Collection

Pac-Man Collectibles (by Deborah Palicia)

Pac-Man Museums Collection

 

Upon its release, Pac-Man became a social phenomenon that sold a bevy of merchandise like clothers, stickers, pins, glasses, mugs and so on. The Summer 1997 issue of Collectibles magazine had an article on Pac-Man collectibles, including about a dozen full-color photos.

On the right you see the “Pac-Man Collectibles” (Schiffer Book, August, 2002) written by Deborah Palicia. About the book:

When Midway Manufacturing introduced the Pac-Man arcade game in late 1980, there were many who doubted that a maze-based game could compete against the space invader games that were so prevalent. They were wrong! Pac-Man experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. It took the nation and the world by storm, and following in its wake was a stream of Pac-Man products that were gobbled up by its fans. It has been estimated that there were over five hundred different Pac-Man related items manufactured over the past twenty years. This new book catalogs many of them with complete descriptions and 415 color photographs. It covers everything from the games themselves to plush Pac-Man figures, from magazines and puzzles to videos and animation cels. Each caption includes a guide to the market value (in 2002). A must-have book for Pac-Man maniacs!

 

 

Munchman Handheld by Grandstand, UK, 1981

Munchman is a tabletop electronic game that was released under license in 1981 in the UK by Grandstand. It is a rebadged version of the Tomy game known as Pac-Man in the US and Puck-Man in Japan. The game is based on Namco’s Pac-Man arcade game with obvious limitations due to the simplicity of electronic game technology of the time and the dependency on a VFD screen. The game should not be confused with a much smaller Grandstand handheld game of the same year called Mini-Munchman. Made in Japan.

 

Puck Monster by CGL, UK, 1982

Puck Monster is a tabletop electronic game that was released under license in 1982 in the UK by CGL. The game is based on Namco’s Pac-Man arcade game and features a more original gameplay than the Munchman by Grandstand. It also has a little joystick which gives a real home arcade feeling. Made in Japan – it seems to be one Japanese producer that created the Puck Monster and Munchman series (abowe). This was also sold by Futuretronics and Gakken under the same name and design.

 

Packri Monster by Bandai Electronics, Japan, 1981

Bandai’s Pac-Man clone Packri Monster, called Pack Monster in France. Also licensed to Tandy/Radio Shack in the US as Hungry Monster and Ogre Eater. It also has a little joystick which gives a real home arcade feeling. If you go into the tunnel and then push up or down, you can stay there and hide – the ghosts will never enter! Between every 2 screens, you even get a short Pac-Man style ‘Act’. A modified case design was used for Bandai´s “Les Requins” sold in France.

 

Pac-Man Lunch Box by Aladdin Industries, USA, 1980

The Pac-Man metal lunchbox with matching plastic thermos cup dates to around 1980 and is valued from $15 – $25, with a rarity index of 2/10. Released under license from Bally Midway in the US by Aladdin Industries – a vendor of lunchboxes and thermal food storage containers. Aladdin Industries produced its last thermal products in Nashville, Tennessee in July 2002, closing its factory on Murfreesboro Road after Pacific Market International purchased it.

 

Pac-Man Radio, Tiger Electronic Toys Inc, USA, 1982

this bright yellow vintage Pac-Man AM transistor radio was produced by Tiger Electronic Toys Inc in 1982. The channel number show in the eye of Pac-Man. It originaly came with very cool Pac-Man headphones wich are very hard to find today. It had a black carrying strap.

 

Pac-Man Plush Dolls by Knickerbocker, USA, 1980

“Vintage PAC-MAN Character Doll” by Knickerbocker – A Pac-Man with a little ghost in his mouth. There are three versions known to exist: They have blue, violet or green T-Shirts labled with “SCORE WITH ME – PAC-MAN” – “HUNGRY FOR YOU – PAC-MAN” and “FAT YOU UP – PAC-MAN”. Measures approximately 4½ inches tall in the sitting position.

 

Pac-Man Promotional Pen – Empire Pen Corp., USA, 1980

Promotional Pen that was released under license in 1980 in the US by Empire Pen Corporation in Shelbyville, Tennessee, USA.