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W Robot (Noguchi / 1960s / Japan / 7 inches)
A mystery in the toy world: What's the "W" on the W Robot stand for? "Wonderful"? "Wicked"? "Wow"? I have no idea. Like I said, it's a mystery! What's not a mystery is that this little robot is super...
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Video: Astronaut Discusses Science Fiction
I recently travelled down to NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., to film a presentation by astronaut and U.S. Army Col. Timothy "T.J." Creamer. He was discussing his days onboard the International...
View ArticleNot Dead Yet!
But I have been very, very busy. I do apologize for the long delay between posts, but I plan on putting up a new ray gun entry tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a question:Of all the toys posted here...
View ArticleExcuses, Excuses...
I know I'm supposed to update this blog, but I've gotta admit, I've been a little distracted lately. See, Ol' Doc Atomic is engaged.And I don't mean, "I'm engaged in the act of collecting toys." (Even...
View ArticleI'm Back, Baby!
Too long have I let this blog lie neglected. Too long have I disregarded my right -- nay, my obligation... my duty -- to write about vintage space toys. Too long has the door to the Attic of Astounding...
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Prototype Television Robot (Yonezawa/1960s/Japan/9.5 inches)
Toys aren't born, they're made. And before they can be made, they go through stages of development that begin with sketches and model-making and culminate in the creation of a prototype. If the stars...
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The Space Toy Artwork of Steven Skollar
If you're in New York City this weekend, I highly recommend heading over to SoHo's Arcadia Gallery to check out the latest exhibition of paintings by artist Steven Skollar. His focus is on (mostly)...
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Leslie Nielsen (February 11, 1926 - November 28, 2010)
Leslie William Nielsen died early Sunday evening of complications stemming from pneumonia. He was 84.This makes me very sad.Nielsen was probably best known for his comedic roles in such movies as...
View ArticleNew Blog: Help Me Name It!
I've got a lot of toys. Most of them are more than 50 years old, and I write about them in this very blog. Obviously.But I also collect some newer vintage toys, like Star Wars figures, Tron stuff, old...
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New Blog!
It's official: My new toy blog is up and running. So if you're interested in seeing all the stuff in my collection that's not 50-plus years old, head on over to what I hope is the appropriately named...
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DIA Space Gun (Unknown / late 1950s? / Japan / 3 x 4 inches)
The very best tin lithographed space guns were the ones that used the toy's body as canvases for miniature works of science fiction art. I've always thought that this double-barreled holdout pistol was...
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Collecting Achievements and Goals: 2010 Edition
(I've shamelessly stolen this idea from a Star Wars forum called Rebel Scum. Go check it out!)With the end of 2010 fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to reflect on our collecting achievements...
View ArticleVideos of Toys!
Donald Conner -- a.k.a. Captain Conner -- has one of the most amazing flying saucer collections in the world. He's also got some amazing robots and ray guns -- including a bunch that I'd love to own. I...
View ArticleWonderful Batman Fan Film: "The Rat"
Okay, okay... Why am I writing about a Batman fan film in the Attic of Astounding Artifacts? I'll tell ya. Because it was directed by a friend of mine named Dale Fabriger. He's immensely talented and...
View ArticleSurpise! Stuff You Never Expected To Like
There are a number of items in my collection that, until I actually saw them in person, left me feeling lukewarm, at best. Their photos never did them justice, I guess, or maybe I just never saw...
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Pre-Production Space Trooper (Yoshiya/1959/Japan/6 inches)
Most collectors have "holy grails." You know, the pieces we dream about even though the odds say we'll never, ever, ever get our hands on them. The ones that keep us away long into the night, dreaming...
View ArticleA Question For Fellow Bloggers
A question!Would people use a virtual chat room if I were to set one up? I envision it as being a place for like-minded collectors to meet up and discuss... whatever they feel like discussing. It'd be...
View ArticlePosting Schedule. Because I'm Lame.
Okay. I realize that as time passes, my posts become more and more infrequent. I've got good excuses -- I'm a hard working freelancer who's just trying to raise enough money to buy more toys! -- but I...
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Original Science Fiction Artwork, Pt. 4
New additions to the Attic's collection of original science fiction art! For those who're interested, here are Parts 1, 2, and 3.1. "Tales of Time and Space," by Tom Nachreiner. 21" x 26". 1976....
View ArticleJapan
Hang out in the Attic and you'll quickly realize that most of my favorite toys were made in Japan. Robots, ray guns, some Star Wars figures... Lots of toys. It's a tenuous connection, I guess, but I...
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Wedding Rings (2011, Little King, NYC)
So in less than a month, I'll be marrying Ms. Little Mary Switchblade. Doc Atomic and Little Mary Switchblade -- sounds good, right?Here's a photo of the rings we had made. Guess which one's mine.How...
View ArticleWell Then, That's That!
So I'm married. Little Mary Switchblade said "I do," even after our officiant made her promise to love me if my robot and ray gun collection overruns the entire house.Wow.Now that the wedding's over,...
View ArticleI'm Making a Documentary!
I'm currently in production on a documentary called Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys. It is, as the title suggests, a movie about... Star Wars toys!The film will explore the history and pop...
View ArticleRay Bradbury. Not Much Else to Say...
It's been a while; I've been locked away working on the film and haven't had time to blog. But the recent death of Ray Bradbury couldn't go without comment. We've lost a literary giant, that goes...
View ArticleDied: SF Author -- Legend! -- Harry Harrison
I was sad to recently learn that Harry Harrison passed away. According to his official web site, he was 87 years old.Harrison remains one of my favorite authors, and I had the privilege of interviewing...
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