A toy love story. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head met today.
Released in the 1950s, the ICBM Missile Launching Station was a mechanical playset produced by Kohner that used a manually operated air-pressure system to launch rubber-nosed missiles from a central launcher.
The toy consisted of a control panel attached to a launching pad by a rubber air hose. The control panel was equipped with a dial that tracked the number of missiles launched, along with a launch button and a countdown dial. The launching pad included the firing mechanism and dedicated space for each of the six rubber-nose missiles to stand at the ready.
When the launch button on the control panel was pressed, air was forced through the hose, propelling the missiles into the air. Cardboard targets were marked with distances of 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 miles. The toy’s instructions recommended a placement range of within 30 feet. The missile launcher could be raised and lowered to aim at the targets.
A complete playset included a remote control panel, launching pad, rubber air hose, six missiles, and four target markers. Instructions were printed on the bottom of the box.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
The ICBM Missile Launching Station reflected Cold War–era themes common in mid-century American toys. Other objects of play, such as Navy Blinker Code Lites from Hasbro, Sooper Snooper 4-Way Scope from Marx, and Barracuda Motorized Atomic Sub from Remco, similarly drew on children’s fascination with military advancements and contemporary narratives.
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