Mattel #6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Card Front

I'd venture to say aloud that this version of MMM was the very first MMM toy to be released. This packaged version came with the famous jet propulsion pak and the space sled as accessories. The card reads: "Authentic space equipment adapted from official space program - Flexible space suit bends at all joints...Astronaut flies on space sled or with jet propulsion pack." 

MMM Astronaut Major MATT MASON

This appears to be one of the most common and memorable package variations offering MMM, especially by those collectors that received an MMM figure during Christmas of 1967 or early in 1968. This was offered throughout most of the MMM toy line's sale history, appearing in most of Mattel's Catalogs. 

The very first issue of Mattel #6300 held an MMM figure made of white rubber. Small pieces of tissue paper were inserted in the figure's armpits presumably to prevent the bellows from sticking. To date I've never seen a MOC white carded MMM that wasn't part of an early flight card or boxed set - I'm sure they exist but one hasn't crossed my path yet - maybe someday.

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Card Back

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Card Detail 1

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Card Detail 2

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Figure Detail

#6300 Major Matt Mason Flight Set Card Sticker Detail

Packaging:

The card is full-color, process-printed and is 9 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/8" Copyright is 1966.

Sticker Sheet:

Mattel Catalog Specifications:

(First appearance: Mattel Toys 1967 "Toy Fair" Catalog Page 91)

NEW! Major MATT MASON™ #6300
Flies with Jet Propulsion Pak and Space Sled!
Flexible Space Suit bends to any position!

Blast-off with Major MATT MASON, Mattel's Man-in-Space!

Meeting every challenge of the moon, Major MATT MASON is the adventurous astronaut who lives, works and completes courageous assignments in the Mattel Space Complex!

The six-inch tall interplanetary traveler, with equipment adapted from official space program design, wears a molded space suit with detachable helmet and movable visor.

The spaceman travels the moon surface on a special Space Sled with control column. He makes short space hops with his personal Jet Propulsion Pak, a galaxy gadget manually-operated by a simple mechanism (no batteries needed). Control column and space labels included.

Punched blister card 10" x 13"
Std. Pack: 1 Doz.
Wt: 6 Lbs.

  Mattel Fall 1967 Catalog Page 92 (notice changes):

NEW! Major MATT MASON™ #6300
Blast-off with Major MATT MASON, Mattel's Man-in-Space! The six-inch adventurous astronaut wears a molded space suit with detachable helmet and movable visor as he meets every challenge of the moon. The spaceman travels on two included vehicles, the Space Sled and his personal Jet Propulsion Pak, a galaxy gadget manually operated by a simple mechanism. Control column and space labels included. No batteries needed.

Punched blister card 10" x 13"
Std. Pack: 1 Doz.
Wt: 6 Lbs.

Mattel Toys Fall 1968 "Toy Fair" Catalog (notice that the set name has been changed to "FLIGHT SET"):

Major MATT MASON™ FLIGHT SET #6300
Adventurous astronaut flies with Jet Propulsion Pak and Space Sled to meet the challenges of space! Molded space suit, detachable helmet and movable visor. 6" tall.

Punched blister card 10" x 13"
Std. Pack: 1 Doz.
Wt: 6 Lbs. .

Variations:

• White Rubber Matt with Silver Cuffs | Detail - Notice the pieces of paper in his arm pits
• White Rubber Matt with Black Cuffs
• Black Rubber Matt with Silver Cuffs
• Black Rubber Matt/Small Head with Unpainted Cuffs | Detail - 
• Black Rubber Matt/Large Head with Unpainted Cuffs | Detail
• Black Rubber Matt with Black Straps | Detail - 
• White Card without printing on the back -
• White Card with Black Straps with printing | Back - 
• German Flight Card
• Japanese Issue Flight Card | Back
• French Flight Card 

John's Notes:

This is perhaps my favorite carded MMM collectible. I've owned 5 of these at various times and I find it interesting that so many have survived on their blister cards. I think of all the carded figures, this is a must have for the consummate MMM collector, as it represents Mattel's offering in its most comprehensive state: to own an astronaut figure with a handful of accessories, ready for play. Any boy growing up in the 60's would die to have this, and many boys cajoled their parents into purchasing one for Christmas or birthday. I can still visualize the first one I saw in Montgomery Wards, and how whiny I got trying to convince my Mom that it was worth the purchase (I didn't get one then either... I still carry the emotional scar!).

White Rubber Major Matt Masons:
Generally speaking, White Rubber Matts (WRMs) have been found with the short helmet instead of the tall one. The White Rubber, silver-cuff, short helmet variations appear to be the earliest. Both the small and large head variations have been found carded on flight cards, contrary to popular wisdom (most believe that the small head was out first. However, I have a prototype figure with the large head. My theory is that both heads have existed, pretty much from the beginning. The large head may have been created to provide a second astronaut that a kid could call by any name, giving some different play scenarios). All WRM examples that I have seen in packs have small pieces of tissue paper separating the arms from the body (to keep the bellows paint from sticking, I presume).

Sgt Storm Flight Sets:
The same basic card, but with a repainted image and green background rather than blue, was used for the Sgt. Storm Flight Card Set (Mattel Stock Number #6317).

White Carded Flight Sets:
The two white card versions may be found in Space Station Space Crawler Super Action Sets and Space Crawler Super Action Sets. The unprinted card may have come with a one-sided instruction sheet. There is also a simplified version of the card that may be found in the Firebolt Super Action Set (it contains a figure with helmet and Jet Propulsion Pak mounted on a white-backed blister card. (NOTE: this also appears to be the same blister used in the Gulf Oil Promotion).

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