9 replies to this topic

[Jamesullivan]

The bootlegs most of us recieved from 25 cent gumball machines in the 80's were called "WRESTLING MONSTERS". Manufactured by "STORE ENTERPRISES INC." from "WHEELING, IL 60090". They were not recommended(thanks for that warning of my previous choice of words) for children under 3 years of age and there were 24 characters to collect.
One can assume that the trademark to distinguish them from other similiar bootlegs is most of them have partial body paint. They are very flexible. You may have the same figure with different paint colors, or painting patterns, or no paint at all.
I will now list my suggested 24 characters of the Wrestling Monsters set!
What I know for fact is that -
#11
#197
#139
#152
#225
#82
#182
#178
#186
#228
#156
They were still in the gumball card, here is a pic.  muscle_vending_card_1.jpg   61.8K   83 downloads  muscle_vending_card_2.jpg   68.23K   66 downloads_2.jpg]
Then I have my guesses as who is from the set from similiar qualities-
#174
#110
#149
#131  Wrestling_monsters6.jpg   59.47K   61 downloads
#136
#105
#112
Part11 #1  5d82_1.jpg   19.02K   46 downloads
#113
#16
#58  wrestling_monsters_4.jpg   1.88K   6 downloads
#203
#127  wrestling_monsters_5.jpg   103.97K   43 downloads

Which equals 24. Of course there are about 1-4 figures that have no paint nor are they in gumball packaging. However due to frequent appearances I made an educated guess. Also I noticed with the figures in the sealed packaging, the figures vary from a light tan to a medium tan. So there is a slight color differential.
I hope this is helpful. Perhaps if anything it proves that there was no safety issue with Part11#1. Which leaves alot of open room as to why some non-muscle sculpts were not made into M.U.S.C.L.E. sculpts. Also it will help us distinguish some of the origen of some bootlegs.
Just a note, bootlegs cost a quarter in 1980's, according to ToyFare M.U.S.C.L.E.s mostly go for 50 cents to a dollar today.

Edited by Jamesullivan, 16 March 2008 - 07:06 PM.

[matthewf1tz]

an interesting read...thanks James. And I'm loving the MOC pictures

[lhssenior]

I can add that all 9 figures I have from this bootleg line have all been accounted for thus far in your research:
11
149
152
174
182
197
203
225 x 2
-Barry

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

There has probably been more than 10 different companies knocking off Muscles and the such within the past 20 years in the U.S if I had to guess. Most of which were probably sold in Gumball machines.

Cool to know the name of one of the Bootleg series though. Are these your pictures or did you get them off eBay? I remember a guy a while back that was selling a couple Gumball Cards with Bootlegs on them, can't remember exactly, but someone posted them. I'm not talking about the one posted the other day though.

[Jamesullivan]

There has probably been more than 10 different companies knocking off Muscles and the such within the past 20 years in the U.S if I had to guess. Most of which were probably sold in Gumball machines.

Cool to know the name of one of the Bootleg series though. Are these your pictures or did you get them off eBay? I remember a guy a while back that was selling a couple Gumball Cards with Bootlegs on them, can't remember exactly, but someone posted them. I'm not talking about the one posted the other day though.

The 2 gumball cards are mine, the picture with 9 figures is also mine all from EBay purchases. The other pictures were found surfing my way around Little Rubber Guys!

[asator]

Why would they be recommended for kids under 3? Aren't m.u.s.c.l.e. figures like, the perfect size for kiddies to put in their mouths?

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

That's pretty nifty james. Whether anyone likes it or not, those are two pretty rare pieces you have there. I'm sure there are many people out there who have collected gumball cards since the 80's though. I would like to go through their collections to see what I remember.

[dankingery]

Why would they be recommended for kids under 3? Aren't m.u.s.c.l.e. figures like, the perfect size for kiddies to put in their mouths?

i think you answered your own question..

[jmac]

i have some quarter machine toys that were rip offs of the musles and some that were their own thing some are like rubbery and soft and some are hard plastic i wonder if they had names i know one says robin on it.

[NamaNiku]

Great post James - thanks for sharing!