This set has a ship that measures 13.5″ x 3.25″ and a submarine that is 8.5″ x 2.5″. The ship has a mousetrap spring in the center that will explode the upper deck from the hull when the red target is struck. The deck would explode into seven pieces. This particular design is the first of three versions. It was produced from the late 1930’s until 1942.
From my private collection.
My dad had one of these and I used to play with it at my grandmother’s house when I was a kid in the 1970s. My siblings and I all have fond memories of this beloved toy. I did manage to get one a while back but it’s in rough shape and missing most of the top parts on the ship. Your photos are a great reference as I look for a better complete set or one with the parts I’m missing.
By the way, I’ve seen three different torpedoes on this model online. One was gray, one was red, and one was red with a colored tip. (That excludes the pencil we used to shoot with it as kids.) Any idea what was the original torpedo?
Hello, The torpedo was always a red wooden dowel with a tapered front tip. The one you saw with a colored tip was likely a rubber tipped one that did not appear until the 1950’s. I have also seen a brass tipped one but that did not come with the #206.