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2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 16 Sep 2014, 12:14
by babington
I've noticed that some people are selling copies of Eagle from the eighties on ebay which come with a free gift - a red Space Spinner which has "[c] IPC 1977" on the arm of the spinner. It has "A premolar product' written on the back. I've asked and the sellers insist this was a free gift with Eagle. But isn't this the same as the Space Spinner which came free with 2000AD issue 1, in 1977? Is there any way to tell these gifts apart, if there really are two. The Eagle spinners sell for very little while the 2000AD ones sell for more than £100, so it matters if there is a difference!!

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 16 Sep 2014, 12:18
by starscape
The sapce spinners from the new Eagle were silver. At least, the ones (i.e. two) I had.

From 2000ADonline:
2000AD Prog 1 (1977) - space spinner (red plastic, 0-shaped - text: "(c) I P C 1977 SPACE SPINNER")
Tornado Issue 1 - turbo-flyer (red plastic, Y-shaped with thick arms)
(new) Eagle Issue 1 (1982) - space spinner (silver plastic, 0-shaped, same design as the 2000AD space spinner - text: "(c) I P C 1982 SPACE SPINNER")
(new) Eagle (15 October 1983) - super space spinner (red plastic, cross-shaped with spindly arms and a thin ring)

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 16 Sep 2014, 13:35
by Lew Stringer
starscape wrote:The sapce spinners from the new Eagle were silver. At least, the ones (i.e. two) I had.
That's right. The one given in new Eagle No.1 was definitely silver, and has the date 1982 on it. I've just checked mine, and it's exactly the same as the one shown in the photo on this page:
http://www.comicvine.com/eagle-1/4000-269777/

If it's a red one dated 1977 then it's from 2000AD No.1. Worth buying that frisbee if you have the comic as it'd increase it's resale value.

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 16 Sep 2014, 18:43
by tony ingram
Lew Stringer wrote:
starscape wrote:The sapce spinners from the new Eagle were silver. At least, the ones (i.e. two) I had.
That's right. The one given in new Eagle No.1 was definitely silver, and has the date 1982 on it. I've just checked mine, and it's exactly the same as the one shown in the photo on this page:
http://www.comicvine.com/eagle-1/4000-269777/

If it's a red one dated 1977 then it's from 2000AD No.1. Worth buying that frisbee if you have the comic as it'd increase it's resale value.
By about £25 to £30, if I recall correctly.

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 17 Sep 2014, 17:50
by babington
thanks all - I thought if it said 1977 then it pretty much had to be from 2000AD no. 1! But you never know... publishers do seem to have used the same free gift for multiple comics on multiple occasions. Girl no. 157, Bunty no. 1533 and Nikki no. 34 all had the same gift of a 'twin heart brooch', so I thought perhaps the same thing might have happened with some leftover space spinners...

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 17 Sep 2014, 17:52
by babington
PS here are some eBay sale prices for the red 2000AD space spinners (without the comic) from recent years - an awful lot more than their Eagle equivalent!!

Space Spinner £129 (NOV 10)
Space Spinner £96 (JUN 12)
Space Spinner (partially painted) £68.60 (SEP 12)
Space Spinner £155 (SEP 12)
Space Spinner £100 (APR 13)

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 13 Oct 2014, 22:41
by Muffy
I can also verify that my brother's Eagle space spinners were silver and not red. Of course don't get the similar Nutty comic spinner, which was also round but did not have the middle section/name.

Interestingly the Red Tornado Free gift of a Spud Gun was available from another comic, but in a blue colour – I think the blue one came from Eagle in the mid-eighties, but don't quote me as my brother used both of his and they must be long gone now.

As I recall also from memory of another brother's Marvel UK's Thor comic (reprints) around the mid-80s, there was a red Turbo Flyer in an early issue (1, 2 or 3) which was identical and in the same red colour as the Tornado Turbo Flyer from issue 1, 1979. But again this was 30+ years ago.

All of the UK's comic publishers used the same free gift making company/ies.

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 14 Oct 2014, 08:46
by SID
babington wrote:PS here are some eBay sale prices for the red 2000AD space spinners (without the comic) from recent years - an awful lot more than their Eagle equivalent!!

Space Spinner £129 (NOV 10)
Space Spinner £96 (JUN 12)
Space Spinner (partially painted) £68.60 (SEP 12)
Space Spinner £155 (SEP 12)
Space Spinner £100 (APR 13)
Crivvens! I have one of them. :)

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 09:55
by japandroid
I seem to remember reading that the spinner was given away with 2000AD 1 because there just happened to be a load of them in a warehouse. Which may mean it was due for use elsewhere.

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 22 Oct 2014, 01:00
by geoff42
as regards Tornado's spud gun, muffy, I can't verify. It's still sealed in its original envelope and never been opened. Please don't ask me to open it :shock:

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 22 Oct 2014, 20:33
by Muffy
Your ok Geoff42 - keep it sealed, otherwise the value will be decreased and it would be just wrong after 35 years in such a rare condition. :sorry:

Re: 2000AD Free Gift conundrum

Posted: 03 Nov 2014, 02:13
by geoff42
hi, muffy, haven't been around for a while due to overtime commitments. Joking aside, as regards unopened free gifts and retaining value, I actually see no value from a personal angle as I have no intention to sell. I've only ever sold one item on ebay, a set of 2000 ad Biotronic stickers, but only because I already had a set (I procured them by a fortunate accident :o ) and quickly traded the £120 or so quid I received for more comics on my wish list. Such things as the Tornado spud gun - I just wish to preserve its integrity - maybe it's a geek thing. I still have the sachet of the "tongue-fizzy-powder" from Nutty comic issue one, which remains unopened. Now, I reckon, that would be pointless in releasing such contents to oxygen. The sachet does feel kind of compact these days but then, I avoid intense manipulation of what goods the interior may offer :shock: