Accession No

6077

Brief Description

‘“Sputnik” The Magnetic Satellite’ toy, by Maggie Magnetic, Inc., U.S.A., late 1950s to very early 1960s

Origin

U.S.A.

Maker

Maggie Magnetic, Inc.

Class

demonstration; games; astronomy

Earliest Date

1957

Latest Date

1970

Inscription Date

Material

Metal; plastic; card

Dimensions

Box: 225mm x 225mm x 80mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie’s, South Kensington, London, on 17/11/2005. Lot number 204, from the Paul Lips Collection.

Inscription

“‘Sputnik’; The Magnetic Satellite”
“Watch our Satellite Chase the Little Traveller ‘round and ‘round the ‘Outer Space’ Orbit”
“Run Your Own Exciting Space Race!” (All front cover of box)

Description Notes

Space toy demonstrating the orbits of artificial satellites around the Earth. The toy consists of a plastic hemisphere painted with the Americas; wires cross underneath the hemisphere and run in two parallel rings around its circumference; two magnetised parts represent a Sputnik satellite (with a canine passenger, Laika the dog) and the “Space Platform”. (The idea of the game is to mount both satellites onto the parallel rings, and cause them to ‘orbit’ until the larger red disc knocks the smaller satellite onto the floor, where it should spin like a top; instructions for an alternative two-player game are printed on either side of the box.) Inside the box there is a card strip with further instructions. Decorated box.

Condition: good; complete. Hemisphere is cracked. Box condition: one flap detached and in three pieces; generally good condition, with a little wear at edges and corners; a push-out circular section has been removed from one side (the same piece is still present on the opposite side).

References

Events