The Merchandise GuideConfectionery
Compiled by Martin Willey
The Merchandise Guide
The Lyons Maid Space: 1999 ice lolly was introduced in 1976, in time for a record-breaking summer heatwave. The cards were only available in 1976; from 1977 they no longer appeared.
The back of packet sleeve at first featured art of Koenig saying "There are 23 Amazing Full Colour Cards In The Series- Of me, Dr Helena Russell, Professor Bergman, all the Heroes & Villains For You To Collect!"
Later the backs featured one of two short & very crudely drawn comic strips (10 x 4.5 cm, titled "Child Of Evil" & "Planet Of Terror"), or one of two descriptions of Alpha life ("Transport", with Eagle, buggy & travel tube described, & "Communication", about the commlock)
The blue packet (13 x 5.5 cm) features rather crude art of an Eagle & Koenig, Helena & Victor.
Initial 1976 version "with free picture card"
Later 1977-1978 version "as seen on T.V.".
The backs of the wrappers. Originally they promoted the cards. Later there either text descriptions ("Transport", "Communication"), or comics strips ("Child Of Evil", "Planet Of Terror").
Original back: "There are 25 amazing full-colour cards in the series - of me, Dr. Helena Russell, Professor Bergman, all the heroes & villains for you to collect!".
Transport The most vital means of transport is the Eagle, a fleet of which is always ready on the launchpad. The Eagle can take off and land like a helicopter and once in flight, the motors drive it horizontally like a plane. Four fuel pods are attached to the main platform. These also support the under-carriage sections, on the outer edge of which are vernier motors for directional control. For land travel, the electronically-powered buggy may be used. Within Alpha, all the main areas are linked by a series of "travel tubes". The "tube" is a capsule with seating for up to ten people, and their destination is electronically controlled.
Communication All moonbase personnel carry a 'magic key' known as a 'commlock'. This device carries a photograph of its processor for identification and is programmed to answer when called. One button opens doors, another contacts various departments, another activates a two-way television system. Commander Koenig possesses the only 'commlock' able to impart instructions to the computer, and if necessary to shut it down. The computer itself is responsible for the co-ordination of the complex visual and audio system within Moonbase Alpha.
The two comic strips. A curious example of old-fashioned British English is the "Child of Evil" saying "Hullo!" (rather than the standard "Hello")
Planet of Terror
A party from Alpha are exploring a new planet...
Helena: "Look at the size of those flowers!"
Helena: "Isn't it wonderful! Like Earth, only better!"
Bergman: "Look out!"
Koenig: "The flowers aren't the only things that are huge!"
Koenig: "Back to the Eagle!"
Helena:"On, no!"
Koenig: "As long as we don't touch the threads, we'll be alright!"
Bergman:"Phew! We made it!"
Helena:"What a beautiful planet!"
Koenig: "Beautiful, but deadly!"
Child of Evil
A party from Alpha are exploring a new planet when...
Child: "Hullo! I was on a rocket that crashed here.. Only I survived... My parents were killed..!"
Helena: "John, we can't leave him here alone...!"
Koenig: "No! We'll take him back to Moonbase."
Later on Moonbase...
"Aargh!!"
Helena: "What was that?"
Alphan: "It was the boy! He suddenly turned into a monster and attacked us!"
Koenig: "We've been tricked into bringing this thing to Moonbase!"
Bergman: "We're in luck! We've managed to trap it in the airlock!"
Koenig: "Now to eject it into space!"
Helena: "It's gone! But it has taught us one thing! In this strange alien environment, we must never judge by appearance!"
Copyright Martin Willey