Offered here are two (2) Aurora Plastics Corp. Big Chief Bow and Arrow sets. They are in fair condition with both the cardboard and the arrow tip showing signs of age related wear. They are, however, fine examples of Aurora’s first ever product released under their own name and logo (the original rising sun with rays emanating outward). They were also the result of a failed earlier product and a happy accident.

After Aurora, which had started as a contract shop in 1950, reorganized in 1952 with Abe Shikes as President, they became a contract shop for other plastics companies in the New York city area and eventually had over 100 clients. One was Empire Plastics where Shikes was still a partner. At that time, Woolworths had placed an order for plastic hangars but after the first run declined to re-order. Now stuck with a large supply of failed hangars, a salesman for Empire noticed that, without the hook, the hangars looked a bit like the bow and arrow set that Empire had previously marketed. With a little reworking (notching the ends of the hangar and stretching string between the notches and mounting on a cardboard target) the slightly smaller than the Empire version Big Chief bow and arrow set was developed and marketed. It sold for 10 cents and both Aurora and Empire did well. So well. in fact, that in 1953 Aurora released a much larger version call Brave Warrior bow and arrow set which sold for 58 cents. These were the first products released under the newly formed Aurora’s own name and logo and led directly to the company deciding to enter the quickly growing world of plastic models releasing their first airplane models in 1954. And the rest, as they say, is history. Aurora went on the become one of the largest creators of plastic models in the world from 1954 to 1977. They were also the first one to create figure models—knights, monsters, military men, presidents, and so much more.  Now in the 2000’s, original Aurora models and toys have become highly desirable collectibles. 

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