MPC Monsters Appreciation Thread

[horrorhunter]

 

Have you had any problems with your original Pop-Tops breaking because the plastic became brittle over time? The reason I ask is because I've heard that several collectors have had this problem.

I've never experienced brittleness with any of my Pop-Tops and I have all 4 sealed 2-packs as well as all 8 loose ones from when my parents bought them new for me in 1964. I also had several dupes which I sold on eBay last year that were also mine since the '60s. Those things got thrown around in my toy boxes for years until I reclaimed everything when I returned from the Army in '88 and not a single one of them ever displayed the slightest hint of brittleness.

[Hepcat]

I've never experienced brittleness with any of my Pop-Tops and I have all 4 sealed 2-packs as well as all 8 loose ones from when my parents bought them new for me in 1964.... Those things got thrown around in my toy boxes for years until I reclaimed everything when I returned from the Army in '88 and not a single one of them ever displayed the slightest hint of brittleness.

Interesting.

[Allhallowsday]

Have you had any problems with your original Pop-Tops breaking because the plastic became brittle over time? The reason I ask is because I've heard that several collectors have had this problem.
...

Yes.  I have a couple of sets of the Weird Monsters and a few Pop Tops left, but sold most of what is in those pictures.  I had the carded Weird Monsters, and all four of the two-fer Pop Tops with no problem.  However, the carded set of eight Pop Tops got to its destination with one head that had been on a sprue loose in the package.  The Executioner is probably the easiest to break.  Two of mine lost their heads; I have only the third one left now and hope he hangs together.   

[horrorhunter]

 

Yes.  I have a couple of sets of the Weird Monsters and a few Pop Tops left, but sold most of what is in those pictures.  I had the carded Weird Monsters, and all four of the two-fer Pop Tops with no problem.  However, the carded set of eight Pop Tops got to its destination with one head that had been on a sprue loose in the package.  The Executioner is probably the easiest to break.  Two of mine lost their heads; I have only the third one left now and hope he hangs together.   

I wonder if the brittleness on some of them should be attributed to slightly different mixes of plastic, or storage conditions (light/humidity), or a combination of both? I know some of my Pop-Tops came from the 8-pack because I remember my parents buying that one for me when I was 5 in 1964. It could be different plastic mixes because MPC's quality control left something to be desired. I hope your remaining ones last for you.

[Hepcat]

I know some of my Pop-Tops came from the 8-pack because I remember my parents buying that one for me when I was 5 in 1964.

Wow! Lucky you.

[Allhallowsday]

I wonder if the brittleness on some of them should be attributed to slightly different mixes of plastic, or storage conditions (light/humidity), or a combination of both? I know some of my Pop-Tops came from the 8-pack because I remember my parents buying that one for me when I was 5 in 1964. It could be different plastic mixes because MPC's quality control left something to be desired. I hope your remaining ones last for you.

I think you have something there regarding different mixes, but remember I had an unopened set of eight and one head came off during shipping... too much jostling I guess. 
What's left include three Pop Top skeletons one in each color and a set of Weird Monsters all earmarked to keep (for now).  I also have six (I think) of original Pop Tops (with that one Executioner) and a seventh Mexican black Vampire who is not fragile.  I hope they all hold on. 

[horrorhunter]

Wow! Lucky you.

Yes, my parents didn't have much extra money but they were very good to me.

Here are some of the things I remember owning as a child:

MPC Haunted Hulk
Remco Hamilton's Invaders 17 pc. Sears Playset
MPC King Kong Jungle Set
Johnny 7 OMA (One Man Army)
Mattel Creepy Crawlers and Fright Factory
Ideal Batman Justice League Sears Playset
MPC Beetle Bailey Camp Swampy Playset
Marx Prehistoric Times #3394 Playset
Marx Electro Shot Shooting Gallery
dozens of Marx UniMons and Nutty Mads, MPC Weirds, Pop-Tops, and Daffy Daddy-Ohs, Palmers
hundreds of MPC toy dinos, jungle animals, toy soldiers, cowboys & Indians, etc.
hundreds of comics and monster mags
just about every Captain Action item
just about every Hot Wheels item including Sizzlers and Hot Birds
most of the G.I. Joe items (12")
several games, Monogram models, gum cards, gumball charms, etc...

I've replaced the things I care about the most. I wish my parents had kept some duplicates of this stuff unopened in a closet somewhere. It would be worth a nice chunk of change today. 

[horrorhunter]

Here's an interesting eBay auction for a Pop-Top 2-Pack that ended surprisingly high considering condition:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-MULTIPLE-TOYS-POP-TOP-HORRORS-WITCH-EXECUTIONER-MONSTER-SET-MINT-IN-PACKAGE-/142258204043?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8uWcWgvJT7S5JYWXcbJKxuajGdw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc



The Witch is broken and has the head IN the neck socket. Even though the seller lists it as never opened it must have been opened for the head to be attached like that. Pop-Tops were always sold with the head attached to the side of the body. This is an example of brittle Pop-Tops. $280.55 pls shipping...amazing. The seller also sold two other 2-Packs with condition problems, one of them for nearly 400 bucks. 

Here's the one that ended for $394.89!:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-MULTIPLE-TOYS-POP-TOP-HORRORS-VAMPIRE-SKELETON-MONSTER-SET-MINT-IN-PACKAGE-/142258204003?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8uWcWgvJT7S5JYWXcbJKxuajGdw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc



It isn't bad but there are loose pieces of plastic floating around in there. Looks like the two pieces that originally attached the head to the body, not sure what's holding it on now.

Wow, there were some energetic bidders for these. 

[horrorhunter]

Here ya go, gents. MIP (except for Bennie) set of Daffy Daddy-Ohs for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ultra-rare-boxed-sealed-1964-MPC-DAFFY-DADDY-OHS-Nutty-Mads-Weird-Ohs-Blame-Its/351983233139?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41393%26meid%3Dbdc0ded3bfa44dca870c10fd61eb0690%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D332133473766



Maybe I'll reach into petty cash and pop on it myself...not. 

All kidding aside, it is a nice example of a rare set of toys in original packaging. In this case however, the seller is quite optimistic with his pricing. Fair market value would be considerable, just not that considerable. I would think around $1K-$1.5K would get me interested IF I had that kind of money to throw around...which I don't. Still nice to see though. 

[Hepcat]

Here ya go, gents. MIP (except for Bennie) set of Daffy Daddy-Ohs for sale:



All kidding aside, it is a nice example of a rare set of toys in original packaging. In this case however, the seller is quite optimistic with his pricing. Fair market value would be considerable, just not that considerable. I would think around $1K-$1.5K would get me interested IF I had that kind of money to throw around...which I don't. Still nice to see though. 

I agree. It's a fabulous item but wayyyyy overpriced. It would be a very rare, very highly motivated buyer who'd be willing to pay that asking price.

[Hepcat]

Here is a completed eBay auction for a boxed Haunted Hulk.

Here are a few more shots from different angles of the Haunted Hulk box:

[horrorhunter]

This loose MPC King Kong sold for $100 at eBay auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MPC-Play-Set-King-Kong-1967-from-Animated-Cartoon-Magnet-Hand-8-034-VG-/252908992840?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8uWcWgvJT7S5JYWXcbJKxuajGdw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc



It's a fairly nice example. Noted defects are a small crack in the plastic near the magnet which seems to be fairly common, and a bit of red paint on the face. The feet seem to be in good shape. Often the heels on these are dented in or have holes in them because the plastic is a bit thin there.

[horrorhunter]

This Dragon Crest playset sold for a surprising amount: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Dragon-Crest-Play-Set-with-16-Glow-in-the-dark-MPC-Monsters-Castle-Knights-/332201207256?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8uWcWgvJT7S5JYWXcbJKxuajGdw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc



$237.50 seems like a lot to me for this set from the '80s. I know it contains 2 sets (16) of the MPC Monsters in green/glow, and a complete playset in nice condition probably should be in the $200 range, but even for MPC this is very cheaply made. It has none of the style or pedigree which makes the '60s MPC Monster toys special. It's based more on Dungeons & Dragons than '60s Monsterboomer stuff, and it's a very poor representation of the Fantasy Role Playing Game genre. I'll probably never go after one of these things, and if I did it would have to be very cheap- like $100 or less. This just isn't part of my MPC Monsters.

[horrorhunter]

This is one of the most ridiculous eBay listings I've ever seen.     

http://www.ebay.com/itm/142387556388?ul_noapp=true



The seller lists it as brittle. True that the Daffy Daddy-Ohs are much more scarce than Nutty Mads, but they only sell for around $100 in nice condition. The seller lists it as "for display purposes". LOL!!! Yeah, I want to proudly display a pile of brittle pieces of plastic... 

Hard to believe what some people try to squeeze money out of. 

[horrorhunter]

Haunted Hulk with original box sells for $2K.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MPC-Toys-HAUNTED-HULK-MONSTER-PIRATE-SHIP-in-ORIGINAL-BOX-w-SHRINK-WRAP-/311874787324?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=8uWcWgvJT7S5JYWXcbJKxuajGdw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc



The shrink wrap is removed from one end of the box. The box looks dirty inside and out. The ship is dirty and looks worn, and has no monsters (usually it came with 2). The decals on the sail look very worn. It's obvious this ship was removed from the box for an extended period of time and put back in this original box. It may not even be the same ship that originally came with this box. This listing started as an auction (min. $999.99) with a Buy It Now for $1,999.99. The buyer used the Buy It Now.

In today's marketplace maybe this one is worth 2 grand. If that's true then one that is really sealed with nice packaging that presents well would be worth much more, maybe double what this one sold for.

If I were the buyer I would pull that box out and clean everything up, straighten up the rigging and wheel, add a couple of vintage MPC Monsters, and generally make this thing displayable. Then, carefully slip it back in the original shrink wrap. Not many of these around. I hope the buyer makes it presentable and we eventually get to see net pics of the result.