The year was 1965. I was six years old. The James Bond Attache Case was considered the holy grail of toys. It was heavily advertised, and millions of kids all over the US were relentlessly nagging their parents to pony up ten bucks for this utterly magnificent collection of spy stuff.
My nagging paid off. I received one that year. I was the king of the block.
The attache case came loaded with gear that transformed you into a spy to rival Mr. Bond himself. There was a Luger pistol with a silencer. It shot real rubber bullets, as I recall. There was also a knife that transformed into a gun. Other items included a wallet with cash, a passport, business cards, a decoder, a holster for the gun, and the case, which was amazing in itself.
You could booby-trap the locks so that caps would go off if an intruder tried to break in. Also, the gun lined up with a hole in the side, allowing you to shoot it by pressing a button from the closed case!
I had lots of cool toys, but I don't remember any that were more exciting for a six-year-old kid. It took forever just to get all of the components out of the case!
In researching this piece, I have found that this is a very treasured collectible. Mint sets go for thousands of dollars! Imagine putting about ten of these away in 1965. Even partial sets go for hundreds.
I count myself very fortunate that my parents sprang for the steep price and got me one of these. I have no idea where it is now, but I hope at least part of it survived to be in someone's collection.
Comments (5)
I definately remember this!! I too was one of the lucky ones whose parents were James Bond fans as I was (and still am) who plunked down the dollars for this jewel. Mine is packed away in a box in my mom's barn in Colorado waiting for me to come back and retrieve it some day soon. A few years after this cool toy came out I also had a James Bond holloween costume complete with the mask that made you look like Sean Connery (that got used until it came apart). THANK YOU for bringing back a graet memory of being a kid!!
Posted by Bob Brennan | December 22, 2008 9:37 PM
Posted on December 22, 2008 21:37
I'm too young to remember it, but it looks like an awesome toy.
Posted by Jimmy Bond | March 4, 2009 8:53 AM
Posted on March 4, 2009 08:53
This was definately a cool toys to say the least. I don't remember ever having one, but remember aquiring one from a yard sale. Seems like I remember a knife could be deployed from the end of the case! Yeah, this is a highly collectable item these days! I wish I had one.I don't really remember seeing one of these until the real late sixties!
Posted by Rivers End | May 27, 2009 3:28 PM
Posted on May 27, 2009 15:28
Well, how about the Johnny Seven Gun, guys??? I got that at age 7 in 66. The Johnny 7 was a toy rifle on steroids!
Type “Johnny Seven Gun” in Google and there will be all kinds of stuff. How about an article Ron?
I was the only one I ever met in Redbank, S Portland Maine that had one. Even Schwartzenegger would be jealous of this gun. But being plastic, it did not hold up well and bullets were easy to lose and springs lost their zip. The stand legs for it broke, too. It had a removable hand gun as well. I wish it would have been stronger. Topper made it.
I missed the Bond thing but I do remember my aunts or maybe cousin at my aunt’s had a camera where the handle folded into the camera and the barrel pushed into it. It was super cool to a 7 or 8 year old, or somewhere near there. I also have heard allegations that RFK was taken out by such a device. I can assure you it was not Sirhan, whoever it was with whatever it was.
Posted by Scott Irv | May 28, 2009 6:02 PM
Posted on May 28, 2009 18:02
Any idea where I can get one? I am sure they will go higher over time - didn't find anything on ebay or craigslist
Posted by Patagonia sale | May 13, 2011 7:21 PM
Posted on May 13, 2011 19:21