Your Holy Grail Monster "Toy"

[Roback]

It's funny that you bring up Topstone Ray. Just yesterday I learned that the company was based in Danbury Connecticut ( my back yard ) which had quite a broad base of products. This vampire wig below was one of their many novelty items.
Are you familiar with Topstone Ray and if so, would you mind shedding some light on the company for us? Great post by the way. I enjoyed reading your Grail list of accomplishments.

[neonnoodle]

I like those old Halloween records, and for a long time was looking for a "Hallowe'en Spooky Sounds" 45 rpm record from about 1966...couldn't find one for less than a hundred dollars and that was a bit much...and not too long ago found one for a much more reasonable price and grabbed it.  Had been trying to find one for more than 20 years. 

Beautiful record, cardboard sleeve with an orange jack o lantern face on the front and a photo of the Magic Castle on the back...gorgeous atmosphere.

[NekroDave]

Hmmm, I don't think I really have a holy grail. When I started buying monsters in earnest last year, I promised myself I'd try not to get too obsessive about it and I think not having a true grail helps. Plus, it hasn't been a long enough time for me to start getting frustrated about not being able to find something. Ask me again in 5 years.

Having said that, a Renzi monster mobile would be nice. And I'd love to have that Coffin Joe doll as well, but not as much as Ray. Maybe one of those Frankenstein Scarecycles... But overall...no real monster holy grail.

[fmofmpls]

Maybe I have~ but I can't ever remember seeing one of these things in person. I've seen pictures of

Wait a minute. I'm confused. Are we talking about the orange Halloween candy bucket similar to that of the head speaker sculpt? If so Richard, you've seen one alright; right here at Castle Famous. You guys must be talking about something else? I've seen these on eBay more than a dozen times in the past several years. What am I missing here? 

[Bogey]

Wait a minute. I'm confused. Are we talking about the orange Halloween candy bucket similar to that of the head speaker sculpt? If so Richard, you've seen one alright. Right here at Castle Famous. You guys must be talking about something else? I've seen these on eBay more than a dozen times in the past several years.

Do you have a pic of this bucket?  Not sure wha folks are referring to here.  Thanks!

[fmofmpls]

Do you have a pic of this bucket?  Not sure wha folks are referring to here.  Thanks!

Here ya go. I think this is what they're referring to. Found in our Gallery. Must be a member to see image.

[poseablemonster]

Yep, that's the one I was talking about.  It's not amazingly super-duper rare, but they don't come up very often.  The same mold as the speaker head and same company, I think.  But the candy bucket's value is far less than the speaker head - I'd say 3 to 5 hundred tops for a nice one.  For whatever reason, I've just never been able to score one yet. 

[raycastile]

My inability to score one is directly related to my unwillingness to pay $500!  I'm at the point where I'd probably go for it at $300, but I still can't bring myself to cross the $500 threshold.  Same thing with the Renzi car.  I just can't do it!

Yep, that's the one I was talking about.  It's not amazingly super-duper rare, but they don't come up very often.  The same mold as the speaker head and same company, I think.  But the candy bucket's value is far less than the speaker head - I'd say 3 to 5 hundred tops for a nice one.  For whatever reason, I've just never been able to score one yet. 

[raycastile]

There are members here who could probably give you a detailed Topstone company profile.  My knowledge is sketchy.  I know they were purchased by Paper Magic in 1995.  At one time they owned Bayshore.  They started producing the rubber horror masks in the mid 1950s.  Illustrator Keith Ward worked for them.

It's funny that you bring up Topstone Ray. Just yesterday I learned that the company was based in Danbury Connecticut ( my back yard ) which had quite a broad base of products. This vampire wig below was one of their many novelty items.
Are you familiar with Topstone Ray and if so, would you mind shedding some light on the company for us? Great post by the way. I enjoyed reading your Grail list of accomplishments.

[Monsters For Sale]

I want to eventually get the Marx Frankenstein Robot, The Marx Frankenstein Wind-up, and an ABG Frankenstein Pencil Sharpener in ORANGE.

I have a lot of other things I'd like to get, but those are my top three.

[Wich2]

"carded Colorforms aliens"

Ray, & Gang-

For some silly reason, the SMALLER knock-off "Electron+" bendy, "ToyHouse SPACE MARAUDER," from a Goldenetz's Supermarket peg rack near the spinner where I'd get my DC 80 pg. Giants, was a real favorite of mine back then. Hot pink with blue trim, I believe mine was...

Honestly don't know where mine went. Closest I came to getting one was years ago, when a collector told me, "I have many multiples of all variations - but I won't sell them" (grrrrr!)

Help?

Best,
-Craig W.

[Monster Bob]

The majority of the 'bucket heads' around come from a small find in the 80s, which is why the ones you see are in such nice shape (handle and rivots intact) and are usually the orange w/ green paint variation. They sold for about $200-$300 even then.

BTW, these heads were made by Clinton Plastics- and not 'Clint Toys'...at some point this name was mistakingly used in an article or something and has become accepted as fact.

The speaker was made by Actwell Plastics Corp.





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[fmofmpls]

BTW, these heads were made by Clinton Plastics- and not 'Clint Toys'...at some point this name was mistakingly used in an article or something and has become accepted as fact.

The speaker was made by Actwell Plastics Corp.

Thanks Bob for the clarification. I was aware of the two different manufacturers. Obviously, the source material for both items are derived from the same sculpt. Am I correct in assuming the head speaker came first? And wouldn't you love to find out where that original sculpt ended up? And who sculpted it? And what other toys are Clinton Plastics and Actwell plastics responsible for?  Ah, the intrigue! The mystery of it all!

[fmofmpls]

Okay, here is a list of wanted holy grail items here at Castle Famous. Things I might never end up owning without taking out a second mortgage.

* 3D wall plaques (I only have Mummy).

* MIB Horrorscope

* 60s Monster Nodders (have Phantom)

* MIB Hasbro Paint by #s

[Richard]

Wait a minute. I'm confused. Are we talking about the orange Halloween candy bucket similar to that of the head speaker sculpt? If so Richard, you've seen one alright; right here at Castle Famous. You guys must be talking about something else? I've seen these on eBay more than a dozen times in the past several years. What am I missing here? 

That's the item! I don't know WHY I missed seeing this at Castle Famous! But I will say that I see new & wondrous things each time I've visited. There is so much to see, it requires repeat visits/viewings. Plus, my eyes are getting old (like the rest of me). So...  NEXT TIME I visit, I'm going to very humbly request to see/hold this candy bucket in person, please.

Yep, that's the one I was talking about.  It's not amazingly super-duper rare, but they don't come up very often.  The same mold as the speaker head and same company, I think.  But the candy bucket's value is far less than the speaker head - I'd say 3 to 5 hundred tops for a nice one.  For whatever reason, I've just never been able to score one yet. 

Same here. Maybe someday...it's on my "list"

Best,
Richard