MASUDAYA KAMEN RIDER 1 TALKER VINTAGE 1970s VINYL SOFUBI BULLMARK TETSUJIN 28

Description

This auction is for a
RARE VINTAGE 1970s MASUDAYA KAMEN RIDER 1 TALKER VINYL FIGURE.
Right off the bat, I have to own up and say that I lean more to "late-life collecting" of Tetsujin 28 / Gigantor figures (which, unfortunately, I'm also selling...).  Years ago, I thought I'd start a collection of anime-related figures to display, but you reach a certain age, and just come to the realization that that is never going to happen.  So...
I picked this up at a flea market sometime within the last fifteen years.  Back then, I didn't know who the character was, but quickly learned.  It's been languishing in a box since then.  From some research, I STRONGLY BELIEVE that this is the 1970s release of this figure, and not the 1998 reissue.  If you have any information otherwise, please email me and steer me straight!   (NOTE: A knowledgeable ebayer has informed me that since the talk box is flesh-colored, that this is an original issue of this figure.  Thanks much!)
The pictures pretty much tell the story.  I will occasionally point things out concerning condition (or differences with pictures I've seen of the re-release).
Measuring on the backside, from the antennae tip down to the sole of the boot, is 14 5/8".  At the widest point, from the outer sides of each elbow, the measurement is about 6 1/8".  It is obviously in used condition, but not abused.  There are some markings here and there.  Starting on the front of the head (and looking at the head straight on), there is light wear on the antennae (pic #2), the red eyes (left side more than the right), a light scrape on the silver area under the left eye, and a small scrape on the silver mouth area (see pic #3 for all of these).  Moving down, there is a red scarf attached.  I do not know if this is the original scarf or not (it looks like it is).
Some small black markings are apparent on five of the six "muscle ripples" on the light blue breast plate (pic #4).  There are a couple small areas of wear on both sides of that red center circle on the belt.  The legs look to be in pretty good condition, with just a couple tiny black marks on the upper left leg and groin areas (pic #5).  Since the feet / boots obviously take the brunt of the playing, there is more wear on the inner section of the left boot, and the outer area of the right boot (pic #6).  This would be a good time to point out that the head, arms at the shoulders, and the upper thighs all move.
Flipping the figure over, there are a few black marks on the back of the head.  I'll bypass the talk-box for the moment...  There are black marks on the upper inner part of the left arm.  A few light scratches appear on the legs, and some of the silver has worn off the back of the boots (pic #11).
As for the talk box (pic #10), as far as I can tell...IT WORKS!  I pulled it a few times, and it sounded like Japanese phrases being said at a normal pace.  No warbling of the voice.  It sounds like the phrases may be cut off, but this MAY be the case because I did not pull the string all the way out and release it...I was afraid it would either break or get stuck if overextended.  It's hard to tell what's being said since I have NO idea what the phrases are supposed to say!  The inner talk box is tan in color with a small center screw (the repro is a green box).  Below the silver belt at the bottom of the talk box, it says "PAT. P" in large lettering ("patent pending" I imagine).  The original pull ring is missing, with a plastic blue tab in its place.
I noticed a small difference between the original and the repro figures in the area right below the talk box.  The bottom edge of the vintage talk box drops off to almost a right angle, whereas it looks like the vinyl slopes at the bottom of the repro.  The original rivet (where the string protrudes) looks like it is on a flat part of the butt, where the rivet on the repro appears to be on the sloped part of the vinyl.  Plus the rivets are different.
Finally, there is Japanese writing on the bottom of both boots (pic #12).
I checked out the debut episode on the Shout Factory website (they have a lot of free, scattered episodes), and I can see the figure is close to the live-action outfit.  Right up there with Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot!  And love the closing song too...  I still can't figure out what the fan on the belt is for (I know it's a "transformation belt", but I don't get the fan bit).
If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest (including some Gigantor / Tetsujin 28 items).  Thanks again for looking...during these most very...very...very...troubled times...
6-14-20