A QUESTION TO 'EXHAUST' YOU... TO RESTORE OR NOT TO RESTORE?

As you can see, the bold young bruin YOGI BEAR makes a comeback to this blog in yet more photos of my recent acquisition.  However, this time there's actually a reason apart from ownerly pride, and it's this.  First of all, I've tidied up the paint job on him and affixed an exhaust to the side of his scooter, held on by double-sided tape as I don't want to make the addition a 'permanent' feature at this time.

Some collectors will be horrified by my repainting some details of the toy, as it's generally acknowledged that this can affect the value of the piece.  That aspect doesn't concern me however, as I don't buy things for the investment potential, but just because I want them.  Also, unless an item is very nearly perfection personified to begin with, I like to add my 'stamp' to the thing when I'm repairing, restoring, or enhancing it.  In that way, it's my toy, not just a generic example.

As for the exhaust, later versions of the MARX scooter toy had exhausts which (going by the SPIDER-MAN and GOOFY photos at the foot of this post) look as if they plug into holes in the side.  I assume that Yogi was an early version, issued without one, but if anyone knows for sure, please let me know.  As I said, I've temporarily added one I made myself with double-sided tape, even if it's not an exact match.  Looks good though.

As you can see from the unretouched seller's photo of Yogi (below) before I did some work on him, the paint job was fairly crude.  (In earlier outings I 'tidied up' the photo digitally.)  Compare it to the picture at the top of the post to see the difference.  My own opinion is that if someone has the necessary skill to improve the finish on a poorly painted toy, then go for it.

So, what's your verdict?  Improvement or sacrilege?  If you have an opinion - or any information about Marx scooter toys in general - feel free to visit the comments section.

CLARK GOES SOLO - FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - PART SEVENTEEN...

All images copyright DC COMICS

Ah, what do I write about today, that I haven't already waxed both lyrically and eloquently upon in previous posts, in an excruciating, unnecessary and agonising amount of trivial detail?  Aye, there's the rub!

The puzzling paradoxes of time?  Done that.  The myriad mysteries of life, the universe and everything?  Been there.  The pleasant pursuit of happiness in the modern world?  Saving that for a rainy day. 

So what does that leave me?  H'mm, well, I could always write something about a comic or toy I suppose.

Let's talk about SUPERMAN #201.  I remember the day I first got this comic on a Saturday afternoon back in the '60s while on a trip 'round Glasgow's famous BARROWLAND market.  If I recall correctly, this was the same day I again saw the CECIL COLEMAN SUPERCAR toy, which I had first clapped eyes upon a year or two before in, of all places, the SAFEWAY supermarket in my local town centre.

On both occasions I was disappointed, as my parents wouldn't buy it for me, but later I was allowed to choose a comic from a stall selling U.S. comicbooks.  (Of course, there's always a chance I'm combining two separate Saturdays in my mind, but it's my story and I'll 'lie' if I want to.)  The comic I picked was Superman #201, and I recall walking around 'the Barras' with my nose buried in its pages.  I remember both stories in the issue, but in particular the back-up tale, which was drawn by either GEORGE PAPP or AL PLASTINO).

In fact, it's fair to say that I recollect the main story just as well, but I don't associate it with the crowded aisles of the Barras quite as much, for some strange reason.  (Perhaps I saved that tale for outside.)  The cover just screams 'Glasgow' to me whenever I look at it.

So there you are then.  Another favourite comic of the past, which I treasure for itself as much as for the memories it conjures up in the mazes of my mind.  Do you have any nostalgic associations with this particular issue which you'd care to share with fellow readers?  Then feel free to leave a comment.