Mr. Spock (Item No. 51200/2), science officer and second-in-command of the Starship Enterprise, as portrayed by Leonard Nimoy. The head sculpt on this figure is probably not as accurate as Mego could have been, with regard to the actor’s likeness, but it is still a charming visage nonetheless. The head probably bears a closer resemblance to its animated counterpart rather than its real-life model. All this aside, though, the face sculpt does an admirable job of reflecting the inquisitive and emotionless qualities of the Vulcan, while still betraying the slightest bemusement at the foibles and failings of humans.
The figure came outfitted in a blue tunic and black cuffed trousers. The tunic was detailed with a black neckband, two gold foil rank stripes on each arm, and a silver foil insignia. (This insignia
is particularly problematic for loose collectors, as it consists of a stiff adhesive gray backing and a whisper-thin sheet of silver foil. This backing is almost always found on the tunic, as it is well-glued onto the fabric. However, the foil is delicate and typically curls, tears, and/or falls off after even five minutes of play time.)
A blue tricorder, black utility belt, blue phaser and blue communicator served to complete the ensemble. (Spock and McCoy are extreme examples of Mego economy run amuck, in that they are, from the neck down, COMPLETELY IDENTICAL.)
The Mr. Spock figure went through three distinct face incarnations. The first was a Type 1 head (lighter flesh) with light-pink detailing on the lips (left). The next was a Type 1 head (lighter flesh) without lip paint (center). The third and final head was a Type 2 head (darker flesh) without lip detailing. The first is certainly the rarest, while the third is, by a sizeable margin, the most common.
Mego Spock on a “5-face” card. During this time Palitoy (UK) also produced the trek figures on these cards, the only unique difference is the addition of the word “Palitoy” in the trademark area.
Here we have a Mr Spock on a “6-face” card with the name in white lettering.
Mego Mr Spock on a “6-face” card with the name in blue lettering.(the backer is the same)
The infamous “Blank-Back” 1978 Spock Sears re-release (Item No. 91221/1). Note the broken legs; “Blank-Backs,” being later releases, were notorious for the inferior plastic used in their manufacture.
Of special note is the “white-edged” foil insignia on the blank figures, presumably heat-sealed (an insignia method Mego began implementing in the late ‘Seventies).
Mego Mr. Spock and his Sears catalog mailer box.
Photos and Text graciously supplied by Kevin (MirrorSpock)
Look Familiar? Lincoln International famous for their monster dolls produced this “Incredible simulation” of Mr Spock creatively called “Mr Rock” in the seventies for more info on these and other companies check out our Mego Esque Gallery
Spock wears the same blue science division shirt as Dr. McCoy and it has been factory reproduced by Doctor Mego and Emce Toys. The DM repro shirt fits a little more snug and is a little shorter. The collar is bigger, and the rank strips on the sleeves are a touch farther apart. The strips also have a slight texture, where the original has none. The shirt is marked DM on the inside near the collar. The Emce shirt is a little brighter blue than an original although the collar is much closer to the original in size than the DM counterpart. The rank stripes on the Emce shirt are a silver instead of the gold used on the original Mego shirts. The Emce is unmarked. It should be noted the originals tend to “fade” green between the arms and the waist, creating a greenish ring around the shirt. The real giveaway is the material. The repros are made from the more modern, slicker material.
Star Trek crew figures have a 2 layered emblem. It’s a gray plastic type material with a silver foil on the top. The foil tends to fall off over time leaving the gray part of the original emblem. A complete emblem should have the silver foil. The emblem has been factory reproduced on the Emce Toys version of the figure. The Emce version is larger, especially in width, and is a single layer, thicker material.
Trek crew pants have been factory reproduced by Doc Mego. The reproductions are a little bigger and longer than originals, but otherwise close to the originals. They are marked DM on the inside. They have also been reproduced by Emce Toys. The Emce repro’s are almost exactly like the DM’s, but the cuffs are a little wider, making the pants a little shorter than Docs and original Mego pants. The Emce pants are unmarked. Both repro’s are made from a slightly slicker, more modern material than the originals.
The Trek weapons belt has been reproduced by Doc Mego and Emce Toys. Both repro’s are identical and very difficult to spot. The reproductions have a very slightly more rounded look around the holsters, but even that is hard to see. Neither reproduction is marked.
The male crew members carry a blue phaser. They are cast in the same color blue as the communicator, but the blue (especially the phaser) tends to take on a greenish hue over time. The phaser has been factory reproduced by Emce Toys. The repro is a brighter blue, the lines on the smaller phaser attachment are a little wider on the repro, and the post near the back/top of the phaser sticks up a little higher. The main body of the repro is a little wider, and the handle is just a touch more narrow, which makes the repro not stay in the holster on the belt. The Emce is marked with the number 7 printed on one side of the handle. What can be confusing about this mark is the repro phaser has a 7 on the handle and the original does not, but the repro tricorder is unmarked while the original has a 7 printed on the backside. Bascially what that means is the 7 mark does not mean repro on all Trek items.
The male crew members carry a blue communicator as well as the phaser. They are cast in the same color blue as the phaser, but the blue (especially the phaser) tends to take on a greenish hue over time. The communicator has been factory reproduced by Emce Toys. The repro is a brighter blue, and it is an overall cleaner cast than the original. One of the telltales of the repro is a thin bit of flashing that outlines the unit. The repro is unmarked.
Spock, McCoy and Uhura all sport the same tricorder. The blue plastic on the originals can take on a greenish hue over time. The tricorder has been factory reproduced by EMCE Toys. The reproduction has a slightly different shape for the unit itself. More rounded around the top corners, where the top “corners” on the original are flat, creating 6 distict sides. The details on the face of the original are raised, where the opposite is true on the reproduction. EMCE’s details are recessed. An original will also have the number 7 imprinted on the back (the repro doesn’t have this), and the repro is made of a more brittle plastic so the strap breaks easier. The EMCE version is unmarked. What can be confusing about this is the repro phaser has a 7 on the handle and the original does not, but the repro tricorder is unmarked while the original has a 7 printed on the backside. Bascially what that means is the 7 mark does not mean repro on all Trek items.
Spock’s head has been factory reproduced by Emce Toys. The reproduction has a slightly paler, less reddish skin tone than the average original. The eyes are painted just slightly different on the repro (see picture), and it is made of a firmer material so the head is a little harder. It is marked with a 2007 CBS copyright on the back of the neck.