Phil R

I went to a book-antique emporium in downtown York today. I haven't been there in a while but I went to see a guy about some Buck Rogers items.I'm negotiating on the Buck Rogers game waiting to see if he can find the game pieces and cards for the 1930s game. 

While I was there I bought a 1970s ray gun rifle and a Rocket Derby trophy. For those who may not know the Space Derby  is held by scouts who also have the more well know Pinewood Derby involving  building and racing wooden cars. The rockets are built, props wound and raced on wires. Pretty cool!

The trophy is not dated but I believe it to be an early award made in Italy. The base is marble. The newer awards don't have this look I have been unable to find out when the Space Derby started. The Pinewood car counterpart started in the 50s. My guess is the Space Derby may have started a little later or the 60s? Anyone?

This water gun  is not an exceptional gun but a great buy. I went to my favorite close by  general flea market Sunday witout any expectations.  I saw this Park Laser Ray on a table , the guy gave me a price, I looked around some more  and added the blue spaceman and gave him a twenty. He gave me change and I looked at him and said he gave me too much money back. he looked puzzled and said the gun was $1.00 and the spaceman a $1.00. I though he said the gun was $5.00.  What a buy.  I've never seen this gun in this opaque green color.

Well, this is not as sophisticated as Steve's new ray gun but it's been in the works since I brought a part back from Brimfield with Joe K in the fall.  I had bought a medical device and decided to use it as a basis for a small ray gun. It's made from the chromed metal with glass, bakelite knife handle and sight, metal connector, plastic washers, part of a finned light set and heavy wire. It's only 9" long and made for victorian ladies defending themselves from lecherous old men. :biggrin:  I call it the vamp 95, as in 1895.

I recently finshed building this 16" rocket which I call POLARIS after the guide star, the North star. It's made from  an old bottle warmer, a chrome spacer, a Starbucks drink cup filter, a car light cap, the pitot is a ball with hollow tube( I don't know what it is), stabilizers are shaped bakelite, and curved legs are kitchen utensils, I also have a pilot's canopy with pilot. I used the diorama from the Venus Rocket I made earlier.

I came across this photo of the Czech Tatra 87 auto from the 30s. Do you think Archer stole the design from them for their toy car?  According to records Volkswagen did, and paid them off after WWII.