includes "Also available individually packed" in the headline.
- Same layout but cover image is swapped.
- Billy Blastoff Bubble Popper is not included where US catalog does.
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe cover) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 6) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 7) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 8) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 9) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 10) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 11) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 12) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe page 13) |
Eldon Dealer Catalog Fall 1971
(UK/Europe back cover) |
- Catalog is originally in English and seems to be directed at the US market.
- US versions of Space Scout gen 2 and Space Base gen 2 are shown.
- Neither of the sets shown seem to have been available in Japan.
Tomy Toys Dealer Catalog 1971 (cover) |
Tomy Toys Dealer Catalog 1971 (page ??) |
Tomy Toys Dealer Catalog 1971 (page ??) |
Tomy Toys Dealer Catalog 1971 (back cover) |
- Shows Base Espacial and Constructor sets.
- Catalog show multiple manufacturers' products.
Spanish Dealer Catalog 1971 (cover) |
Spanish Dealer Catalog 1971 (page ??) |
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