I was a little squirt in the late 1930s when I used to listen to the full run of kids' programs between 5:00 and 6:00 each weekday afternoon.

They also ran "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" on the radio, but I was already acquainted with the comic strip. This was my all-time favorite and made me a confirmed science fiction fan for life (even taking a whack at writing the stuff myself).

This was in the Depression, and although my father was working regularly, money was tight. My sisters and I had no sense that we were "poor" or anything like that, but sometimes money for toys and such was kinda scarce. I did have pocket knife, and I usually didn't have much trouble rustling up a few pieces of wood. Scrap lumber and such. And I got pretty skilled at "whittling."

I saw an ad for a Buck Rogers XZ-38 disintegrator pistol, made by Daisy. This one: clicky.   Here's a close-up.

Much too pricey to buy outright, and although you could get one for a couple of dozen bubble-gum wrappers and a quarter, I was too impatient to chew all that bubble-gum and I didn't have a quarter. So I rummaged through my collection of scrap wood, drew forth my trusty pocket knife, and went to work. I knew exactly what the XZ-38 disintegrator pistol looked like, and between some careful carving of parts, a couple of wood screws, and a dollop or two of glue, followed by some copper-colored paint my dad had in the garage, I turned out a pretty creditable replica. It was the envy of the other kids in the neighborhood.

Getting the tri-thermal convergence unit and the sub-atomic condenser right was kinda tricky, though. Also, mine didn't produce a loud "POP!" when you pulled the trigger like the store-bought one did. My own vocalized "BRRRAAAP!" was far more convincing.

Later on, someone gave me a genuine XZ-31 rocket pistol (made by Daisy). And shortly thereafter, an XZ-44 "liquid helium" pistol (mine didn't have all the garish paint, it was plain copper or brass colored). The XZ-44 was actually a water pistol with a substantial capacity. You could drench somebody with that sucker!

As I understand it, the XZ-38 disintegrator was essentially the same as a Star Trek phaser, but with only one setting. Anything you shot with it simply vaporized. The XZ-31 rocket pistol fired tiny rocket-powered bullets that exploded when they hit something. Sort of like a miniature, hand-held bazooka. The XZ-44 liquid helium pistol never appeared in the comic strip, and although it had a very "Buck Rogers-ish" look, I think it was just some toy manufacturer's idea. Well designed, however, and one helluva squirt-gun!

I also had a whole toy-box full of space ships that I made myself, modeled after the drawings in the comic strip.

If Killer Kane and Ardala showed up, or if the Martian Tiger-Men actually did invade earth as they threatened to do, I was all ready for them.

Don Firth

P. S. We didn't have any video screens or things that made electronic beeps back then, but we had vivid imaginations. That's a powerful resource.