Bell, 1950s
United States

Bulky and bomb shaped, the Atom Buster is a far cry from some of the sleeker ray guns popular during the Fifties. However, the back-swept fins and barrel design capture the menace of the atomic age.

The toy fires a blast of air, which knocks over a tissue paper target. The Atom Buster also came in green and red versions.

It's not the most common toy, as the thin, brittle plastic didn't survive the sharp smack of the internal plunger system. The fins, too, often suffered from the rough and tumble adventures of youthful space captains (see example). Don't sweat small nicks near the front of the barrel, but, if possible, it's worth paying a bit more for one with all four fins.