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Post by Astronit on Nov 19, 2011 6:27:05 GMT -8
This is the Heart of the forum so it's best that we identify what qualifies as a Rubber Ugly creature. The basic is that it has got to be made of rubber. Not plastic, not hard PVC and not ceramic materials. However you can have Rubber Uglies made of cardboard paper. That's where the term Ugly comes from. Before there were Rubber Uglies there were Ugly Stickers. These came out in 1965, manufactured by Topps with artwork created by Norm Saunders and a personal favorite of mine, Basil Wolverton. You can download a fantastic article written about Ugly Stickers at: www.bubblegumcards.org/Ugly_Stickers.htmlAnd you can see all the pictures at: www.normansaunders.com/Ugly,01.html But back to the Rubber Uglies. The originals were modeled after Ugly Sticker pictures and there were only a dozen different designs. They were sold in boxes off of dime-store counters and you could pick any one you liked for a nickle. The name given on these original boxes was Horror Pets, each Rubber Ugly creature was nameless unless you christened them yourself or used one of the names from the sticker set. Later the creature lines were expanded into "Teacher's Pet's", "Mother's Pets", Kreepy Kreatures" and a many more names. There was a continual growth in the diversity of creatures throughout the 1970's. I don't know how many different companies manufactured them but it seems like they all tried to use the same dozen original figures to make their molds. Over time the quality of the Rubber Ugly degraded. That's why collectors will pay a very high price for an original Horror Pet - they just look and feel better. There is a lot more I can and will write about Rubber Ugly creatures but I'd like to hear some stories from you now. Mike AKA: Astronit |
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Post by RubberUgly on Nov 19, 2011 20:14:42 GMT -8
Thanks for all the wonderful info, Astronit. Since you have a vast and most cherished collection of these beauties, by any chance can you share photos of your creatures explaining the originals versus the different remakes in a chronological order? While it may be easy to discern a later hybrid/remake, it''s very difficult to understand which are the utmost originals. Is it just in the molds themselves, or do paint markings and paint color have a noteworthy significance?
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Post by Astronit on Nov 20, 2011 10:36:17 GMT -8
Thanks for all the wonderful info, Astronit. Since you have a vast and most cherished collection of these beauties, by any chance can you share photos of your creatures explaining the originals versus the different remakes in a chronological order? While it may be easy to discern a later hybrid/remake, it''s very difficult to understand which are the utmost originals. Is it just in the molds themselves, or do paint markings and paint color have a noteworthy significance? Hi R.U. Glad to provide what I can. I don't have any chronology sequencing of Rubber Uglies as I prefer to get what I like and at an affordable price (which lately hasn't happened often). I can certainly post some pictures of what I saved from my youth collection and also what I am certain are first run Ugly creatures. To answer you question about tell-tale difference in later castings, it is all about the mold and quality of rubber. Over time contiguous mold use causes defects and loos of detail in a creature. Copies made from a figure are also smaller than the original and loose definition. Companies may also use a cheaper rubber or plastic mixture. When I run across the later versions it's pretty easy to tell. As for paint being a determinant, no there is a wide variety of air-brush colors and painted markings between figures and castings made for differences markets. In fact it's some of those differences that make collecting Rubber Uglies so much fun. Attached picture shows a few of the Rubber Uglies that I purchased and saved since the 1960's and 70's. Some are pretty worn down and missing a few parts from heavy play but they are cherished by me. Attachments:
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Post by Astronit on Nov 20, 2011 11:25:57 GMT -8
Okay, here is the best example I can come up with to show how small variations in body shape and detail loss can indicate a later year Ugly figure. I believe that the #1 Iris is the oldest because it has the most detail. Particularly noticeable in the dual left eye stalk, just like the Ugly Sticker picture. The #2 Iris is also very thick body like #1 (you can't tell from the picture) and the fringes around the body have exquisite detail. But look at how the eye stalk is now just one thread. Something that was likely done in a later mold to strengthen the figure. Both #3 and #4 have much thinner bodies than the first two and they are also shrinking. That occurs when you make a mold from an original figure. The copy is always going to be smaller. I believe the #4 figure is the newest (still from the 1970's) because the eye stalk is completely gone. Of course I don't have any exact knowledge about which Iris is older. These are just my observations about the four Iris figures I own. BTW: the #3 figure I have owned since 1971. Attachments:
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Post by RubberUgly on Nov 20, 2011 20:09:17 GMT -8
Attached picture shows a few of the Rubber Uglies that I purchased and saved since the 1960's and 70's. Some are pretty worn down and missing a few parts from heavy play but they are cherished by me. Wonderful! I love your Green Florence. She's supposed to be Green according to the Ugly Stickers card, but this is the first green Rubber Ugly I've seen of her!  Okay, here is the best example I can come up with to show how small variations in body shape and detail loss can indicate a later year Ugly figure. Very educational. At first I was thinking that Uglies with red or yellow eye paint were the first versions (which still may possibly be true) but I've come across this photo showing an Iris with a Dual Eye stalk that has black eye paint.  Thank goodness that these toys are rare, because I imagine that the color combinations are endless! (and I don't have endless funds myself ;D) Also, can you explain the green James on this forum's banner? It looks absolutely stunning in detail, however the details are nothing like the Ugly Sticker? The fella' on the right is a less detailed toy, but the details it has are more accurate to the portrayed character. |
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Post by Astronit on Nov 21, 2011 3:17:30 GMT -8
Also, can you explain the green James on this forum's banner? I expect that the green James Ugly is a later one from Europe and using a retooled mold and possibly a different harder rubber. I like its look very much too. Wish it were part of my collection. |
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Post by inkfink on Nov 23, 2011 4:47:59 GMT -8
HOwdy! Found about this forum via the Universal Monster Army board. Quick question... I have a blurry memory of these things included as prizes with a snack food like Little Debbies or something. Anyone remember this?
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Post by Astronit on Nov 23, 2011 14:02:32 GMT -8
I have a blurry memory of these things included as prizes with a snack food like Little Debbies or something. Anyone remember this? Hi Ink, I don't know about Little Debbies prizes but I once collected a dozen Rubber Finger Monsters from Babel Cheese balls that were packaged in net bags. Seemed like a weird promotional item. Wouldn't be surprised to learn other snacks carried rubber creatures. Thanks for joining the forum. |
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Post by RubberUgly on Jan 15, 2012 23:19:24 GMT -8
Also, can you explain the green James on this forum's banner? I expect that the green James Ugly is a later one from Europe and using a retooled mold and possibly a different harder rubber. I like its look very much too. Wish it were part of my collection. Found a collection with the same mold as said James. Very crazy stuff. They were sold on eBay on 5/30/2011 and described as "vintage". Crazy awesome James, Dorothy with cat ears/follicled tentacles, Kenneth with hair follicles, a Paula with the traditional Iris/Joel/Judy mold?? This is definitely a set I would like to own myself too. Attachments:
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Post by surfandturf on Mar 3, 2012 17:33:23 GMT -8
Very interesting observations. I have 2 Irise's in my collection and one looks almost identical to the #2 Iris. The 1st one I have is a very thick and highly detailed rubber that's not soft and squishy like the 2nd one. If I can figure out how to post pics from Photobucket, I would love to show them. I post pictures of my redline Hot Wheels on other message boards but have trouble here for some reason.
Dave.
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Post by Astronit on Mar 4, 2012 7:06:08 GMT -8
Very interesting observations. I have 2 Irise's in my collection and one looks almost identical to the #2 Iris. The 1st one I have is a very thick and highly detailed rubber that's not soft and squishy like the 2nd one. If I can figure out how to post pics from Photobucket, I would love to show them. I post pictures of my redline Hot Wheels on other message boards but have trouble here for some reason. Dave. Hi Dave, Your Photobucket pictures should be easily added to this forum with the HTML URL inserted. If your concerned that they don't show up when you "Preview" your posting - that's just something that happens with these pages, I've noticed. You can always put the direct link to your Photobucket site in also. Looking forward to seeing your Uglies.  Rubber Ugly "Joel" by Astronit, on Flickr  Rubber Ugly "Dave" by Astronit, on Flickr |
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Post by surfandturf on Mar 5, 2012 18:31:22 GMT -8
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Post by RubberUgly on Mar 6, 2012 9:50:37 GMT -8
I will try again. Here's a shot of 4 rubber uglies.  Those are great looking! Love the yellow and red eyes. |
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Post by surfandturf on Mar 6, 2012 15:28:46 GMT -8
Thank You.
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Post by toyranch on Feb 2, 2014 10:02:12 GMT -8
These are mine since I bought them new, and if not the first run, they were very early. A few came to me later than the original group.  Please forgive that I have not memorized all of their names. To my recollection, the ones that I got later were... Top row, center blue guy with 1 eye. 2nd row, 4th from the left. 3rd row, far right 4th row, far left 5th row, far right Most have black eyes, but a few have red. The top row right one has a red eye and if it were black it would not show up. I am certain this was one of the first I had. Also, when I say "later" I mean like a year or two later, not adult collected. |
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