Barry sheen toy

[smokejumper]

Does anyone remember a BARRY SHEEN motorcycle toy that launched very similar to the EVEL KINEVEL stunt sets.

I believe it was around in GB about 1978

I know I had one but trying to find so much as an acknowledgement of its existence is proving impossible.

PLEASE HELP!

[HG]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Like this one on ebay?

eBay.com.sg: BARRY SHEENE SUZUKI RG 500 1977 SCALE 1:12 RARE (item 150334314719 end time Mar 30, 2009 21:45:52 SGT)

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Thanks for the response Herr Grunwald, the toy I am searching for is based around the same bike as the one in the link You sent but it is dipicted with a plastic Barry rider and is launched from a ramp with a winding handle that powers the bike , very similar to the Evel Kinevel toys of the 70s.

[rossobantam]

Re: Barry sheen toy

getting closer

Vectis




also:
not what we're after, but worth posting anyway.....by Berwick Games:

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Excellent find Rossobantam,by far the closest yet.

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Hi everyone, thanks for trying to help with My quest to find the elusive barry sheen toy. If it helps I have done some research and found that it is most probable that this toy was purcased between christmas 1976 and christmas 1979 in Doncaster and further research shows that there was probable 4 points of purchase as follows.

CUTRASSES TOYS DONCASTER

D C EVANS MODELS DONCASTER

ZODIAC TOYS DONCASTER

ARGOS DONCASTER

The top 2 listings were indipendent toy shops in Doncaster there for makeing Zodiac Toys and Argos the more likely point of purchase.

Many thanks , please keep trying.

[rossobantam]

Re: Barry sheen toy

one of our members - Ziksby - worked at Zodiac, so if he's around then he might be able to confirm if they stocked it

ps you live in Doncaster now Smokejumper??

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Thanks rossobantam, yes I do live in Doncaster, why?

[rossobantam]

Re: Barry sheen toy

err see the right hand side of my posts ...I'm from Donny too! (Rossington to be precise)

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Well there You go, lesson for a newbie, read the posts on the left and the info on the RIGHT!
Cheers ROSSOBANTAM

PS I am origionally Carcroft but now Balby.

[ziksby]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Hi Smokey,

It couldn't have been Zodiac as we didn't trade in Doncaster until 1981, when we took over the Youngsters shop on the top level of the Arndale Centre and re-branded all their branches. The shop was completely refitted in Autumn 1982 (photo below taken on opening day - I'm far right holding balloons).
So perhaps it was Youngsters. I don't remember the item in question, so I don't think it was sold in the rest of the Zodiac chain in the 70s. For more on Zodiac visit my website at www.freewebs.com/zodiactoys

Incidentally I lived in Doncaster in 1966/7 (6 Regent Square) when I was an assistant manager with Woolworth in Baxtergate. I remember following an old lady who had been shoplifting and confronting her when she reached the market. She set about me with her umbrella and quickly drew a crowd, who told me to leave her alone. I beat a hasty retreat.

[rossobantam]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Great pic Roger!

Love your site The photos in the album...pristine condition; I presume these were taken at an 'opening event'?

I mourn the loss of all the non-Toys R Us toy shops....so little choice anymore (and so much less excitement for kids surely)


ps battling old ladies....that's good old Donny for you....should have made a version of it like Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

[rossobantam]

Re: Barry sheen toy

ooh got a bit excited then..on one of your photos (11) I spotted the Airfix Super Gyro

As an avid collector of ALL things Airfix, it was great to see. Did Zodiac stock much of the Airfix range? If so, just toys , games? What about model kits, and the boxes of soldiers?

(ps oh and did Zodiac ever stock Subbuteo?)

Dave

[smokejumper]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Cheers guys, some great info and a good old chuckle. I had totally forgotten that the Zodiac Toys sop in the arndale was previously Youngers.
I have fond memories of that shop under both titles, EG the launch of Zodiacs Roller boots in white and blue that appeared to take over the streets.

[ziksby]

Re: Barry sheen toy

Dave,
We were not regular Airfix stockists in the way that many hobby and model shops were, but for many years during the 70s we took a lot of clearance stock from Airfix which always sold quickly. In the kits we never had more than a 3ft wide bay display. We carried Airfix boxed soldiers occasionally, but we had our own imported ranges from the Far East. With the rise of TV promoted action figures in the 80s, demand for Airfix merchandise slumped; kids were much more into Masters, Transformers etc.

We never stocked Subbuteo except for the Youngsters takeover stock which we cleared straight away, along with Hornby and and other specialist stuff.