OT Search for old toy

[casey thrower]

I found this message on the internet and it's the same question I have had for years:

"Sorry for the off topic post, but I have been trying to identify the
name and/or manufacturer of a toy I had as a child. It consisted of a
toy ship (I think a battleship) about a foot to 15-inches long,
powered by batteries. The ship had a pressure plate on one side which
activated a "mouse trap" like device inside which would cause the ship
to "explode" - well at least several ship parts would fly in the air.
The ship would move accross the floor in a rolling side to side
motion. The other half of the set was a submarine (non-powered) which
would fire tropedoes at the ship and try to hit the pressure plate. I
believe there was some sort of primitive sighting windo in the sub for
the kid to look throught before firing. Both vessels were made out of
a fairly thick injected molded plastic.

I found the picture in one of those compilation books of "Boys Toys
from the 19XX's" but it does not list a name or manufacturer. I have
tried searching eBay, but the usual hits are some very old versions
made out of wood. Thanks"

[hakkikt]

That type of toy is

That type of toy is even older. My father had one in the war as a boy, it was called "U-Boot torpediert Kreuzer" (U-boat Torpedoes Cruiser) and worked along the same principles. Just that the "cruiser" and the "U-boat" were both made of wood and did not move.
I wrote a short article about it for the SCR some time ago.

[casey thrower]

The one I'm looking for

The one I'm looking for came out in or around 1970. It was made by Mattel or someone like them. Seems like I had the only one because I've found every type toy I've ever had on Ebay except this one.

[boss subfixer]

Casey,
Just a suggestion but try

Casey,
Just a suggestion but try going to your favorite book store and look for a book on antique collectible toys. Don't do it on line because you want to browse the book to make sure the toy is in it or you could end up spending a lot of money. That should answer the who, what and allow you to do a better search for the where. You could even try emailing some of the big toy companies and see if they come up with anything. Just a thought if nothing turns up here. Good luck.
Don

[tom dougherty]

Is this it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-TOY-SUBMARINE-TORPEDO-EXPLODING-SHIP-Unique-Old_W0QQitemZ180218652709QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Is this it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-TOY-SUBMARINE-TORPEDO-EXPLODING-SHIP-Unique-Old_W0QQitemZ180218652709QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

[casey thrower]

Is this it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-TOY-SUBMARINE-TORPEDO-EXPLODING-SHIP-Unique-Old_W0QQitemZ180218652709QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

That's what it

Is this it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-TOY-SUBMARI...ayphotohosting

That's what it does, but the one I'm looking for is 1970's and plastic.

[crazy ivan]

Actually Casey, they were around

Actually Casey, they were around in the late 50's - early 60's too, but I'm not sure if that version had a motorized ship. I saw them in the local toy departments as a kid. The submarine used in the set had previously been sold as a standalone item, and I had one of those subs. It was a slim hull, maybe a foot long, with 4 small wheels embedded in the bottom to roll on. It had a single spring loaded torpedo tube in the bow, as well as a net cutter molded on the deck. The stern tapered to a point and, if I recall correctly, the upper half was molded in grey and the lower half in red. It was one of my favorite tub toys! I want to say it was made by Mattel, but I couldn't swear to it.

Not having the exploding battleship, I made my own version from an old Revell PT Boat kit. I broke the topsides into several pieces, reassembled them on top of the hull (which had a real moustrap inside) and..... POW!!! What fun. Just a hint of what was to come in my adult life, I guess.

[bob_eissler]

There have been several different

There have been several different ones thru the years and there will probably be another one eventually. Mine came from Sears in about the same time period, made of plastic, not too detailed. Mattel or Ideal? had a bigger one if I remember right. I'll have to remember to take a picture of mine. I have a collection of tin & plastic submarine toys. One day I should bring them to the Sub reggatta or do an article.