30's and 40's
Europeans have long been involved in imagining space. From the great novels of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells to the famous 1908 French silent movie "A Trip to the Moon" by George Melies, European writers, artists, and scientists have given form and direction to our longing to experience and understand the vast immensity of the universe. It was German scientists, working for the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. after WWII who spearheaded the the American rocket program and then the space race between the Soviet Union and the U.S. In 1965 France launched its first satellite, "Diamant A," which was followed by England's "Prospero" in 1971. Long before this, however, European popular media had become enamored of stories with space themes and chronicled the adventures of dashing space heroes, many of whom became the inspiration for the countless toy ray guns made throughout Europe beginning in the 1950s.
Although ray guns were produced in most European countries, they have been seldom imported into the United States. Thus, unlike Japanese ray guns, which were often made for and imported in quantities to, the U.S., European space guns are not commonly found by American collectors. Of European ray guns, the most often available have been those from England, and they form the bulk of the toys presented in this section. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT, OR PICTURES OF, EUROPEAN RAY GUNS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Ray Guns from England
An astonishing variety of toy ray guns have been produced in the England. Some, like the Interplanetary Crackerjet which used the same molds as the Renwal Planet Jet, have been reproductions of toys first popularized elsewhere. Others, like the Atomic Jet-Gun by Crescent which was modeled on the Hiller Atom Ray, have adopted an existing concept to brilliantly improve and elaborate on it. And a few guns, like the Dan Dare gun by Lone Star, have themselves established classic models which have then been copied throughout the rest of the world. Like toy ray guns everywhere, many in the U.K. have been marketed in conjunction with popular space heroes like Dr Who and Ace Hart. One of the names most frequently associated with toy ray guns has been that of Dan Dare, the central character in the English comic strip Eagle which was first published in 1950.
For another source on toy rayguns from the U.K. visit Ian Kill's Homepage.
Click here to vist the Ray Guns from Europe.
Dan Dare Cosmic Ray Gun
One of a number of guns promoted in connection with the comic book character Dan Dare, this toy, also known as the Venus Mark VI, is perhaps the most beautiful. Produced in the early 1950s by Palitoy, it features an open-fretted, back-swept grip and a rakishly-angled gun site. This is one of the most delicate looking and aerodynamic toy ray guns produced.
Atomic Water Pistol
This tiny four-inch plastic water pistol is one of the most unusual and delightful toy ray guns ever made. The gun was merchandised on a card which promised that the gun was "guaranteed to atomise all space invaders." The design of the barrel reflects and repeats the rounded contours of the gun's rubber squeeze bulb, creating a remarkable study in simple curvilinear design.
Atomic Jet Gun
Modeled after the famous Hiller Atom Ray Gun, the Atomic Jet is one of the rarest and most beautiful toy ray guns made in the U.K. Wonderfully reductive in its design, it incorporates a torpedo-shaped water chamber, a curving ribbed grip, and an unusual protruding trigger.
