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MMM Astronaut Jeff Long

Jeff Long, Space Scientist-Rocketry

The Astronaut JEFF LONG™ - Who is he?

"Major Matt Mason's Space Buddy, Jeff Long, Space Scientist-Rocketry - Rides his Lunar Trac - Searches for rocket launch sites." (from the card back). Doug and Jeff were added in the Mattel 1969 Spring Catalog to further expand the line. Both characters are interesting in that they don't have military titles and represent mission specialists - basically scientists who perform research and provide the handling of specific technical tasks. I'm not sure if this is the introduction video (another hasn't yet surfaced), but this commercial from 1969 shows Doug Davis, Jeff Long and Callisto along with the Mattel Astrospace Center (MAC - like the MMM fan club):

Note this is the same for all astronauts and included here as a reference:

Mattel's astronaut figures were based on a bendy frame, much like what was previously used for the Gumby figure but with a bit of space age design added - there are hard plastic fins molded onto the wire armature that allow the limbs to keep their relative positions so handheld objects remain upright if needed. Other manufacturing processes used were so unique that patents were awarded:

Mattel Figure Patent:

ADJUSTABLE FIGURE TOY HAVING IMPROVED ARMATURE MEANS (MMM figure)

3,325,939 June 20, 1967 Filed Nov 21, 1966

J. W. Ryan and Ralph Dunn

"A simulated spaceman doll has a soft, pliable body supported by a soft wire armature which is encompassed by rigid stiffeners embedded in the limbs of the doll between its joints and in its body for preventing bending of the limbs and body between the joints. The stiffeners have a non-cylindrical shape and the portions of the wires which are encompassed by the stiffeners are flattened to a non-cylindrical shape for preventing relative rotation between the limbs of the toy and the stiffeners and between the stiffeners and the wires, respectively."

Patent Found by Graeme Walker

John's Notes
It's interesting to note that on the patent document, the figure originally was to have magnets in the boots so the figure could attach to surfaces, like the sled shown (you would pull the sled with a string to have the figure move). Sounds like the beginning of the Space Sled concept to me, and probably predates the Space Station with the boot tabs for holding the figures to the platforms.

Prototype:

A repainted MMM figure as Jeff Long

For all astronaut figures released after Major MATT MASON, Mattel repainted MATT figures, probably to market the figures prior to actual production. This image from the 1969 Mattel Spring Catalog introduces Jeff Long and if you look closely you'll see that it's actually a repainted MATT figure, strangely holding a short helmet.

Note the interesting paint details - silver painted cuffs, neck and boot laces. It's unknown whether those were intended or just the results of a whim of the Mattel marketing team but presumably the latter.

Note that to date, no repainted MMM figures representing Jeff Long have surfaced.

Figure Variations:

Jeff Long Figure Front View

Jeff came in a blue suit which had black straps and an absence of arm spots so similar to Doug Davis. He was probably introduced to appeal to African-American kids who had been "left out in the cold of space," so to speak, as until Jeff's appearance there were no African-Americans represented. Jeff predates the first African-American astronaut, Guion "Guy" Bluford (who was selected by NASA for the program in 1996 and historically made his first space mission in 1996 aboard Shuttle Flight STS-116) by 27 years. Jeff came carded with a white Lunar Trac and appears to have been short-packed in assortments so is much rarer than the other figures. 

Jeff Long with Helmet and red Cat Trac (note he actually came with a white one)

Like Major MATT MASON, later figures had "© 1966 MATTEL, INC." and "U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING" in larger type on their backs.


Leff Long Back View of Copyright Info

From my observations of many packaged figures, all Jeff Long figures came with the taller helmet (see below).

Packaging by Catalog Year:

Jeff Long could be found in a number of playsets and/or assortments - he's the rarest of the astronaut figures produced by Mattel. Here's a list of where you might find him by year and the case size (solicitation size from US Mattel Toy Trade Catalogs - Note that the assortments are all one large case of multiple items so the counts are of the contents):

The most common Jeff Long packaged figures are the Cat Trac (Lunar Trac) cards as they were produced in the most quantity and for the longest time. Occasionally an Astronaut Box will appear but they are extremely rare (and fakes are known to exist).

Accessories:

Tall Helmet (taller neck-ring)

All Mattel Man-in-Space Astronauts came with a helmet (as noted above, there are two different versions - the short helmet is only found on early MATT figures). Depending on packaging the figure could come with other items but most fall into one of four categories:

  • Flight Card - although there were ads in Toy Shop Magazine advertising a Jeff Long Flight Card, its existence isn't supported by any Mattel Catalog - I believe this was an unscrupulous toy seller attempting a fraud.
  • US Cat Trac (Lunar Trac) Card - Note that there are Fakes in the market displaying unusual variations.
    • Helmet w/visor
    • Red Cat Trac (or Lunar Trac depending on packaging - same item with two different names)
  • Non-US-Issued Cat Trac Card
    • As above only packaged in a different language and usually supplied by Mattel GmbH Spielzeug
  • Boxed Astronaut produced for US Space Centers and some limited overseas markets. Note that there are Fakes in the market.

John's Notes:

There's long been a rumor that Jeff Long could be found in a Space Mission Team set but from my own observations and based on Mattel Catalog evidence (there's no mention of that variation), this appears to be false. I think they would want to rework the chip box art which is entirely graphic which would be rather expensive - also it could be a logistical headache. Of course stranger things exists (such as items that aren't in any of the Catalogs) so I'm not totally discounting it. Maybe some day some evidence will appear supporting this rumor.

I noticed that in Mattel materials Major MATT MASON is initially Trademarked but by 1968 had become Registered. Storm was the same converting to Registered in 1969 with Doug following in 1970. No evidence of Jeff being registered after the initial Trademark in 1969. So about a year after release each figure except Jeff went from a Trademark to being Registered.

I tried to be as thorough as possible with this information but as always, if you see something that's inaccurate, want to have the information updated for some reason or want to contribute, contact John Eaton.

All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.
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