"MAJOR MATT MASON" (the fellow to the left) represented a line
of science fiction toys marketed by MATTEL at the time of the first manned
lunar missions. Over the last few years several web sites have appeared
on the internet paying homage to this wonderful line of action toys. The
initial items were said to have been based on official NASA blueprints,
while later releases were products of fantasy.
While MATTEL marketed the Major as a DOLL, to us he was much more. He represented the aspirations of a generation; the dream to realize the promise of the Apollo missions, and to achieve the accomplishments visualized in popular science fiction such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. We envisioned the Major not only establishing a human presence on the Moon, but also pushing the frontier of Man's exploration onto Mars and beyond. The Major also established First Contact with ETs such as Callisto and Scorpio; to many of us, he was THE American hero of space exploration.
I always had a tinge of guilt that I did not do my part to support the space program when I was young. Now that I am middle-aged, I can do a small part as a member of the Planetary Society, and I encourage all of you who remember the Major to join me. Annual membership dues are modest, and we have plenty of opportunities to support a variety of missions. SO JOIN NOW.....please. An alternative is the National Space Society, at whose website you can "ask an astronaut", and they sponsor Shuttle launch viewings. CHECK IT OUT NOW......if you don't mind.
PAINTSHOP: Some new color schemes for the vintage
figures.
WORKSHOP: Some modified figures
MMM Scale items: Other Sci-Fi themed toys that fit the Major.
MMM Game: Prototype of a game I'm working on.
MADELMAN LANDER for SALE!
Here is one of the getting-hard-to-find MMM-scale "Space Landers" made by Madelman of Spain. Aka "Real Heroes Space Shuttle". You can see more details here.
The item for sale is still packaged in the original box and is unassembled. Assembly will involve untwisting a bunch of tie-wires, snapping together the landing gear, applying decals and adding AA batteries (batteries not included). Spanish/English illustrated instructions are included. The batteries operate the interior lighting system - the box has been opened and I verified the lights do work.
NOTE: Some of the decals were applied by the manufacturer for display purposes. Also, the box describes an astronaut figure, but many of these landers were shipped without the figure - again, figure not included! These landers are notorious for not holding up well during shipping, so I will load up the inside of the package with packing peanuts!
My asking price is $49.95. I accept checks, money orders, and Paypal. Buyer pays for shipping. No extra handling charges, the cost will depend on the destination (the packaged weight is about 8.5 pounds, so you can calculate the cost from zip code 15237).
Repaired Recono-Jet for sale:
This is a heavily repaired Recono-Jet. The string has been replaced by a 12 ft length of string of the appropriate thickness. The Antenna can turn when the toy moves along the string under tension (and sometimes you can even get the "buzzing" jet noise to work). I do not have the hook and endpiece that capped the string on intact items, sorry. Also, the original decals were gone; those shown are low-resolution replacements made by downloading a picture of the decal sheet and printing it onto label paper. Also, the two handles on the left side were broken off and handmade replacements are shown.
The toy does show some wear and scuffs, but is now a decent display- or play-piece.
$9.00 for this item. Shipping is extra.
Recono-Jet/Space Crawler string: I have found a string that can replace the string of the Recono-Jet or Space Crawler! I'll sell it in 12 foot (4 yard) sections for 1 dollar each (does not include postage).
The picture at right shows a Recono-Jet that I'm in the process of reparing, with the replacement string attached, showing the full 12ft length, which is the length of the original string.
Email me for details.
The Toy shelf: This is the first real MMM website with many quality images of items from the toy line. It is a fun read and links to other toy pages. Also has a newsgroup/ad section for aficionados or the curious.
MUST VISIT!!! Where The Wild Toys Are: My favorite! John Eaton's MMM and other Sci-Fi toys page. Probably the most complete pictorial and informative listing of the MMM product line. Frequently updated, check out the new "Prototypes" pages.