Think Bubbles

[Thundershot]

I just looked in my card collection.. both of these I've owned from new,




This one I definitely know it contained the correct figure, but no weapons, & from the broken seal it as lot as if might of been (what the Star Wars people call) a twin stem bubble:


It came from the Westgate House department store (Peterborough) & cost 50p

Even if this proves nothing it's a nice blast from the past

[buddusky]

In my experience, the single bubbles were used at the end of the line where Palitoy threw random figures onto random cards with no weapons. The bubble marks certainly look to line-up with a Star Wars bubble so chances are it could have been the same machine in the end.

[Chopper]

Interesting. I have a single bubble card and bubble (Z trooper had been removed). I knew the Z trooper wasn't in a single bubble figure so I always wondered about that.

[meertoh]

those Irish clearance multi packs must of been produced in a factory other than Palitoys.

They were possibly packaged by Hasbro in their Waterford factory , where they manufactured the era vehicles.

[Thundershot]

In my experience, the single bubbles were used at the end of the line where Palitoy threw random figures onto random cards with no weapons. The bubble marks certainly look to line-up with a Star Wars bubble so chances are it could have been the same machine in the end.

That's my line of thinking, it'd make perfect sense: Needing to empty the stockroom or keep the few remaining staff busy.. loads of different figures & cards left to clear, they'd use up whatever they'd got left to package 'em & ship 'em out.

I was curious if they (Palitoy) used actual Star Wars bubbles, & production facilities, for packaging single blister figures. I suppose we'll never know for certain.

I distinctly remembered the cards but can't recall the shape or type bubbles used & was hoping someone had an unopened example & could shed more light on the subject.

[SteveD]

I've got no sympathy for the AFA. I recognise the need for a grading standard but people must be stupid to pay for someone else's opinion on the condition of an item that they own, it's such a con!

Jon - with your eye for detail I think you should set up the BFA - the "Buddosky Figure Authority"!!

[SteveD]

Just catching up with this one fellas - got to tackle the 147 pages on the SW forum yet! It's like a soap opera!!

But to answer one question - the single bubblers were all over the place! I've got some where the bubbles are as wonky as hell, and some where they are nice and straight. The stem feeted ones are the same as some Star Wars items were (I've sold all of my SW MOC's bar two or three these days, so can't show pics to compare - and the two I have left are Leia Boush and Leia Poncho, which were different bubbles anyway!!) and they were the same bubbles as used for some Series 1 and very early series 2 AF.

Re the Series 3 single bubble chaps - not sure what bubbles were used for Star Wars, but I do know the AF bubbles were a bit sh*tty qulaity! They dint really easy!!!

[SteveD]

Looking at a few of these (piccie found on my memory stick!! Hurrah - work avoidance for Mr D this afternoon!!) it does make you wonder how the lining up of the bubble compares to Star Wars - i.e - if they were using the Star Wars bubbling machine to do these end of line ones - as they sure as hell don't line up with the markings on the AF cards!!! Anyone got any SW single bubblers to compare???

DSCN2022.JPG (2.84 MiB) Viewed 3136 times

[ODB]

Bit hard to tell at this distance they could be SW bubbles (afterall there are enough variation of them), do you have any pictures closer at all?

[Thundershot]

Cheers Steve
It's hard to tell, without resorting to a tape measure, but they certainly appear to be in the same positions as Star Wars bubbles.

It makes you wonder how or why these were produced, it's not as if Palitoy were closing due to bankruptcy & needed the cash or were clearing out the stock rooms for new product. I'd speculated that some third party may of purchased the stock, packaging & packaging equipment in auction & churned 'em out as a money spinner, as was the case with Matchbox Power Track before Dapol took over.