To my surprise, I now am the proud owner of this, a Canadian “The Legend of the Lone Ranger” set of the Ranger and Silver by Gabriel Toys but distributed by Irwin Toys. Irwin was known as Kenner Canada and was a big deal around these parts.

I don’t collect the Lone Ranger lines, but I can’t remember when I’ve seen such an item in Canadian Packaging.  While the found “The Legend of the Lone Ranger” somewhat forgettable, I also have massive affection for this well-made toy line. 

However, what truly sold me on this piece was the back.

I will admit that I was unaware that the free Western Town Promotion was valid in Canada, but that it was that rather off sticker that clinched it for me.

The sticker indicates that this came from Consumer’s Distributing, a chain of “Catalog Showroom” shops that dotted the Canadian landscape until the late 1990s. I have a lot of fond memories of that store, especially giving the clerks fake names they had to yell out as a kid. I’m pretty sure they knew my name wasn’t Zaius.

Sadly I do not own the 1981 Consumers Distributing catalogue (#lifegoals) but I do have one from it’s another Canadian catalog firm (and equally fondly remembered) Shoprite.

It’s crazy how a simple price sticker can push nostalgia buttons like this…

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That’s why we created Toy-Ventures magazine, an old-school print publication dedicated to vintage toys from the 1960s to the 1990s. Each issue is packed with never before seen images and information written by some of the top collectors. We’ve got 7 issues and climbing; please check our page here or visit our store.

Our latest book is “Knock-Offs: Totally Unauthorized Action Figures” a love letter to cheeky copyright-infringing toys. You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop, On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or eBay (eBay Link)

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Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

Gabriel Toys The Legend of the Lone Ranger
#toyventures #loneranger #actionfigures

The post Canadian Legend of the Lone Ranger two pack appeared first on PS.

CHiPs was the major player for 1982, Fleetwood managed to get a lot of mileage out of the motorcycle cop goodness.

While Legend of the Lone Ranger wasn’t a box office success, the character itself still sold toys. Fleetwood was able to create a variety of toys thanks to the abundant tooling available in Hong Kong for wild west toys.

The adventures of Colt Seavers made for some terrific rack toy potential. The Fall Guy license allowed Fleetwood to sell anything.

– 1982 Fleetwood Catalog Rainbow land

Even though SGT. Fury comics didn’t sell as well as superheroes he got oodles of merchandise. It’s not surprising he was a big seller, plastic army men rule! Look at that Kirby-Esque artwork.

The Topps Wacky Trucks are amazing and I want a set.

Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 6- PlaidStallions

Issue 6 of Toy-Ventures ships next week, order now from our shop and get a free Star Team Poster by legendary artist Dave Waugh!

Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

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FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass!

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs of Mego action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman! It’s a really fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoy, and other generic greats.

Remco Energized Spider-Man

The post 1982 Fleetwood Toys Catalog- BJ and The Bear, Fall Guy, Marvel appeared first on PS.

In 1977, Marx Toys launched the Ready Gang, a beautifully detailed line of 9″ action figures from the old west with little to no back story (Seriously, are these guys, outlaws, or good guys? I guess it’s up to the kid?) and it lasted two years before fading away.

My best guess is the line’s intention as additional characters to the popular Gabriel Toys Lone Ranger line. However, this is very late for Western action figures, making it somewhat curious.

The series consisted of three characters, the Sundown kid, Ringo and Trooper Gibson.

Their designs seem influenced by “Spaghetti” Western films, particularly Sundown and Ringo. Trooper Gibson is a rarity as most Western toy lines did not feature people of colour.

Marx Ready Gang

Marx went all out on this line, creating horses and a western town for the Ready Gang. These toys sold well enough in 1977 to warrant a proposed expansion to the range in 1978, including new characters, horses and a wagon. It was, however, not meant to be, and the Marx Ready Gang would fade away after two short years.

If you like Western action figures, check out the amazing Fighting Furies gallery here on our site:

Matchbox Western Fighting Furies Page

PlaidStallions Action Figure Archive

We have a new book out called “Knock-Offs: Totally Unauthorized Action Figures” it’s a 132-page tribute to bootleg toys.

You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

Order Rack Toys 2.0 Here through our Affiliate Link►https://amzn.to/3Bkm9z1

Toy-Ventures Magazine is our newest creation, an old-school print magazine about vintage toys! Professionally laid out and written, each issue is brimming with obscure and rare toys from companies such as Mego, Kenner, Remco, AHI, and much more. Monsters, Superheroes, Adventurers, Knock Offs, Apes, and so much more, it’s in Toy-Ventures.

Toy-Ventures Issue 5 is available now:
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Amazon Affilitate Link:https://amzn.to/3d9Q0AS

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass!

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs of Mego action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman! It’s a really fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoy, and other generic greats.

The post 1977 Marx Ready Gang Catalog appeared first on PS.

I was sent these wonderful ads for the Iconic Gabriel Lone Ranger Toy line from the United Kingdom (Where the line enjoyed long-lasting success). The craftsmanship that Marx (The UK distributor) put into these is rather joyous. This toyline had a whole universe of characters, horses and outfit sets, it really would be a chore to collect them all.

One of the things I love about the Gabriel Lone Ranger line is the villain characters, you got the big bad Butch Cavendish but also “scurvy compadre” El Lobo and the wild card character, Red Sleeves!

Check out the 1977 Gabriel Lone Ranger Catalog here

1977 Gabriel Lone Ranger Catalog 

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Toy-Ventures Magazine is our newest creation, an old-school print magazine about vintage toys! Professionally laid out and written, each issue is brimming with obscure and rare toys from companies such as Mego, Kenner, Remco, AHI, and much more. Monsters, Superheroes, Adventurers, Knock Offs, Apes, and so much more, it’s in Toy-Ventures.

Toy-Ventures Issue 5 is available now:
Ebay: https://ebay.us/XSS1X7
Plaid Stallions Store: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop/
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3d9Q0AS

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass!

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs of Mego action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman! It’s a really fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoy and other generic greats.

The post Gabriel Lone Ranger Ads from the UK appeared first on PS.

The Lone Ranger toyline is easily one of the nicest action figure lines of the 1970s if not all time and Gabriel Toys had some real long-running success with it.

This 1977 Catalog is the third year for the line and shows that it was still going strong, Gabriel put a lot of effort into this catalog and it truly showcases how nice this line really was.

The way these figures held their guns was epic.

Let’s have a better look at that lovey store display

Oh man, such a lovely display.

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #1 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

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The post 1977 Gabriel Lone Ranger Catalog appeared first on PS.