Quote from: Mike Scott on February 10, 2017, 10:54:40 PM
When doing my monster mags blog I was frustrated at not having a few dates and cover artist names, but there is like an encyclopedia of knowledge on that subject, compared to vintage toys!
Yes.
Credits are plastered all over the place in comics/mags on the title page, in the editorials, and in letters pages. We know what stories Jack "King" Kirby drew even if we don't recognize the art style (which most of us always do ;)) because Stan "The Man" Lee eted it in bold hype. But toywise we're still unsure who sculpted what in many instances because artists didn't usually get credit for cheap monster toys. We know much more about the Aurora models which are pretty well documented, but most cheap monster toys...forget it.
And some of that stuff we know absolutely nothing about, like those little 1 1/2" MPC Monster knockoffs with the bats and scythes missing. We don't even know what company made them or how they were sold.
(http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab97/monolith_06/IMG_3690.jpg)
If it weren't for those scarce Horror Monsters Grab Bags we wouldn't be aware of Best Plastics Corporation. We would still be laboring under the erroneous assumption they were made by Palmer.
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 10, 2017, 11:15:58 PM
Yes.
And some of that stuff we know absolutely nothing about, like those little 1 1/2" MPC Monster knockoffs with the bats and scythes missing. We don't even know what company made them or how they were sold.
(http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab97/monolith_06/IMG_3690.jpg)
If it weren't for those scarce Horror Monsters Grab Bags we wouldn't be aware of Best Plastics Corporation. We would still be laboring under the erroneous assumption they were made by Palmer.
That's my photo of some of my MPC's. That little orange Grim Reaper I've had since I was a kid but I don't really remember if I got it in a grab bag or from a vending machine, but it was one of those. I've since got a little lime green witch to go with it, but those are the only two 1 1/2" ones that I have. They're very hard to find and I've sen some that look more opaque. I don't know if the opaque ones are recasts in resin or not.
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgi0o.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgi0o)
sorry about the bad lighting
i believe that these little guys came in prize bags like this.
now, who made them?
Quote from: Count Zero on February 11, 2017, 07:20:03 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgi0o.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgi0o)
sorry about the bad lighting
i believe that these little guys came in prize bags like this.
now, who made them?
Thanks for posting that, Andrew!
Holy Crapola! I've never seen that bag before! It would be cool if that really is the way these MPC Mini Knockoffs were sold. Do you have any evidence of them being sold that way, or a specific memory of buying them in that bag?
The green MPC Mini Knockoffs are pretty cool as well (even though Skeleton is missing his base). That color green in the slightly translucent "Heritage" plastic is the same as the Best Plastics Corp. dinos that came in my two Horror Monsters Grab Bags. I doubt if Best did these because the sculpts are much better than Best figures. Probably just a coincidence the plastic and color are the same. It's also the same color and type plastic as the Marx 3rd Series Nutty Mads.
Quote from: Count Zero on February 11, 2017, 07:20:03 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgi0o.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgi0o)
sorry about the bad lighting
i believe that these little guys came in prize bags like this.
now, who made them?
I dug up some info on this. It was a company called L.M. Becker. Here's the back of the bag.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cMYAAOSw2gxYnbE8/s-l1600.jpg)
There was a magic trick card included in each bag with a couple of toys and a sweet. Here's a pic of 5 of the possible cards.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VVAAAOSwA3dYmGb9/s-l1600.jpg)
So now I guess we know the maker (or at least distributor) of the MPC Mini Knockoffs and how they were sold. I feel like I discovered the meaning of life... oh yeah, I already knew that because I saw the Python movie a crapload of times. ;D
If anybody out in UMA land remembers buying the Spooky Surprise bags as a kid please post! We want every iota of microscopic detail we can get on the history of this stuff! :)
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgv65.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgv65)
no problemo michael
these killer images on the back of the bag are tattoos.
i knew becker put out these bags but that still doesn't answer who made these little buggers.
i'll keep digging till i find out.
at first i thought the skeleton was broken... but it's definitely just a factory defect. not enough plastic injected into the mold. all the skeletons i have are like this to some degree. i don't own any of the witches so i can't speak on those... but all the reapers i own have sold bases. everyone i have is green so if anyone is interested in trading... shoot me a pm
Quote from: Count Zero on February 11, 2017, 11:57:35 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgv65.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgv65)
no problemo michael
these killer images on the back of the bag are tattoos.
i knew becker put out these bags but that still doesn't answer who made these little buggers.
i'll keep digging till i find out.
at first i thought the skeleton was broken... but it's definitely just a factory defect. not enough plastic injected into the mold. all the skeletons i have are like this to some degree. i don't own any of the witches so i can't speak on those... but all the reapers i own have sold bases. everyone i have is green so if anyone is interested in trading... shoot me a pm
Yeah, Becker had somebody supply them with these little monsters since Becker was a novelty and vending machine company. I dug up a little info on the company. Here's the link: https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/l.m.beckerco.inc.-appleton-wi-7016105.html (https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/l.m.beckerco.inc.-appleton-wi-7016105.html)
Evidently they went out of business in 2010 according to some other Googlage.
Where did you get the Spooky Surprise bag, Andrew? Just curious if you got it recently or bought it when you were a kid. Pretty cool stuff there, dude. Those things must be scarce as hens teeth...I had never even heard of them until you posted that pic. Do you know what they sold for new in the '60s? (I assume these came out sometime in the '60s like the Horror Monsters Grab Bags by Best Plastics and I also assume they sold for a nickel like the Grab Bags, but you know what they say about assuming...).
Yeah, it looks like the green Skeleton was short molded. That must have been common back in the day. I must have gotten very lucky to score that little blue Skeleton with the full base. You know, the bases on these are weird too. They have the little holes like the MPC Unbreakable Weird Monsters they were copied after but the holes don't serve a purpose like the MPC base holes (to attach to other toys like the Haunted Hulk). I guess Becker or the actual manufacturer did it to save plastic.
I'm going to compile all of our available info on the Spooky Surprise grab bags in this thread instead of letting it pile up in unrelated threads and be difficult to locate later. Anyone who has any further info or discussion of them please add to this thread. :)
Here's some info from Todd Riley, an eBay seller I just purchased a grab bag and card from and requested info from:
"Spooky Surprise - They originally sold for 5 cents a pack. I believe they are from the 60's. That company was based in Wisconsin but I believe they sold nationally but were a fairly small company so all of their things are hard to find. They did a variety of series over the years - not just monsters. Some of the subjects are: goofy sports, funny animals, elephant jokes, secret agents, and space. I think there might be 2 other monster sets. These have monster wrappers and monster themed cards (both series are basically crude art with monster jokes). Not much is known about the company or how they distributed their product. So each series could have only been sold once (which is what I think). I really have no idea about the toys. They seem pretty random. I would guess they were buying bulk gumball trinkets and putting them in their packs. I got these from a partially opened box complete with the toys that came in them. The monster toys in the lot were: skeleton, death character, witch, and a little Frankenstein like character (which was a bit lame). The skeleton you got was the last monster toy I had except for the Franky. (all the other toys were little dogs, chickens, and other random items) The box is really cool (and not for sale)."
Here's a pic of the box:
(http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/24/82/3b/24823b287733e108116acecccf469731.jpg)
Here are eBay pics from the auction I won:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/alYAAOSwWxNYnbE7/s-l1600.jpg)
That green Skeleton is REALLY short-molded. Glad I have a nice blue one.
And the back:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cMYAAOSw2gxYnbE8/s-l1600.jpg)
There was a magic trick card included in each bag in addition to a couple of toys and a sweet. Here's a pic of 5 of the possible cards. I have #23 coming with my grab bag.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VVAAAOSwA3dYmGb9/s-l1600.jpg)
Here's another pic Todd Riley sent me. It's a selection of toys included in the Spooky Surprise grab bags.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2021/32059082793_4196c19615_b.jpg)
I have a little Frankenstein charm very similar to the one in the picture but the one I have isn't quite so crudely sculpted and it has a little loop on one shoulder.
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 12, 2017, 06:42:17 PMI'm going to compile all of our available info on the Spooky Surprise grab bags in this thread instead of letting it pile up in unrelated threads and be difficult to locate later.
I was just going to suggest precisely that to Mike Scott so that Spooky Surprise posts don't add to the confusion in the Elwar button thread!
:laugh:
Quote from: Hepcat on February 13, 2017, 10:11:34 AM
I was just going to suggest precisely that to Mike Scott so that Spooky Surprise posts don't add to the confusion in the Elwar button thread!
:laugh:
Yes, it's easy for things to get muddled in these here parts! :laugh:
I also plan to start a thread on the Horror Monsters Grab Bags when I finally finish my collection of Best Plastics dinos, or at least within a reasonable amount of time before it slips into that place where forgotten ideas and lost socks go. I'm going to post a pic of my complete Best Plastics collection including both Horror Monsters Grab Bags w/contents but I have to secure the Best Ankylosaurus and Smilodon first. Elusive little buggers! ;D
Thanks for this, HH!
Ref'fing another thread THIS is the kind of thing that started me on the Monsterkid road, as a real KID! Long before I ever even saw the Uni classics.
By the way -
- the green figs are obviously shrunken-down MPC monsters, yes? Did they do them all?
-Craig
Quote from: Wich2 on February 13, 2017, 06:24:57 PM
Thanks for this, HH!
Ref'fing another thread THIS is the kind of thing that started me on the Monsterkid road, as a real KID! Long before I ever even saw the Uni classics.
By the way -
- the green figs are obviously shrunken-down MPC monsters, yes? Did they do them all?
-Craig
You're welcome, Craig. :)
As far as we know they only did the Witch, Skeleton, and Creature Of Doom in the 1 1/2" size. They don't have the bats or scythe. They were sold in the Spooky Surprise grab bags by L.M. Becker & Co. but we still don't know who actually made the figures since Becker was primarily a vending company and probably bought vending trinkets in bulk to sell through various avenues.
Here's the pic of my MPC shelf (again...I'm wearin' this thing out ;D):
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b552/horrorhunter/MPCMonsters_1_zpsuhipwvcp.jpg)
Anywho, my three are behind the Monster Head Rings beside the Haunted Hulk. Enlarge the pic, they're kinda small in that Monsterkid clutter.
I moved all the "Spooky Surprise" posts over here from the "Elwar" thread. Might be a little confusing for someone coming along later.
Quote from: Mike Scott on February 13, 2017, 09:47:33 PM
I moved all the "Spooky Surprise" posts over here from the "Elwar" thread. Might be a little confusing for someone coming along later.
Thanks, Mike.
Quote from: Mike Scott on February 13, 2017, 09:47:33 PMI moved all the "Spooky Surprise" posts over here from the "Elwar" thread.
Yay!
8)
Quote from: Monolith on February 11, 2017, 02:55:34 PM(http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab97/monolith_06/IMG_3690.jpg)
That's my photo of some of my MPC's. That little orange Grim Reaper I've had since I was a kid but I don't really remember if I got it in a grab bag or from a vending machine, but it was one of those.
That photo superbly illustrates just how good the MPC Pop-Top sculpts really were. Excellent designs, exquisite detail, marvelous execution overall. They're just fabulous! It may be heresy to say so on this board but I actually rank them equal in quality to the Marx Universal monsters despite their smaller size.
;)
Quote from: Count Zero on February 11, 2017, 11:57:35 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgv65.jpg) (https://imgflip.com/i/1jgv65)
these killer images on the back of the bag are tattoos.
I've loved the concept of tattoos with bubble gum ever since I was a kid! Here are a couple from my collection:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/10-06-201262840PM.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/10-06-201262845PM.jpg)
Then of course there were the wonderful Topps Monster Tatoos with designs by Jack Davis:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/MonsterTattoos7.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/MonsterTattoos1.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/Monstertattoos5.jpg)
cl:)
Quote from: Count Zero on February 11, 2017, 07:20:03 PMI believe that these little guys came in prize bags like this.
(https://i.imgflip.com/1jgi0o.jpg)
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 12, 2017, 06:42:17 PMHere's a pic of the box:
(http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/24/82/3b/24823b287733e108116acecccf469731.jpg)
The box is really cool (and not for sale).
Wow! Wild graphics! I would have been parting with many a nickel for those bags had I seen them as a kid.
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on February 14, 2017, 11:06:23 AM
That photo superbly illustrates just how good the MPC Pop-Top sculpts really were. Excellent designs, exquisite detail, marvelous execution overall. They're just fabulous! It may be heresy to say so on this board but I actually rank them equal in quality to the Marx Universal monsters despite their smaller size.
;)
If it is heresy then I'm right there with you. I dearly love the iconic Marx UniMons but the MPC Monsters are equally well done and they have that twisted creepy aesthetic that really puts them over the top. I actually enjoy them more than the Marx UniMons! I know, I know...assemble the torch wielding mob. Well, that's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it. 8)
The 1 1/2" versions are so well sculpted it makes me think that Becker might have enlisted MPC to knock off their own figures in the smaller size. Anyway, whoever made them did a great job. Most of them that I've seen seem to have pretty good quality control with the exception of the green ones in the "Heritage" type plastic. Maybe that particular type of plastic mix lent itself to short-moldings (plastic not filling out the mold). The ones I've seen in the flat lead-based plastic look great.
cl:)
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 14, 2017, 12:27:13 PM... they have that twisted creepy aesthetic that really puts them over the top.
Yes, they have a certain twisted creepy aesthetic! That's precisely it.
cl:)
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 12, 2017, 06:42:17 PMHere's some info from Todd Riley, an eBay seller I just purchased a grab bag and card from and requested info from:
Hey! I've dealt with Todd Riley on occasion. He's a regular advertiser in
The Wrapper, a magazine to which I subscribe. (I've also been a very occasional contributor and it's high time I wrote another article.)
(http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/danster-nj/EE/postings/comp-wrap276.jpg)
The Wrapper is an excellent resource for the non-sport card collector, and I heartily endorse subscribing:
Subscription Info - The Wrapper (http://www.thewrappermagazine.com/subscribe-ads.html)
8)
The Wrapper is a great publication for the non-sports trading card enthusiast. I subscribed to it for awhile when I was first building my monster trading card collection back around 2000. I bought several sets from dealers who advertised in The Wrapper including all three You'll Die Laughing sets (+ the test set), Horror Monsters Orange, most of Horror Monsters Green, both Dark Shadows sets, both Monster Laughs minis sets, the large Monster Laughs set, Addams Family, Outer Limits, Monster Cards (Blue), and several other sets, as well as a few full packs and wrappers. Since I only collect the monster related cards I let my sub lapse after I got the sets I wanted. But, about 3 years ago I re-subbed when I was looking for some of those newer Hammer cards. I noticed there wasn't many articles devoted to monster cards in particular so I let it lapse again. I still recommend The Wrapper if you're looking to buy monster cards, or if you are a non-sports fan in general. Some good articles in there, just not so many for monster collectors.
Quote from: Wich2 on February 13, 2017, 06:24:57 PMThanks for this, HH!
Ref'fing another thread THIS is the kind of thing that started me on the Monsterkid road, as a real KID! Long before I ever even saw the Uni classics.
Me too! My road to a life of monsterdom also started at five cents a pack. I'd been intrigued at the age of seven by the Topps
You'll Die Laughing cards I'd seen in the schoolyard in 1959 but I never had any myself. I suspect that the two or three variety stores I frequented either didn't carry them or they quickly sold out but didn't restock since the cards were a "seasonal" Halloween issue.
As a result I was primed and ready when the Leaf Spook Stories hit store shelves in early 1962 and collected them aggressively!
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/29-12-201224908PM.jpg)
The stickers included in the packs were perhaps even cooler than the cards themselves:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/SpookTheatrestickers.jpg)
Yes, five cents a pack was all it cost for me to be initiated into a lifetime of sordid monsterkid depravity!
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/SpookTheatrewrappers.jpg)
8)
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 13, 2017, 08:17:06 PMHere's the pic of my MPC shelf (again...I'm wearin' this thing out ;D):
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b552/horrorhunter/MPCMonsters_1_zpsuhipwvcp.jpg)
It's such a cool shelf though that the pic demands repeated showings!
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on February 14, 2017, 04:47:55 PM
It's such a cool shelf though that the pic demands repeated showings!
8)
I really like the yellow witch with the purple head... I had a few
Pop-Top Horrors with their tops popped and swapped... these had been played with by original Monster Kids. ;D
Quote from: Allhallowsday on February 14, 2017, 08:10:00 PM
I really like the yellow witch with the purple head... I had a few Pop-Top Horrors with their tops popped and swapped... these had been played with by original Monster Kids. ;D
That one was played with originally by this Monsterkid. ;)
All of those loose Pop-Tops on that shelf are ones I had as a kid. I had several dupes which I sold over the years, but I kept one of each of the loose ones to display with the packaged ones I bought at Monster Bash in 2001. The four 2-packs were the first thing I bought at the Bash, and I gave $150 for the complete set of four 2-packs. Later one guy told me he planned to go back and buy them after he checked the dealers room. Good thing I grabbed them quickly. Those things are pricey these days.
Anyway, that Witch is a combo because my purple Witch had the bat broken off and I somehow lost the yellow witch's head. So, in the true spirit of Pop-Tops I ended up with a combo. :)
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 14, 2017, 11:02:12 PM...the packaged ones I bought at Monster Bash in 2001. The four 2-packs were the first thing I bought at the Bash, and I gave $150 for the complete set of four 2-packs.
A very wise buy indeed in retrospect!
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on February 14, 2017, 11:32:04 PM
A very wise buy indeed in retrospect!
8)
Yep. Here's a link to a post I made a few days ago reporting on some completed eBay auctions for some Pop-Top 2-packs with condition problems: http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=23458.msg511358#msg511358 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=23458.msg511358#msg511358)
This one sold for $280. Check out the base on the orange Witch. :o
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zPgAAOSwnHZYiYiR/s-l1600.jpg)
One sold for nearly $400! Not only is it hard to afford them now, but it's even more difficult to find undamaged examples to try to purchase. What a difference a few years makes.
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 12, 2017, 06:47:05 PM
Here are eBay pics from the auction I won:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/alYAAOSwWxNYnbE7/s-l1600.jpg)
That green Skeleton is REALLY short-molded. Glad I have a nice blue one.
And the back:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cMYAAOSw2gxYnbE8/s-l1600.jpg)
There was a magic trick card included in each bag in addition to a couple of toys and a sweet. Here's a pic of 5 of the possible cards. I have #23 coming with my grab bag.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VVAAAOSwA3dYmGb9/s-l1600.jpg)
Got my Spooky Surprise stuff in the mail today! Todd even put everything in separate clear plastic holders that display nicely. It's all on the shelf now with it's fellow
monster junk. :)
Quote from: horrorhunter on March 21, 2013, 09:43:29 AMSo far we know of three MPC monsters that were knocked off by whichever company did these little 1 1/2" versions: Witch, Creature Of Doom, Skeleton. What puzzles me is why they chose the three with the most small bits sticking out (bats, scythe) that had to be left off of the smaller sculpt. Maybe they thought by leaving off the small details the sculpt was changed enough to keep from being sued by MPC. They are still obviously knock offs. If the only reason they left off those small details was for molding/encapsulating purposes then why did they pick the three with the most protruding small details?
Quote from: horrorhunter on February 12, 2017, 12:35:15 AMYeah, it looks like the green Skeleton was short molded. That must have been common back in the day.... You know, the bases on these are weird too. They have the little holes like the MPC Unbreakable Weird Monsters they were copied after but the holes don't serve a purpose like the MPC base holes (to attach to other toys like the Haunted Hulk). I guess Becker or the actual manufacturer did it to save plastic.
You know these indications of penny-pinching when it came to minimizing the amount of plastic required are perhaps a clue as to why the Witch, Skeleton and Creature of Doom were chosen for these mini figures despite the fact that all three designs ended up being reduced/truncated. Perhaps these were the three figures that required the least plastic once they were truncated!
:-\
Quote from: Hepcat on March 13, 2017, 01:02:12 PM
You know these indications of penny-pinching when it came to minimizing the amount of plastic required are perhaps a clue as to why the Witch, Skeleton and Creature of Doom were chosen for these mini figures despite the fact that all three designs ended up being reduced/truncated. Perhaps these were the three figures that required the least plastic once they were truncated!
:-\
Could be. :-\
It's fun to theorize but realistically we're probably over-analyzing this. Some fat fellow with a big ceegar probably just said "Pick any three of those cheapass monsters and make 'em even smaller and cut even more plastic where ya can. Multiple won't sue us...hell, they steal from Marx all the time anyway! We're sellin' the whole damn bag for a nickel so go CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP!!!"
:laugh:
(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2hvg.jpg)
found this photograph while digging around online...
evidence that these little buggers were also sold as vending product?
(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2jd9.jpg)
(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2jeq.jpg)
found some more photographs online.
here are a couple color variations.
that black reaper is my favorite so far.
Quote from: Count Zero on April 11, 2017, 12:23:00 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2jd9.jpg)
(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2jeq.jpg)
found some more photographs online.
here are a couple color variations.
that black reaper is my favorite so far.
The second photo is my fave.
Quote from: Count Zero on April 11, 2017, 12:23:00 PM(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2jd9.jpg)
That skeleton doesn't look like an MPC knock-off.
???
Quote from: Count Zero on April 11, 2017, 11:59:43 AM(https://i.imgflip.com/1n2hvg.jpg)
found this photograph while digging around online...
evidence that these little buggers were also sold as vending product?
I'm not sure that capsule is quite big enough for the figure. On what site did you find the image? I'd like to read the text that accompanies the picture.
???
Quote from: Hepcat on April 12, 2017, 08:12:10 AM
I'm not sure that capsule is quite big enough for the figure. On what site did you find the image? I'd like to read the text that accompanies the picture.
???
Yeah, those Becker Minis are 1 1/2" tall which would require a very large capsule. The pic looks like someone just paired the figure and capsule to suggest they might have been sold that way, but the capsule in the pic looks too small for the figure.
My money's on the Becker Minis only being sold in Spooky Surprise grab bags which would help explain their scarcity. Don't know for sure though.
My Spooky Surprise collection so far:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3948/33841605932_2ee9ea500e_b.jpg)
i don't have any photographs handy at the moment - vending capsules come in a variation of standard sizes from as small as 1" to as large as 4" - i know these Becker Minis fit very nicely into a 2" capsule with a lot of room to spare.
i haven't tried it yet - but i bet they would fit into a 1 1/2 & 1 3/4 too.
the one pictured with that black reaper looks like it may be a 1 incher - though i could be wrong. it might have been crammed in there.
ive seen it so many times were prizes have been crammed into capsules - leaving them bent & warped as a result.
am i playing the devils advocate? maybe.. but i don't want to give up on the idea that these somehow made their way into gumball machines too
Quote from: horrorhunter on April 12, 2017, 01:50:39 PM
My Spooky Surprise collection so far:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3948/33841605932_2ee9ea500e_b.jpg)
Toy Ranch had several of his Becker figures listed on eBay for $25 each, and I believe they all sold. As scarce as these things are I think that's actually a cheap price for them. They are far harder to find than the MPC Weird Monsters they're based on. Fair market value on these things in nice condition may be 2 or more times what those sold for. They almost never show up on eBay, and that's an indication something is really scarce.
Quote from: horrorhunter on April 12, 2017, 01:50:39 PMMy Spooky Surprise collection so far:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3948/33841605932_2ee9ea500e_b.jpg)
While the Becker
Spooky Surprise grab bags all included a
Magic Tricks card:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/(edited)_Checklist_04_8VjZFLtbVpozNaH8RqZuR8.png)
Sometimes they were red though as opposed to a bluish purple!
The paper grab bags also featured these nifty tattoos on the backs:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/(edited)_Checklist_04.png)
It appears that the same tattoos were also on the backs of the
Funny Monsters grab bags:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/(edited)_(edited)_Checklist_02.png)
Cards such as this one were also included in the
Funny Monsters grab bags:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/(edited)_Checklist_03.png)
cl:)
A large part of Becker's business was similar grab bags with various themes. Lonnie Cummins has catalogued many of these grab bag issues including Willie Whistle's Bubble Gum Surprise (1950's), Grab Bag Surprises (1960's), Elephant Jokes (1962), Funny Monsters (1960's), Spooky Surprise (1960's), Wild West (1960's), Combat (1967), Make Your Own Silly Signs (1972) and Baseball (1972) plus cards for Football, Funny Animals, Secret Agent, Space Age, Christmas Puzzles, Military and 3D Circus Stand Ups which may have been issued as part of their own series of grab bags or simply a component part of another issue such as Grab Bag Surprises. Here are some pictures:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/WildWest_14.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/IMG-20211027-225650976-2.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/beckerwrapper003.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/beckerwrapper004.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/beckerwrapper002.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/beckerwrapper006.jpg)
The L.M. Becker Company's products were only distributed regionally in and around Wisconsin though. As a result, the company's products are not widely known and the collector base for the various Becker card sets isn't deep. Little about the various card sets is known.
:-\
Quote from: Hepcat on December 31, 2023, 12:46:46 AMA large part of Becker's business was similar grab bags with various themes. Lonnie Cummins has catalogued many of these grab bag issues including Willie Whistle's Bubble Gum Surprise (1950's), Grab Bag Surprises (1960's), Elephant Jokes (1962)....
Here are a couple of samples of the Elephant Jokes:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/b5.jpg)
;D
Here's a group shot of several different Becker Grab Bags:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/IMG_2316.jpeg)
First time I saw three of them!
;)
Love those graphics!
Someone got a great deal on this eBay auction lot containing one of the scarce Becker MPCish Mini Monsters (1 1/2" tall).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335753533114
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WvMAAOSwQPtndYfS/s-l1600.webp)
The lot sold for only $15 + $6 sh with 1 bid. It was poorly listed with no mention of "MPC", "Spooky Surprise", or "L.M. Becker" in the title, so anyone looking for these with saved searches never even knew about this listing. I have all three Becker Mini Monsters so I passed on bidding, but if I needed a Becker Witch, I would have bid.
It's hard to say what the FMV of the Becker Mini Monsters are, probably around $40-$50 considering their scarcity, but the winner of this auction got the Witch for next to nothing since the other lot items (Etta the Ghoul Sharpener, 3 Best Plastics Monster Flats in what may be '60s silver color, and gumball charm) are probably worth close to the lot price.
And, yes, the Witch is undamaged except for minor scuffing. Becker Witches never had the shoulder bat like their MPC sisters, just as the Skeleton had no bat and the Creature of Doom had no scythe. Those small bits were left off of the sculpts probably because they wouldn't have molded properly.
Here's a video I did covering the MPC Weird Monsters and related items (which includes the Becker Mini Monsters).
Quote from: horrorhunter on January 08, 2025, 02:21:04 PM(Etta the Ghoul Sharpener, 3 Best Plastics Monster Flats in what may be '60s silver color, and gumball charm) are probably worth close to the lot price.
$15! I'd say! Don't think I ever saw the flats in silver?
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 08, 2025, 08:15:34 PM$15! I'd say! Don't think I ever saw the flats in silver?
I was considering the total price with shipping and tax at around $23, but you're right those extra items are probably worth more than that. A lot of Best Plastics Flats have sold pretty cheap recently, but the silver ones should be worth more than what the common repops sell for. The Etta Sharpener is probably FMV $10-$15 these days. So, the buyer got a pretty good deal.