siege1863 Posted November 22, 2007 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2007 I have been wanting one of these for quite some time and finally one showed up on eBay. The "Krak-A-Japanese" machine gun was one of the most popular war-time guns. It is entirely crafted from wood with the exception of the "cooling sleeve" which is made from cardboard. The gun has a ratchet mechanism that, when cranked, makes a loud clacking noise replicating a machine gun. The bipod legs can be removed and the pistol grip moved forward so the gun be carried as a "tommy gun." The patent was applied for 28 September 1942 and granted 12 January 1943. The advertisement comes from a Winter 1944 catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siege1863 Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted November 22, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted November 22, 2007 Share #3 Posted November 22, 2007 That is great. I have always liked the WWII kids toys. I wonder how many Japs were mowed down in some childs imagination. That would have been THE toy on the block. I can just see a herd of little boys crowded around the proud owner wanting to hold it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason G Posted November 22, 2007 Share #4 Posted November 22, 2007 THAT is too cool for school! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 22, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 22, 2007 Did you pay more than $1.49 plus postage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #6 Posted November 23, 2007 Great example of this classic toy in fantastic shape. The Krak-a-Japanese Machine gun came in a water cooled and an air cooled version and were manufactured by two different companies. The Krak-a-Japanese toys also made a Jeep and an artillery piece. There was another company that used a similar rhyming scheme titled Rap-a-Japanese. The Rap-a-Japanese toys were cheap cardboard punchout toys that came in a box. Ill post some pics to go along with these. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #7 Posted November 23, 2007 This is the air cooled version compared to the water cooled posted earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #8 Posted November 23, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #9 Posted November 23, 2007 This ad appeared on the back cover of comic books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #10 Posted November 23, 2007 The artillery piece by Krak-a-Japanese. It has the same sound making mechanism on the side as the machine gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #11 Posted November 23, 2007 This is the Rap-A-Japanese combat set. They also made a Rap-a-Japanese Bomber and Fighter unit. This is an ad from 1943 that gives an ideo of what the punchouts look like when assembled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneydave Posted November 23, 2007 Share #12 Posted November 23, 2007 Outstanding! What do they sell for these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #13 Posted November 23, 2007 Mine cost much more than the $1.49 and I didnt even get a free telescope! These toys were relatively cheap in the 1940s. I would guess to make them affordable as well as the fact that supplies for toys were limited due to war time demand and restrictions on civilian manufacturing by the WPB. Because they were cheap not as many survived. A good Krak-aJap machine gum sells in the $200 + if it is in very good condition but often the cardboard barrel is well worn and this naturally takes away from the price. I included a photo below of a water cooled version with the barrel well worn. The box as well can do as much as double the price. I saw the Jeep on ebay not long ago for $99 opening bid and nobody bought it. This is just my humble opinion price as others may well see it as worth less or more. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homefrontguy Posted November 23, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 23, 2007 Yet another toy that allowed kids to fight the Japanese. This is the Bomb the Carrier Maru game. The Aircraft Carrier is all wood and has a large metal bar that is spring loaded under the deck. The little square box has three marbles and when you pull the lever it releases a marble (bomb). When the marble is released from an attacking plane and hits the deck, the deck flies off, the AA guns all fly loose. Direct Hit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA74 Posted November 23, 2007 Share #15 Posted November 23, 2007 Nice toys! Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneydave Posted November 23, 2007 Share #16 Posted November 23, 2007 Simple wartime toys that required little or no rationed material...I like these items very much...thanks for showing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut1269 Posted February 17, 2017 Share #17 Posted February 17, 2017 There's a gun and cannon listed on Ebay right now. They look to be unused... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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