D C Thomson free gifts - the 1960's

[alanultron5]

YES!! Hen, I bought that `solicitation` That's where the photo comes from - its taken from my Sparky File! I bought it-along with specimen copy (near mint) along with the `Flying Snorter"

Thank you for putting the `Rip Snorter` Hen; never seen it except when I first bought the comic in 67! Have you many Sparky's?

You asked about keeping balloons moist- just put a little bit of baby oil inside the Balloon and `very` gently massage it so it gets right around the insides! Also, puff a bit of baby talc on outside of balloon! Has worked for me!

How long had it taken you to acquire your Sparky Gifts hen? So far, in about 7 years collecting, I have eleven!

[alanultron5]

Oh yes! hen asked about the second Balloon on the `Squeezy Wheezy` my recollection is that it was dark blue and the rubber was a bit thicker -this was necessary when `squeezing` I think!

Having the bags that gifts came in can be vital as certain gifts could be identical to those in other comics! I thought that the "Flying Snorter" (with Sparky no 1) "Rip Snorter" (Sparky No 140) and "Sky Squeaker" (Sparky 315) all came in brown bags! Maybe i'm wrong!

One strange thing to note is 1972 (sparky) gift "The Whoopee Whistle" as advertised in the comic- the bag it comes in terms it the "Lug Buster" but you won't see it referenced that title anywhere else! Strange!

[alanultron5]

Just spotted the "Sky Squeaker" photo - FANTASTIC!! My recall correct on that one- it `did` come in a bag! I'm sure the other balloons did-but you know how memory (well-mine!) can be.

[Lew Stringer]

One strange thing to note is 1972 (sparky) gift "The Whoopee Whistle" as advertised in the comic- the bag it comes in terms it the "Lug Buster" but you won't see it referenced that title anywhere else! Strange!

I remember that difference. (I still have the whistle but not the bag.) I'd guess that perhaps the bag was printed before the comics and then editorial had a change of mind, thinking 'Lug Buster' was too violent a term to put on the comic itself? Just my theory.

[Kashgar]

1966 Free Gifts

In 1966 Thomsons published 689 issues of 13 different juvenile titles which between them included 29 free gifts. Dandy, Beano, Beezer and Rover & Wizard contained no gifts at all.

!966

Topper

No 678(29/1/66) The Kelly Crackshot Pistol
No 679(5/2/66) Super Boomerang

Bunty

No 458(22/10/66) Bunty Bracelet
No 459(29/10/66) 2 Lucky Charms (Horseshoe, 4 Leaf Clover)

Hotspur

No 362(24/9/66) Red Flash Glider
No 363(1/10/66) The Hotspur Boomerang

[Kashgar]

1966

Judy

No 314(15/1/66) Lovely Gleaming Golden Chain
No 315(22/1/66) Golden Heart Pendant

Victor

No 261(19/1/66) The Victor Football Game (my own personal favourite gift as a kid)
No 262(26/1/66) 66 Motor Cars of !966 Booklet
No 263(5/3/66)-265(19/3/66) 3x14 colour photos for booklet

Bimbo

No 251(12/2/66) Pip the Penguin Glove Puppet
No 252(19/2/66) Funny Face Balloon
No 283(13/8/66) Baby Crockett Glove Puppet
No 284(20/8/66) Bimbo's Patch-a-Picture Book of Nurseryrhymeland

[Kashgar]

Diana

No 158(26/2/66) The Coronet Ring
No 159(5/3/66) The Smarty Comb for go-ahead Girls
No 187(17/9/66) The Pearly Blue Ring
No 188(24/9/66) Top Secret Diary

Hornet

No 123(15/1/66) My Own Diary of World Cup Football
No 124(22/1/66) The Hornet Wallet of Top Cup Teams + 4 photos
No 125(29/1/66)-126(5/2/66) 2x4 team photos for wallet

Sparky

No 60(12/3/66) The Sparky Spinner
No 61(19/3/66) The Crack Bang
No 86(10/9/66) Tweek Squeak
No 87(17/9/66) Bizzy Buzzer

[Hen Broon]

Photos of 1966 Hornet comic free gifts.
Kashgar there were four free gifts from Hornet in 1966
#148 - 09.07.66 - World Cup Scorebook.
#149 - 16.07.66 - World Cup Badge.

[Hen Broon]

Photos of Victor , Hotspur & Topper comic free gifts 1966

[Hen Broon]

Photos of 1966 Sparky comic free gifts

[Hen Broon]

Photos of 1966 Bimbo comic free gifts

[Hen Broon]

Photos of 1966 girls comic free gifts.

[Hen Broon]

Alan well done in getting that Sparky flyer it's very nice would love one do you have many of the pink 4 page flyers ? I only have two #1 flyer and the one for #403/4 .

I put baby oil on one of my balloons years ago and it melted so that put me off but many of my ballons are getting that bad i might try it again.

I don't think the Flying Snorter and the Rip Snorter came with envelopes/bags but i could be wrong if anyone has one i would appreciate a photo.

I have been collecting comics about 20 years and free gifts about 15.

[Kashgar]

Thanks again for all the illustrations Hen and for reminding me of the other Hornet gifts which I carelessly overlooked when compiling the list.

[alanultron5]

Hen! I had no trouble at all with baby oil on my balloons (Gosh! What a double -entendre that could be!) If doubtful, just try the talc- you can puff it inside too! About the Pink Flyers; I have all Sparky ones bar that for the 1970 gifts of "Rub-A-Dub" balloon & "Flicker Pics"

Ray! you asked how I was able to get such data on Sparky's launch! Well, you see the two `Solicitation cards` Hen got photo from my file and put on this thread? The smaller square shaped one-has those details on the reverse side! As for the Telly costs- I used to attend (In the late 1980s) a Archive Telly group called "Kaleidoscope" who put on archive shows in a Room at Stourbridge Library first Saturday each month. One of these had a hour of archive ads (Including Bunty's "Mermaid ring") I found out there that late 50s- early 60s advert rates were £30.000 for each 30 secs of adverts to the new franchise rounds of summer 1968 when rate went up to £50.00 each 30 secs!

Now! when collecting comic ephemera- it is these advertising `Solicitation` cards of which I have those two advertising Sparky's launch! Most comics free gifts promotions would have these sent out to larger Newsagents! I have photos (not too clear) of two more Sparky `Solicitation` cards on my `File` These came from the Peter Rice site who put photos up of the cards he had for sale (the 1972 sets photo just too blurred) I offered to buy these from Peter rice- but he then told me he could not find them - nor on subsequent enquiry has he located them! DOH!!

Such cards were never on sale to the public. I only got my set for Sparky's launch because the sellers Father owned shop in London and he had a near mint specemin Sparky No 1 (With Flying Snorter) plus these cards for sale! And even though I already had a fine Sparky No 1 with `Snorter` For the cards, I had to go for it! Cost = £495. These cards are `RARE`.