Extremely rare Dalek toy prototype for sale on ebay

Monday, May 12, 2008

I said that some of the items listed on ebay would be really special. This is a unique chance to own an original toy prototype from the toy designers.

There’s rare, and there’s really rare. And this is even rarer! This prototype literally is the ‘daddy of all Daleks’ – at least the 5-inch toy ones.

The item for sale on ebay is a prototype/proof model, created before the production of the new series 5-inch Dalek toys. It is one of only a few created – these are used as ‘proofs’ to enable to toy design to be signed off by the BBC.

Dalek prototype

You will never see one of these for sale in a shop or toy fair – and it is extremely rare.

It was created by Design Works in Windsor, who did the design and model-making for Character Options for the new series Dalek toys. It is signed by the owners/model-makers of Design Works (on the base) and comes with their business cards.

It was presented directly to myself, by them, on 9 August 2005 when I went to interview them for the Dalek Links Web site – before the new series Daleks had been on air.

It is a highly detailed resin model, which is hand-finished and unpainted.

Unlike the retail toys, the mid section does swivel, as does the dome – both parts are connected to the body section with a thick metal pin. The gun, eye and arm don’t move.

It is in excellent condition, just some very tiny scuffing (before I owned it) as a result of the normal handling as this as a proof item. Also, it contains the foibles of the material itself – you can see some discolouration on the base, but this is not damage or wear and tear.

This is a serious, genuine one-off, collectors’ piece, the like of which is very unlikely to ever come to market again. It is possibly the only one, or one of very few, in private hands.