Functions

All of the firing mechanisms are attached to the main rifle assembly – the pistol inserts from the bottom to offer the rifle grip (the pistol also holds caps for authentic firing sounds). The “Rifle” function shot 12 white bullets one particular at a time via a bolt action spring mechanism via the silver barrel. Three distinct “rockets” (The green Anti Tank, Anti Bunker and the red Armour Piercing fired by way of spring-action on the principal barrel. The Grenade Launcher was on leading of the gun. Johnny Seven also featured a bipod that offered stability for the several rockets and grenade. The stock could be eliminated to shorten the weapon even though in the “Tommy Gun” mode. The toy when totally assembled was above three feet extended and weighed about 4 pounds.

Grenade launcher

A grenade launcher is located on top of the primary physique, above the pistol grip.

The launcher extends upwards, and the spring loaded grenade is launched by depressing a button on the side of the rifle.

Anti-tank rocket

The red “Armour Piercing” missile is fired from a launcher positioned on the right of the body of the gun. The firing button is positioned underneath the launcher.

Armour-piercing shell / Anti-bunker missile

The two big green shells were fired from the front of the rifle immediately above the Rifle barrel. The firing button is on the left side of the rifle.

Repeating rifle

12 white bullets are fired from a fixed magazine on the rifle. The bullets are fed into the chamber by a spring loaded bolt, a single at a time.

Tommy gun

Pull the lever back towards the stock, press the release button and you get a “rat-a-tat” machine gun noise.

Automatic pistol

The cap firing pistol could be removed from the gun.

Bipod

A twin legged folding stand that could be retracted up into the primary gun body

Accessories

Topper also marketed an further spare amumunition pack (for the these lost bullets and missles) that comprised a full set of 4 Grenade/missiles and 12 bullets.

Extra toy accessories had been marketed underneath the “Johnny Seven” banner which includes a helmet and walkie-talkies. Deluxe Reading utilised the Topper Toys brand to add a contemporary flair to their new product lines. Deluxe Reading was well-known for producing huge package playsets that could be noticed by young children when viewing the top rated, unusable shelf in grocery retailer chains. By making huge, colorful boxes, the area could be utilised to marketplace to the young children that always accompanied mother and father while food buying. An uncommon marketing and advertising “trick” that worked effectively for Deluxe Reading and later copycat toy organizations this kind of as Remco. The “Johnny Seven” box came in two variations – a single a regular box showing a boy seeking through the sights of the gun, and the second (Uncommon now for collectors) showed a “Battle area” situation behind the mounted gun with a see via plastic lid. The Johnny Seven gun was manufactured in 4 countries, and in order of rarity for collectors purposes, they were Australia, the UK, Canada (in a two language box) and the US version.

Deluxe Studying

Principal article: Deluxe Studying

Deluxe Studying produced numerous memorable toys which includes the Johnny Lightning autos (comparable to Mattel’s Hot Wheels), the Crime-Buster Gun (similar to the O.M.A only geared towards youngsters play-acting cops and robbers), the Operation X-500 Area Base and other individuals.

In Well-known Culture

The toy was talked about by Myron Larabee in the 1996 holiday comedy film Jingle All The Way. It was talked about yet again as the Turbo Man was the very best toy given that the O.M.A.

Featured on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Detective Robert Goren finds one in a toy retailer, and demonstrates all 7 firing modes (Episode: Law &amp Order: Criminal Intent: Collective) June 2006

References

^ Welcome

^ Johnny Seven OMA – Pop-Cult.Com

^ (according to sales reports supplied by two market magazines of that year, Playthings and Toys &amp Novelties)

^ eBay Guides – A Topper Toys Johnny Seven A single Man Army Tutorial

^ Johnny Seven O.M.A

External hyperlinks

Johnny Seven Video

Categories: Toy weapons | Toys of the 1960s | 1964 introductions