Pick your favourite monster flicker rings!

[YoungOnce]

Also... even after reading the various articles you guys have linked, I still am unclear about which flicker rings are "authentic". The article from Joe Statkus leads me to believe that anything without Hong Kong imprinted on the tines is a 1980's China release; that it was either a knock-off or an old flicker reglued to a newer base. But that still seems unclear to me. As an example... these monster rings that I first referenced seem to be a gumball machine release. These are I guess not released by Vari-vue? And so... would not have that Hong Kong embossed back? I also see a lot of other rings without the Hong Kong, but they are obviously old rings... it's hard to figure out. I've collected a lot of old stuff... flicker rings seem to be the most convoluted to figure out.

[Jim Bertges]

It's never a nuisance when talking about Monster Stuff, even it it's a topic we've been talking about for years. Feel free to keep us talking!

[horrorhunter]

Ha... I can help with traffic a little bit.  I've been a collector of 70's era toys for decades of pop culture stuff from my memories... Mego figures, lunch boxes, anything monster related (buttons, albums, comics, coloring books, puzzles... you name it...) In my "picking adventures", I started picking up Palmer Monsters, Ajax Archer Spacemen, Tomland figures, Ugly Buttons, Frito Lay mini-monsters, Soakys, etc... each new find sends me down a rabbit hole (like these flicker rings). I have a hundred questions about most of these things and I've been a "lurker" here for years. You guys are the best brain-trust I've seen for old monster stuff. I've wanted to ask questions, but I know I'm a novice in these older toys... and I din't want to be a nuisance.

Please pitch in and discuss the older stuff with us. This board used to be pretty busy with plenty of daily posts about classic monster items from people who have moved on for one reason or another. Ask questions, tell us about your collection, post pics, whatever. Discussion about monster items from the '60s and '70s is woefully thin around here anymore.

[horrorhunter]

Also... even after reading the various articles you guys have linked, I still am unclear about which flicker rings are "authentic". The article from Joe Statkus leads me to believe that anything without Hong Kong imprinted on the tines is a 1980's China release; that it was either a knock-off or an old flicker reglued to a newer base. But that still seems unclear to me. As an example... these monster rings that I first referenced seem to be a gumball machine release. These are I guess not released by Vari-vue? And so... would not have that Hong Kong embossed back? I also see a lot of other rings without the Hong Kong, but they are obviously old rings... it's hard to figure out. I've collected a lot of old stuff... flicker rings seem to be the most convoluted to figure out.

According to this post by Toy Ranch ( https://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?msg=201981 ) the only chromed rings that were reproduced are the "V" base rings.

Also, according to Worthpoint the "Cartoon" monster rings you inquired about initially were made by Vari-Vue. I would go with that unless something else comes up to call it into question. Vari-Vue made lots of gumball (vending) machine rings, for example the Universal Monsters flicker rings were sold in gumball machines with the Casper rings and those are all by Vari-Vue.

[YoungOnce]

According to this post by Toy Ranch ( https://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?msg=201981 ) the only chromed rings that were reproduced are the "V" base rings.

Also, according to Worthpoint the "Cartoon" monster rings you inquired about initially were made by Vari-Vue. I would go with that unless something else comes up to call it into question. Vari-Vue made lots of gumball (vending) machine rings, for example the Universal Monsters flicker rings were sold in gumball machines with the Casper rings and those are all by Vari-Vue.

Thank you HorrorHunter!  Great info.  I'm starting to get my bearings with all this great help.

So... according to Toy Ranch, original Vari-Vue V bases are marked with either Hong Kong or nothing. 1980s V bases will be marked with China.

[horrorhunter]

Thank you HorrorHunter!  Great info.  I'm starting to get my bearings with all this great help.

Toy Ranch posted the real info. I just dug it up. You're welcome though. UMA is full of info like this, it's just hidden in a huge cloud of chaos. There is a great Search function though. You just have to run down leads using the Search function then play detective and dig up the goods.

[YoungOnce]

Toy Ranch posted the real info. I just dug it up. You're welcome though. UMA is full of info like this, it's just hidden in a huge cloud of chaos. There is a great Search function though. You just have to run down leads using the Search function then play detective and dig up the goods.

Thanks anyway though for the trouble!  Hey... if I can ask... is that you on YouTube with the videos regarding Palmer, MPC, Best Plastics flats, etc...? If so... I've worn those videos out.

[horrorhunter]

Thanks anyway though for the trouble!  Hey... if I can ask... is that you on YouTube with the videos regarding Palmer, MPC, Best Plastics flats, etc...? If so... I've worn those videos out.

I made YT videos about those monster toys. Here's one on MPC Pop-Tops.

I'm glad you enjoy those and are getting some use out of them. Thanks!

[YoungOnce]

I made YT videos about those monster toys. Here's one on MPC Pop-Tops.

I'm glad you enjoy those and are getting some use out of them. Thanks!

Yes!  I've watched them several times. The figures... the buttons... the tours... they have been very informative and just doggone fun to watch. That's where I learned about where the different colors of the Marx Monsters and the years they came out.... thanks for making those!

[horrorhunter]

Yes!  I've watched them several times. The figures... the buttons... the tours... they have been very informative and just doggone fun to watch. That's where I learned about where the different colors of the Marx Monsters and the years they came out.... thanks for making those!

I appreciate it.

I found that by making the videos I was able to enjoy collecting even more by completing playsets and different sets of similar toys. Also, the videos are a great way to catalog the items in a collection. By doing them as sort of tutorials I not only increased my knowledge of the items, but it made an easy way to check out certain things in my collection by just skimming through the video instead of moving a bunch of things and having to go through the original items (like playsets) every time I needed to double check something. Also, I don't have to repeat the research again if I forget a detail or two. I still like to physically check out my stuff but having it on video is a convenient option sometimes. And it's cool to make them public so other collectors can get some use out of them.

[Hepcat]

Probably because there's nothing much left about old toys that we don't already know.

Truth! I don't have too many things to say these days that I've not said several times previously.

 

[Hepcat]

Just a sad observation... remember when there was actually some interesting traffic on this board? It seems like it's about dried up, and most of what's left is about new toys. I miss the old UMA.

I agree! In fact it was just over three years ago that another UMA member actually asked me whether I had any interest in monster toys/collectibles simply because I didn't show any interest in the figures released these days:

Btw, do you collect  monster stuff??  I dont recall you ever posting anything from your collection?

 

[horrorhunter]

Truth! I don't have too many things to say these days that I've not said several times previously.

 

The material for conversation is still there for things we enjoy collecting. Also, I think there are still many unknown facts about vintage monster items, at least lesser-known info and some things we might need to have our memories jogged on a bit.

I agree! In fact it was just over three years ago that another UMA member actually asked me whether I had any interest in monster toys/collectibles simply because I didn't show any interest in the figures released these days:

 

I've missed your frequent posting since I've again been active on UMA in the last few months (I couldn't log in for around 2 years due to a weird glitch that was resolved with the fairly recent UMA shakeup).

Re: new figures as far as I'm concerned, I collect a few but I'm mostly interested in figures of characters I don't already have several versions of. My main focus in toy collecting will always be monster toys from the '60s and early '70s though. Same for other items like comics and monster mags (including '50s), trading cards, posters, vending items, etc.

[horrorhunter]

Here's a pic of my monster flicker rings collection uncluttered by P-bucket crap:

Here's a couple of pics I grabbed off eBay of the display card for these "Cartoon" Monster Flicker Rings.