This Patrol Ship spaceship toy from 1934 was merchandise for Buck Rogers, the popular space-based adventure series. Rogers first appeared in Philip Francis Nowlan's story "Armageddon 2419 A.D." published in the pulp magazine Amazing Stories in August 1928.
When John F. Dille bought the character for a comic strip, National Newspaper Service president he suggested renaming him "Buck" to capitalize on the popularity of Westerns. The Buck Rogers comic strip (written by Nowlan and illustrated by Dick Calkins) debuted in 1929, followed by a color Sunday strip in 1930 and a radio program in 1932. This toy represents the main character's own ship. According to advertisements from 1934, winding this Louis Marx action toy allowed its owner to imagine traveling "through the inter-planetary void in a miniature model of Buck Rogers' famous Rocket Ship."
Collector Michael O'Harro donated this toy to the Museum in 1993.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture
Manufacturer
Louis Marx & Co.
Dimensions
3-D: 31.8 x 10.2 x 12.7cm, 0.5kg (12 1/2 x 4 x 5 in., 1lb.)
Materials
Tinned iron, Aluminum, Celluloid, Rubber, Ferrocerium
Inventory Number
A19970685000
Credit Line
Gift of Michael O'Harro
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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