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Here's where it gets confusing. Corgi say that the two versions were released in the same year (1969), but they're not sure which came first or whether both were available at the same time. Some other sources claim that the red hatched edition didn't go on sale until 1971, but the original '69 box had a picture of the sub on the back with white and yellow hatches, respectively, if that's any indication of sequence. I once thought my jumble sale acquisition had red hatches, but this may have been due to the fact that when I bought my '90s models, they had red hatches and this may have 'coloured' my memory. (Good one, Gordie.)
When I recently bought the white and yellow hatched version from the Corgi Shop, it seemed familiar, so it's always possible the one I had in the '60s/'70s was the same. Either way, I've got both versions now - the Corgi Model Club red hatched version and the Corgi Shop white and yellow hatched incarnation, as well as my two '90s reissues. There was a slight problem with the '90s model, in that when you released the hatches, they sprang back and the stem/hinge hit the metal behind it, which chipped the paint on the hatches over repeated use. I took one apart and affixed something to the insides to prevent this happening, but I'm glad to report that Corgi has now remedied the flaw in the current versions, though they may've done this a few years back.
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| Contrary to the box's claim, the periscopes rotate, not bob up and down |
The '60s original said Corgi Toys on the base (and Made In Gt. Britain), the modern reissues since the '90s have no raised country of origin on them (they're made in China) and sport the Corgi dog symbol along with the name Corgi (and The Beatles Yellow Submarine logo). That'll be because they're not regarded as toys for kids these days, but models for the 'adult collector' and nobody under the age of 14. (When did 14 year-olds become adults?) The Corgi Shop version has the 'levers' painted black, the CMC ones are unpainted as per the originals.
Did you have a Yellow Submarine when you were a kid, Crivs, and were/are you a Beatles fan? Which one of these two versions do you prefer? And, while you're here, why not reveal what your top three favourite Beatles songs are? Don't be shy now, tell all your fellow readers what you think in our comments section (before I die would be nice).
22 comments:
I never had this model as a kid, I remember seeing it and thinking it was a strange idea for a kids toy. Of course not being aware at that time it was aimed at Beatles fans as a collectable. I do like the Beatles fav songs are:
In my life
Ballad of John and Yoko
I want to hold your hand
Originally, in the '60s, it was really just intended as a toy for kids, McS, hoping to benefit from the popularity of The Beatles. It wasn't until it was reissued in the '90s that it was aimed at collectors and has continued as a collectable to this day. You got a preference in regard to the hatch covers?
I like the songs The Fool On The Hill, Eleanor Rigby, and Yellow Submarine. (Regarding that last one, I just can't think of any other of their songs at the moment - brain fog.)
That Yellow Submarine wasn't a toy I ever had. Those submarines you put tablets in, to make them descend/ascend (?), however, my brother did own! They were fun, without a doubt!
3 Beatles songs? Very hard choice - but 'In My Life' sprang to mind immediately. Also, 'Here Comes the Sun' ( the original version's so much better than Steve Harley's butchering of the song.) The Beatles original - and most associated sound - is represented either by 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', or the jangley 'She Loves You'. Very hard to choose. I'll go for the latter!
Phillip
Yellow Submarine was one of the first pop songs I was aware of because we used to sing it in school. I remember being around five years old and sitting cross-legged on the floor while we sang Yellow Submarine and Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - no doubt we sang plenty of other songs as well but I particularly remember those two.
Choosing three favourites is difficult but I'll go with...
Across The Universe
The Long And Winding Road
Hello Goodbye
I've got a small sub, given away with a cereal, that you put baking soda in to make it descend/ascend, P. Was that the one?
My brain's on holiday at the moment, CJ - I just can't think of any other Beatles songs apart from the obvious ones. I remember the plastic wigs though.
No, Kid - much bigger. The special tablets the sub needed came with it, in the box!
Phillip
Now that I think about it, P, I may actually have one of them lying around somewhere. Or something similar, but I do remember them.
Grist for a forthcoming Crivens post perhaps, Kid!
Phillip
I think I already did one on the cereal submarine, but I'd have to find where I've stashed the larger one (If, indeed, I have it) before I could do a post about it, P. Never say never though, eh?
3 favourite beatles songs
A day in the life
I want you (she's so heavy)
Blackbird
By the way although I'm not a great lover of cover versions I thought the Steve Harley version of Here comes the sun was brilliant.
I think I'd heard the Harley version before I even knew it was a Beatles song, but I'm not 100% sure, AL. I'll have to dig out my Beatles CD and remind myself of some of their songs, 'cos I probably only listed Yellow Submarine because I couldn't recall any others - beyond Love Me Do and She Loves You.
I prefer the red hatched version. I've never owned a Yellow Submarine but I instantly remembered around 2004 McFarlane Toys issued a few Beatles products which I saw in Home Bargains but sadly never bought.
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Box Set 2004 McFarlane Toys | I Remember These https://share.google/Su6o59CUC8cLeQWEO
I couldn't pick out 3 Beatles songs at this late hour but I can tell you that my favourite album is the Love Songs compilation. The music, the lyrics, the harmonies all go to show why we are still talking about The Beatles 60-odd years later.
Took a look at the link, M, and the McFarlane sub looks more like what I imagine the cartoon version to look like, though I've never actually seen it aside from a few clips many years ago. I now don't know which Corgi version I prefer, but as I have both, I don't have to make a choice. I've also got a small Mattel one, still in its blister pack and it's very nice.
I've just heard about the death of Norman Eshley who played the snooty neighbour Geoffrey Fourmille on George & Mildred - funnily enough Brian Murphy who played George died only a few months ago.
Yeah, I read about Norman Eshley on the Internet earlier today, though I thought Brian Murphy had passed ages ago, CJ. It was Sheila Fearn, who played Terry Collier's sister in The Likely Lads and its '70s sequel, who was Jeffrey Fourmile's wife in George & Mildred.
Ray Brooks, the narrator of Mr Benn, has died aged 86.
You killing these people off, CJ? (Heard already on the news.)
Ray Brooks must have been the last remaining of those narrators from the '60s and '70s. There was also Oliver Postgate, Eric Thomson (Magic Roundabout), Bernard Cribbins (Wombles), Richard Briers (Roobarb), Richard Baker (Mary, Mungo & Midge), Arthur Lowe (Mr Men). Have I forgotten anybody?
John Le Mesurier narrated Bod, Brian Cant did Trumpton, Camberwick Green, and Chigley, Peter Hawkins did Captain Pugwash and Bleep and Booster, and no doubt there were others that escape me for the moment.
Brian Cant did come to mind, Kid, but I couldn't recall what he'd narrated! Anyway those you mentioned are all deceased so Ray Brooks does seem to have been the last of them.
The ones you mentioned are all deceased, CJ, so I merely listed some of those you'd forgotten in response to your question. There may be others we've both forgotten.
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