Japanese King Kong Wind-Up?

[jerod]

I've had this for quite a few years, but still can't positively  identify it. It is marked "Made in Japan", but that's it.

Anyone seen one before; is this a 1960s-era Toho Kong or just a generic "ape"?    Any information appreciated.

[Monolith]

I haven't seen that particular toy before, but it looks like it could be Goro from the 1966 Japanese TV show Ultra Q. I don't know how old your toy is , but they still make Goro toys today and I've seen others that look very similar. Ultra Q was created by Eiji Tsuburaya who's known better for his work on Godzilla and Ultraman. Goro was a giant monkey played by an actor in a suit, similar to the Toho King Kong. Does he have a tail? Goro had a tail, Kong didn't of course.

Here's an example of a Goro toy...

[jerod]

Thanks Monolith! Aside from differnt color scheme (and lack of tail), they do look like the same character.
The stickers looks very vintage and could easily be late 60s-70s. I'll look more into Goro.

[jimm]

Very cool!

[The Mighty Bongo]

Goro was a giant monkey played by an actor in a suit, similar to the Toho King Kong.






Goro was more than just similar to Toho Kong, for Goro, Tsurabaya used the actual King Kong suit from King Kong VS. Godzilla.
He made a new head, and added the tail, and POOF ! instant monster !

[RedKing]

Exactly Bongo. Many monsters from Ultra Q were recycled Toho monsters. Even Godzilla was utilized as the monster Gomess from episode 1 heavily disquised under scales,fangs,horns,fur and new oversized clawed paws.

[Unknown Primate]

Really cool, no matter what it is!

[Richard]

Last time I posted was June of 2011 so I guess I'll get one in before 2012 is over. Been looking at this "Kong" post a bit. I know nothing~can only offer some info about where I obtained my example of this wind up. Never was sure what it was.

There is/was (?) a store called Hudson Bay (?) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In the 60s, my folks used to camp at Falcon Beach outside of Winnipeg (We seemed to go to Canada a lot back then~easy trip from Northern Minnesota). There was a display of these wind-ups in toys. Someone set up the lizard and monkey as I'm showing in my picture. Chance? Intentional? Who Knows? At the time, I thought "King Kong vs Godzilla" right away as I was really "into" that movie (had the Ideal Godzilla Game at home already). I know this ain't Godzilla. And maybe not Kong. But in '66 (or whatever year this was), it was the closest I'd ever seen to KK & G. These wind-ups have been with me ever since.
My last picture shows another purchase from Winnipeg. I think 1968 or thereabouts. A couple of Marx bicycle metal "license plates" with big G on them. I also had Supercar, Man from Uncle, a couple others (half of them were from my brother). All were sold in Toy Shop paper long ago. But the Godzilla plates remain.






Richard

[jerod]

Wow Richard, that is indeed the exact same figure as mine (aside from the color palette). Nice backstory and it's cool you still have them.

[darkmonkeygod]

My last picture shows another purchase from Winnipeg. I think 1968 or thereabouts. A couple of Marx bicycle metal "license plates" with big G on them. I also had Supercar, Man from Uncle, a couple others (half of them were from my brother). All were sold in Toy Shop paper long ago. But the Godzilla plates remain.


Richard

You've gotta post more often, please! I've been trying to get one of those Godzilla plates for decades and it's fantastic to hear the story. A number of people have speculated that those plates were not available in the States, but only the UK due to some licensing issue. While what you've relayed only brings it to North America (and Canada, being under the Queen would have been covered by such licensing, I dunno that Marx had such a sophisticated distribution chain then - but you never know), it's super cool to have your first hand account.

I've seen a number of super-hero and animation character plates from Marx over the years, do you know if they ever made anything else monster related? In my hunt for Godzilla, I was once told there was a Kong, but my BS meter rang pretty high upon hearing it.

As always, great thanks!

[Richard]

Thanks, Shannon!

I remember, we got all the plates in Canada. So UK availability makes very good sense (Canada/UK). Yes, you'd think these would be in the good ol' USA too. I guess the only real way to determine that would be postings from others (waaay down South folks, for example) who saw these/purchased them in US stores at the time. I agree with you, it's funny Marx would make these and not have USA distribution.

As to "Kong"~ no, never ever saw one. NO OTHER monsters, either. But, who knows? I'd bought a King Kong if available at the time. There were Super Hero/villan plates, yes. My brother Randy and I passed on those. I sold everything in Toy Shop magazine (except Godzilla) so tried to find images of what I sold. I found a paper I printed with only one image. So, I'm posting that (took the pic with my IPhone so blurry). The "Man from U.N.C.L.E." was red with the "Uncle" logo. That's what I remember.

Richard

[darkmonkeygod]

Stingray! Oh man that is cool! I forgot to ask, did your Godzillas come bagged? I've seen Marx Marvel character plates in bags with illustrated headers, but no others (and all totaled the sample I'm talking about is under twenty plates period, but I don't research 'em as obsessively as other things. 

[marsattacks666]

Really cool Godzilla.

[jerod]

Found this image from Hepcat in another post that includes the Goro figure; though like me looks like he took it to be Kong:

[Richard]

Found this image from Hepcat in another post that includes the Goro figure; though like me looks like he took it to be Kong:

Those are displayed items from my monster room and that is the very same "Kong" figure I've pictured here earlier in this thread (The figure got moved to this display shelf).