Monday, March 11, 2024

The Train to Bedrock and the Future

 I shared several different pieces of Flintstones merchandise from the Marx company made during the show's original run back last month, and I am now back to share one I only learned of a few days ago. This item is a wind-up toy train that came in two different variations: Flintstones and Jetsons. Apart from the theming, the toys are essentially the same. See both of them below for comparison.



I think my favorite detail about these toys is the way they incorporate some of the more minor characters seen in both shows. For example, fan favorite Perry Gunite makes an appearance on the Bedrock Express. And how often do you see George Jetson's mother-in-law show up in merchandise? It's also fascinating to see these use some of the earlier versions of the characters, like how George is depicted with the cowlick that was seen in his model sheet, but never the series. In addition to that, Marx did a wonderful job making both look like they fit in their respective shows universe, rather than mere carbon copies. Even the littlest details between the two, like how the characters are displayed, are different. Overall, these are some real oddities among Marx's Hanna-Barbera toys, and among my favorite pieces they ever made.



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