Vintage Masudaya Modern Toys (MT) Spaceship X-5 Japanese Tin Lithographed Rocket *SOLD*

Vintage Masudaya Modern Toys (MT) Spaceship X-5 Japanese Tin Lithographed Rocket

Our well loved ca. 1950’s tin lithographed space rocket is a joy to share.  It is a stout tin litho was manufactured by Masudaya Modern Toys (MT) of Tokyo, Japan. Colors are very contrasting and the design is a classic three fin toy rocket, and a bit similar to the German V1 rocket body design.

The toy is a friction rocket and a bit slow but it works.  There is no flint inside or else it would spark underneath the red gel/plastic on back.  There are spots of play wear and dark oxidation throughout.

The “composition” of the lithograph is a great space-age riveted nose and fin design (simulated circles for rivets).  We get a commander’s window on top and then six smaller “passenger” windows with angular designs to the sides.  The rocket is even patented 3550 3750 which is likely a sparking mechanism.

The most impressive aspect is the size of this toy.  It is very large for tin litho rockets at almost a foot or 12″ as seen in the photo.

A brief history of Masudaya Modern Toys (MT) of Tokyo, Japan:

Masudaya also known as Masudaya Modern Toys was a tin toy manufacturer that was founded in 1923 in Tokyo, Japan. Masudaya was one of the leading builder of tin type mechanical and battery operated toys in the post-World War II era. Unlike many of their competitors Masudaya managed to survive to this day, due in part to their involvement in the airsoft gun craze of the 1980’s. They are mostly known for basically creating the “skirmishable” airsoft guns that could be used for combat simulations rather than target shooting. Masudaya normally identifies their toys using the M-T, or Modern Toys logo.