#76 UNKNOWN TOYMAKER – INFLATABLE TENT & CAMPING SET (Around 1977)

Another bootleg toy, I know there are people who enjoy them as much as “legit” ones.

I found this toy in a flea market together with the “Goddess of the Ultra Cosmos” that I already presented in this blog. Since it was cheap, I bought it too.

Differently as in the previous camping tent, this one is inflatable. It is made of a similar vinyl plastic than the one by Mattel, but this one is easier to mount and cheaper to produce. It includes 17 pieces, but I only have 12 of them.

• Tent
• 2 sleeping bags
• 2 backpacks
• Boat with 2 rows
• Diving equipment (googles, flippers, snorkel)
• Barbecue
• Fishing rod and fishing net
• First-aid kit
• Binoculars

This toy is obviously made to profit from the success of other toy lines like Big Jim or Adventure Team, which were very popular at the time. It the typical toy that looks great as a gift, because it is big and includes many parts and accessories, it is also cheap (specially in comparison to a “real” Big Jim set), but it lacks of quality. As stated in the box, it is “scaled to fit all male action figures”, curious that with “male”. I guess it means, all those action figures for boys, although Barbie dolls would also fit very well here. A similar set seems to have been available at the time.

Picture found on the internet

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: INFLATABLE TENT AND CAMPING SET
• Alternative Name: CAMPING SET AUFBLASBAR (German)
• Toy Line: -
• Year: Around 1977
• Company: Unknown
• Size: Approx. 25 x 25 x 25 cm
• Scale: 1:8