Eaton’s 1975: Big Jim and Barbie

Eaton’s 1975: Big Jim and Barbie

Eaton's 1975: Big Jim and Barbie

Over the weekend, I found a wonder 1975 newspaper flyer/catalogue from Eatons. For those not in the know, Eaton’s was Canada’s department store chain and a really big deal back in the day. When I saw these images, I felt like I’d seen them before and immediately bought this (best ten bucks I’ve spent in a long time). I’ll share more pages from this but this one particularly resonated with me.

I was ALL ABOUT Mattel’s Big Jim at this time, I had many of his sets and like a lot of kids that Sports Camper was a birthday gift that year. However, the big memory here was figuring out that Mattel was using Barbie tooling to make Big Jim toys. The Big Jim Sports Camper was Barbie’s Country Camper, his Sky Commander plane was the Barbie friendship. I think at the time I felt like I had really uncovered something, a toy conspiracy, not realizing this was obvious to anyone with eyes.

None of this deterred me from enjoying Big Jim.

Check out this awesome Big Jim Catalog from 1975

1979 Italian Big Jim Catalog

1979 Italian Big Jim Catalog

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Knock-Offs book

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

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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:
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Toy-Ventures Issue 5

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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

About The Author

Mantooth
AKA Brian Heiler author of "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" and co-editor of "Toy-Ventures Magazine". Co-Host of the "Pod Stallions" podcast. Host of the Brick Mantooth Youtube channel, painter, designer, writer, mental health advocate, toy collector, Mego, and Mego Knock-Off enthusiast. I have large feet, ADHD and I live in Canada. Talk toys, not others.

2 Comments

  • Umbratikus on February 17, 2022

    I wonder if Big Jim figures would have fit in Ken’s clothes? Had I known about the shared tooling back then (I wasn’t as smart as you, Brian), I might have expanded Jim’s, Jeff’s, and Warpath’s wardrobes. Of course, Ken was kinda wimpy. Jim’s muscles might have gotten in the way.

    • Mantooth on February 24, 2022

      Yeah Ken’s clothes are kinda tailor made to his tall and gangly physique. Also, Big Jim doesn’t have time for sports coats! 😉

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