Friday, September 26, 2014

How Rockets and Satellites Work (1968)



After so many toys it is time to return to a few more basic books.

Taylor, John W.R. Illustrated by Wood, John W. Rockets and Satellites work like this (4th edition). London : Phoenix House / New York: Roy. (71 p.) 26 cm. Cloth, DJ. 1968.




 The first half of the book is devotes to the history of rockets and their military use.  The second half concentrates on the history of satellites and man in space.  It does cover the Apollo program and future Moon base plans. . "Science Works Like This" series. See 1959 1st edition.





I still like all kinds of space art so the article trying to create accurate drawings is very beautiful. each article see space just a little differently.




 All of these are carried over from the 1959 first edition. The future shown in them still had not arrived so it was fair to suggest they still may come.



Surprisingly, some of the drawings that end this 1968 book show parts of our possible future that still may come. There is active work on ion rockets as a "slow but steady" way to explore the solar system.


Friday, September 19, 2014

Space Rockets (1958)



Toys in Space #7

The last of my Toys in Space posts.

This punch-out is really the earlier version of the 1961 Astronauts book. It is amazing how much changed in 3 years as the space program became a reality. I like the choices you have of different rockets. We have a Vanguard rocket, A U.S. Army Jupiter C, an X-17 rocket plane, and a "Bonestell/von Braun" 3 stage Z-1 heavy lifter. In addition we have a circular space station, a moon lander and a Sputnik.

Space Rockets to Punch Out and Assemble. New York: Golden Press. 1958. Giant Funtime Books


There is the X-17 rocket-plane, a "logical" extension of what was guess to be the first manned vehicle to get into space. Next to it is the Vanguard rocket.

 Compare these astronauts to the Mercury ones in the the 1961 book. I suspect that adding the Sputnik was their way of recognizing the space race.
 Observe the "Manned Satellite top and body" for the circular space station in this one
 And notice the Explorer-type (Jupiter C) satellite in this one and the "US Army" on the rocket. There still was no NASA.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Space Models (1960)





Toys in Space #6

Just a very quick book. There were only two space related models in here so I chose to give you a taste of them in the interest of posting all my punch-out books.

designed by Arnold, Arnold. Space Models: New York: Treasure Books.  1960. "A 3 dimensional push-out book."




Friday, September 5, 2014

A Rocket Trip to the Moon (1970)



Toys in Space #6

This Golden Book was also probably a re-print of a Japanese book. These beautiful models and machines remind me (and probably many of you) of Thunderbirds and other Gerry Anderson productions.



Russel, Geraldine Russell and Shiba Productions. A rocket trip to the moon. New York : Golden Press. 30 p. 27 cm.1970.


When looking at it I am astonished at the details they chose to include. The astronauts are a sort of nightmare Major Matt Mason bodies with strange doll heads.


I desperately want to own the model of this "moon buggy" Again the detail is wonderful.


The composition of this photograph is beautiful. The detail of the smoke in space is a small problem but maybe their rockets are dusty.

You cannot un-see the astronauts with giant heads!