Yonezawa Astro-Scout

Yonezawa Astro-Scout

The Astro-Scout has a more accurate "3" from the Space General Corp. suit on its chest panel. The helmet has been changed to resemble more closely a Robbie the Robot dome. The familiar astronaut face still peeks out from the dome's window. The figure's body paint is a lighter, silvery-blue. 

Yonezawa Astro-Scout Box

The box features the Astro-Scout facing left instead of right (see the X-27 above) with the words "Wind-up Friction Powered" across the top. The landscape is similar... I could see these two boxes sitting next to each other on a shelf, creating a single diorama effect. Once again the arms are shown blue on the box, rather than red, and the number "3" on his chest is in a yellow, rather than a blue background found on the actual toy. The Yonezawa "Y" logo is used here, with "Made in Japan" and "A Frankoma Toy" on the opposite, bottom corner. Perhaps this variation was distributed through a different channel. 

Images from the out-of-print book Robots: Tin Toy Dreams : T. Kitahara Collection published by Chronicle Books (and available via the link at left from Google Books).

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

Yonezawa X-27 Explorer

X-27 Explorer

This is probably the most accurate representation of the Moonsuit by Yonezawa. This, along with the Astro Scout below, came out in the late 50's. The X-27 is actually a fairly good homage to the actual suit, other than the color-scheme and chest appliance. I like how Yonezawa was able to maximize the design into two different toys. They both still retain an unique appearance, even though they share many of the same toy components.

X-27 Explorer Box

he X-27 Explorer is "Friction Powered" and the box has a painting of the suit/astronaut walking on a planetary surface with a moon in the blue sky background and a flying saucer. Apparently the chest panel was changed, as the artwork reveals a different panel with colored lights, as apposed to the TV screen and speakers on the figure itself. The box also shows the X-27 with blue arms instead of red, and a red cap on the top instead of the solid blue of the toy. The Yonezawa "Y" wrapped in "Trade Mark" and "Made in Japan" are in one bottom corner, with "Item No. 805" in the other. 

Images (above) from the out-of-print book Robots: Tin Toy Dreams : T. Kitahara Collection published by Chronicle Books (and available via the link at left from Google Books).

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

Japanese Tin Moon Suit Toys

Yonezawa Astro-Scout

In the early 1960s, Japanese toy manufacturer Yonezawa created at least two variations of the Moonsuit as tin wind-up toys. I've included scans of images here for reference, taken from the wonderful, out-of-print book Robots: Tin Toy Dreams : T. Kitahara Collection published by Chronicle Books (and available via the link at left from Google Books). This really superb reference features all-color (and some black and white), pictures on coated-stock and is an excellent reference for the robot or tin-toy collector. The images included here are from my paper copy, page 37.

Yonezawa X-27 Explorer

This is probably the most accurate representation of the Moonsuit by Yonezawa.

Yonezawa Astro-Scout

The Astro-Scout has a more accurate "3" from the Space General Corp. suit on its chest panel.

MS398 X-27 Explorer Reproduction

Chinese reproduction of the X-27 that showed up in 2001.

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

Louis Marx Toys Bell Suit Figure

Marx Astronaut Figures

The Marx produced figure came in three pieces with the base figure surrounded by the two halves of the bell suit. It came in several space playsets, and there were two that could be based on similar designs (the other was designed for JPL as a concept and looked more like a 50 gallon drum - you can see it in the bottom image). I've included several images...the figures are about 2 1/2 inches in height and could come in several colors and combinations. I've only seen the suit in silver, gray or white plastic, however, so it may only have been included in the earlier playsets such as the Operation Moonbase (image below).

Marx Operation Moon Base Playset Box

Silver plastic Operation Moon Base Astronaut Figures

Marx Astronaut Figures in White

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

50 YEARS OF RESEARCH The Second Decade: 1955-1964

Dressing For Space

"In February of 1961, what the well-dressed space explorer might wear on the moon is modeled using an integrated space suit. Designed by Allyn B. Hazard, the suit is a rather awesome 8-feet high with twin antennas sticking from the helmet, rubber encased arms and legs, a hefty circular midriff, and identification and ground lights. The researchers say that like a skin diver, the moon explorer will have to carry his earth environment with him, including food and liquid, a communication system, and power supply."

Click here to read the entire 50 years of Research article. (the Moonsuit pic and paragraph are halfway down the page).

Many thanks to MMM list member BJ West for directing me to the UCLA site and this previously unseen image.

There is more information from JPL's own files, provided by David S. F. Portree on his website Romance to Reality (unfortunately the links I had to the author and website are defunct).

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

Life Science Library - Man and Space, 1964

Life Science Library - Man and Space, 1964 Cover

This is a really wonderful Life Science Library book, part of the Life Science Library series of hardcover books intended for young adults and as family reference. Of the entire set, this is the most interesting to me as it contains some really great Life photography of man's exploration of space. Since it was published before the first Moon landing, the photographs and artists' renderings are mostly speculative, are based on current Mercury/Gemini technology, and incorporate a lot of science fiction elements. This is to be expected, as Science Fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke and "the Editors of Life" are listed as the authors.

The first black and white moonsuit photo is used as the opening image for chapter one: "The Dreamers and the Doers." (see below for photo and caption "Attired for Space").

The book goes into depth on propulsion, rocketry (with some great renderings, diagrams and history), proposed vehicles including the Nova class, the various US and Russian space programs/projects, and most important to us, proposed moonsuit designs.

Attired for Space

"A technician tests a space suit in simulated moon conditions - a Mojave desert lava cave. By the time the first deep-space voyagers actually depart, tens of thousands of tests will have been made, so that every conceivable exigency can be met and overcome. For example, this suit allows its wearer to pull his arms inside for the vital luxury of scratching an itch." 

Trends in Space Fashions

"Buck Rogers needed little protection on his comic-strip planets, but Wiley Post's 1934 suit anticipated real space conditions. The Mercury pressure suit was mainly for cooling since the capsule was pressurized. The projected moon suit is intended for wear over several weeks."

At Home on the Moon

An advance scientific base using specialized LESA (Lunar Exploration System for Apollo) modules might resemble this scene. In the foreground is a shelter LESA with bunks and showers on the top floor, supplies and generators below."

I included this pic with the accompanying caption as the suited figure in the foreground looks like a typical Major Matt Mason figure in his space suit. Also, the Station could be a model for the Major Matt Mason space station (imagine the station wrapped in a tin can!)...note the chair, the round hole in the floor, the shelves, etc. 

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.

Moon Suit Souvenir Coin

I came across this oddball in an eBay auction. I ended up getting outbid on the coin and the description was very lacking so I don't know its dimensions or origin. It's still interesting, though, that someone somewhere decided that a commemorative coin needed to be made! It has "Made in Guatemala" and "By Peter Pan" on the face, so it may have been a peanut butter giveaway. 

All images, captions and content are Copyright © 1997-2023 John Eaton unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton, by clicking here.