Control Tower, Toy, Rocket Port, Space Patrol

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
Louis Marx & Co.
Summary
This control tower forms the centerpiece of an elaborate multi-piece Space Patrol Rocket Port set based upon the ABC-TV weekly half-hour series titled "Space Patrol," which ran from 1950-1956. It was manufactured by Louis Marx and Company, located in New York City, which also produced Flash Gordon branded merchandise in the 1930s. Fort-based playsets took advantage of the existing production of Western toys, which could be repurposed with new designs to appeal to space-minded youth. The figurines that could be played with in such a set represented spacemen and aliens.
Michael O'Harro, a collector, donated the tower--and the entire playset--to the National Air and Space Museum in 1993.
Credit Line
Gift of Michael O'Harro
ca. 1950-1956
Inventory Number
A19970665000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture
Materials
Tin
Paint
Dimensions
3-D (Control Tower): 30.5 × 16.2 × 28.1cm (1 × 6 3/8 × 11 1/16 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19970665000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv95abf27c9-4fae-4d60-8ed0-a950715735cc
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View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
Blue, black and red metal control tower surrounded by plastic figurines and fencing
Aerial view of the control tower playset. Blue benches and gray oxygen tanks on the ground. Blue space vehicle outside the fencing.
Aerial view of the control tower playset. Blue benches and gray oxygen tanks on the ground. Blue space vehicle outside the fencing.
Aerial view of the control tower playset. Yellow Space Patrol logo visible at entrance of fencing.
Front view of the control tower playset. Blue tower rising up from behind whitish fencing.
Close up view of a blue carlike space vehicle with MARX where the license plate should be. A red man in a space helmet is pointing a ray gun at the driver. Other figurines surround the vehicle.
Close up view of silver, gray, and blue figurines outside of the fencing. Two gremlin-shaped figures, a silver human, and a tall green figure.
Close up of three blue figurines in space helmets and astronaut suits.
Close up of a blue, black, and red metal control tower. Red rocket logo on taller tower.
Close up of a blue, black, and red metal control tower. Yellow and red weapon on shorter tower.
Close up of the fencing interior. Blue and gray shelves and furniture along with silver figurines.
Close up of the fencing interior. Blue, red, and gray oxygen tanks and rockets, complete with figurines.
Close up of three blue figurines next to red and gray rockets.