Busy Bodies Knight
Action Figure
1970s (manufactured)
1970s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figure of a knight was produced by Mettoy Playcraft Ltd., probably at their manufacturing headquarters at Fforestfach, near Swansea, South Wales. It is made from coloured plastic, slotted together and pivoting at the shoulders and waist, and is an example from the 'Busybodies' range of toys, which Mettoy manufactured throughout the 1970s to compete with the German Playmobil range of toys, which was similar though smaller. By 1978 the range was made up of a number of different series, including space, army, an emergency team, wild west, knights, road builders, winter sports and divers, with also a show jumping and school classroom gift set. A range of vehicles and other equipment and accessories was also available for each series.
The packaging for this particular example differs from the usual backing card and bubble packaging that this range of figures were usually sold in. In adition, the presence of the pennant advertising other Mettoy Playcraft ranges suggests that this object was produced as a promotional item. This object could therefore have been given away to retailers or prosepctive clients at trade fairs.
The packaging for this particular example differs from the usual backing card and bubble packaging that this range of figures were usually sold in. In adition, the presence of the pennant advertising other Mettoy Playcraft ranges suggests that this object was produced as a promotional item. This object could therefore have been given away to retailers or prosepctive clients at trade fairs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Busy Bodies Knight (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plastic, moulded and slotted together and paper, printed |
| Brief description | Toy knight in box, plastic, British, 1970s |
| Physical description | Plastic figure of a knight in a clear plastic box. The knight has a black plastic body, hair and feet, with red plastic arms and legs. He is wearing a white plastic sword belt and ruff around his neck, and has stylised facial features printed in black onto a pink plastic head. He is wearing a helmet, holding a long halberd and carrying a pointed shield (a kite- or heater- shape), all in silver plastic. It is held in place by a red elastic band. The shield has a printed sticker on its face showing a stylised black eagle with orange beak on a yellow ground. A red paper pennant is attached to the halberd by a metal staple. This has various text printed on it in black and white relating to other Mettoy Playcraft products. The box, which is oblong in shape, consists of a clear plastic base and top, attached to sides of a more flexible clear plastic. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr. T. Mitchell |
| Object history | This object was mass-produced in Swansea, South Wales by Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. in the 1970s. The range was produced to compete with the Playmobil range, and is also very similar to the German Play-Big range of toy figures and equipment, manufactured by Big Spielwarenfabrik GmbH & Co KG. By 1978, the Busybodies range consisted of a number of different series, including space, army, an emergency team, wild west, knights, road builders, winter sports and divers, with also a show jumping and school classroom gift set. A range of vehicles and other equipment and accessories was also available for each series. It was acquired by the owner's uncle, but never given to the owner, who found it in his uncle's attic after his death. |
| Historical context | The packaging for this particular example differs from the usual card and bubble pack that this range of figures were usually sold in. In adiition, the presence of the pennant advertising other Mettoy Plaything ranges suggests that this object was produced as a promotional item. It could therefore have been given away to shopkeepers, or possibly at trade fairs. |
| Summary | This figure of a knight was produced by Mettoy Playcraft Ltd., probably at their manufacturing headquarters at Fforestfach, near Swansea, South Wales. It is made from coloured plastic, slotted together and pivoting at the shoulders and waist, and is an example from the 'Busybodies' range of toys, which Mettoy manufactured throughout the 1970s to compete with the German Playmobil range of toys, which was similar though smaller. By 1978 the range was made up of a number of different series, including space, army, an emergency team, wild west, knights, road builders, winter sports and divers, with also a show jumping and school classroom gift set. A range of vehicles and other equipment and accessories was also available for each series. The packaging for this particular example differs from the usual backing card and bubble packaging that this range of figures were usually sold in. In adition, the presence of the pennant advertising other Mettoy Playcraft ranges suggests that this object was produced as a promotional item. This object could therefore have been given away to retailers or prosepctive clients at trade fairs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.257-2011 |
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| Record created | March 28, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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