Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

SITE CONTENTS

Front Page
Resource Links
The Evolution

VINTAGE 1930s+

Buster Crabbe
Vintage Collectibles
Daisy Pistols

VINTAGE 1979/81

Small Figures
Large Figures
Vehicles

Misc Collectibles
Arcade Collectibles
Media Collectibles

TV Props Pg 01
TV Props Pg 02
TV Props Pg 03

REVIEWS & INFO

TV Show Info
The Technology
Space Vampire
Thunder Fighter
Behind The Scenes

Gil Gerard
Erin Gray
Felix Silla
Thom Christopher
Pamela Hensley
Tim O'Connor
Wilfrid Hyde White

GALLERY'S

Publicity Photos
Black & White
High-Res Captures

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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - A Media and Collectible Resource, 1928-2005

Daisy XZ-31 Buck Rogers "Rocket Pistol", 1934

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, Original Advertising for the Rocket Pistol,
Click To Enlarge

Prior to its release, the Daisy company worked in conjunction with author Philip
Francis Nowlan and cartoonist Richard Calkins to redesign the guns, helmets
and holsters used in the original comic strips. Since the cartoons and the
radio show had developed a significant following, it was an ideal time for Daisy
to introduce its new line of duplicated toys to the market place, so in February
of 1934 Daisy introduced their first Buck Rogers gun, the XZ-31 Rocket Pistol..

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, The XZ-31 Rocket Pistol, Click To Enlarge

Prior to its release, Daisy had convinced the Hudson department store in Detroit
to use a large rocket ship and a set of Martian figures for their new "Buck Rogers
in the 25th Century" Christmas theme, these same props where used by again
Daisy to finally introduced the XZ-31 at the American Toy Fair...

Despite initial skepticism and using the same props from J.L. Hudson, Macy's
Department Store in New York began promoting the XZ-31 and it was so
successful that over 2,000 people stood in line for a chance to buy the new
item. As the week went on the crowds grew and in order to keep Macy's
supplied, Daisy kept trucks on the road every day from their Michigan plant.

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, Original Packaging

Following its first week the XZ-31 was shipped to stores across the country,
pricing's for the Rocket Pistol changed almost hourly bought on by a massive
price war between rival distributors. Daisy profited heavily from this situation
by buying back its guns from the lowest seller and re-selling them to the other
stores. According to Daisy sales manager Cass Hough, "during those first two
weeks the Gimbel's and Macy's toy departments looked like a cyclone had
struck and people were still lining up to buy"..

Soon almost every toy store in the country was clamoring for shipments of the
XZ-31 and Daisy couldn't get enough materials to keep up with the production
demand. That same year for Christmas, Daisy developed a holster and a
helmet to go with the Rocket Pistol and in the following year they produced a
smaller version of the Rocket Pistol, called the XZ-35 or "Wilma" pistol.

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, Cocking The Handle, Click To Enlarge

The handle is pulled down to cock it (Picture Above) and when you pull the
trigger it makes a loud pop!!..


Daisy XZ-35 Buck Rogers Rocket "Wilma" Pistol, 1935

Buck Rogers XZ-35 Rocket Pistol
Above, XZ-35 Rocket Pistol

The XZ-35 Rocket Pistol was slightly smaller than the XZ-31 measuring around
7 1/2 inches in length, where as the XZ-31 was closer to 9 1/2 inches. Plus
another distinguishing difference was the barrel, the XZ-35 barrel nose is black
right to the end without a collar.

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, The XZ-35 Fine Print and Barrel, Click To Enlarge

Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol Buck Rogers XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
Above, Close up of the XZ-35 Handgrip, Pistol and Holster
Click To Enlarge


The Daisy, Zooka Pop Pistol and Rocket Dart Pistol - 1952+

The Daisy, Zooka Pop Pistol The Daisy, Zooka Pop Pistol
Above, Zooka Pop Pistol ,Click To Enlarge

Although Daisy stopped producing Buck Rogers toys around the mid 1940s,
the company continued to use the same dies to manufacture new items, and
in 1952 Daisy recycled the original Rocket Pistol to produce the Zooka Pop
Pistol, identical to the XZ-35 model except for its bright, multicolored finish.

The Daisy ,Rocket Dart Pistol The Daisy, Rocket Dart Pistol
Above, Rocket Dart Pistol, Click To Enlarge

Daisy re-tooled the XZ-35 once again to make the Rocket Dart Pistol,
this toy was able to fire small rubber suction darts and came with an
additional target board .(Pictured Above)


The Daisy, Buck Rogers Disintegrator & Atomic Pistols, XZ-38, U-235, U-238

Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol
Above, The Disintegrator Pistol XZ-38 finished in nickel
Click To Enlarge

in 1935 Daisy produced a new Buck Rogers gun, the XZ-38 Disintegrator Pistol,
this gun featured a fluted barrel and flamboyant fins. Produced in both nickel and
copper finishes, the gun was both sold in stores as well as merchandised as a
Cream of Wheat premium in 1935 and a Popsicle premium in 1939..

Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol
Above, A copper finished XZ-38 with Holster

After World War II, Daisy used the existing tools and dies from the Disintegrator
Pistol to create the U-235 Atomic Pistol, this gun reflected the current fascination
with atomic energy and was available with a blue finish, unfinished steel or gold.

Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol

Above and below, The Atomic Pistol U-235 in unfinished steel plus its rare original
packaging, also a very nice close up of the barrel. When the trigger is pulled you
here a very loud pop followed by sparks that light up the sparking chamber, the
gun measures around 10 1/2 inches in length..

Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol

Below, advertising for the U-238 and reproduction packaging, i don't know
anything more about this item except that it was an exclusive 1946 Christmas
mail away item and probably the last Buck Rogers gun ever to be produced
by Daisy. (Order form on the Left),Click To Enlarge

Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol


Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
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