Fan Made Major Matt Mason Items

Space Diner Reproduction Lunchbox

Over the years fans have made several items that don't really qualify as Customs (in my book Customs are designed to expand the line from a play perspective - more info in that area). In this section I'll explore those items that have been created that are a bit more ancillary to the line. In general these items were made "on the down-low" as, since they aren't licensed, there's some fear of a Cease-and-Desist order coming from Mattel. Also note that they were usually made in very small quantities and may or may not have been shared with other collectors - not really enough to make any real money from, but rather as custom art objects to distribute to fans. This list is a way to inform collectors of the origins of these items so there's understanding of when they were made as they aren't truly of the same vintage of the original Mattel toy line (late 60's, early 70's).

These are items in my possession - I did not buy them directly from whomever made them - I don't usually participate in those types of sales. Instead I got these second-hand through collectors who had acquired them from someone else, etc. I have no knowledge of who made them and really for the most part, I don't want to know. 

Space Diner Reproduction Lunchbox

In the early 2000's we, as collectors first came to know that a Major Matt Mason lunchbox existed - prior to a 1967 Mattel Catalog surfacing, we had no idea that one existed other than rumor. Shortly after one showed up as part of a collection - some enterprising MMM fan created the red lunchbox with images taken from an actual lunchbox - a very small quantity was made and distributed to fans. I think it may have also been available on a blue box. If you look closely you'll see that the lunchbox is a generic type of hard plastic, probably colored PET or HDPE. The images from the Mattel Lunchbox is printed on a glossy label and applied to each side. The lunchbox came with a matching red thermos (no stickers on the thermos). 

Blue Lunchbox Front

Blue Lunchbox Back

Several years after it was offered I was able to obtain the reproduction lunchbox along with this blue lunchbox - it has different MMM items on each side of a blue box (with matching thermos). I'm not sure if it's a one-off but I've included it in case one turns up. One side has "Mattel's Man in Space" with an image from the Astro Trac box. The other side has an image of the Control Center from the Space Station box.

Major MATT MASON watch

In the mid-2000s this Major Matt Mason watch appeared for sale - there was some rumor that it was a licensed item - I'm not sure, but as I recall it was to be limited to 50 pieces. The one on the left is in the original bubble wrap as it was distributed - I acquired the second one through a fan who traded it to me for items he needed in his collection.

Major MATT MASON embroidered patch

I have no idea who made this patch - it's 4 to 5 inches square and embroidered - not a bad job actually. It does mean that an embroidery tape/file exists. As I recall it was given to me by someone who had an extra. I'm not sure if it was sold but as I recall some ended up for sale on eBay.

"MAC" and "21st CENTURY MATT"

The final two items are T-shirts, the top is a MAC shirt on a gray tee and the bottom is a black tee with the good Major waving "21st CENTURY MATT" under his raised arm. Both of these are screen printed. There are at least two other T-shirts that I'm aware of (not including those that are currently available on Etsy or eBay - 2024):

Joe Ferreira's T-Shirt

In the late 90's Joe Ferriera under a pseudonym Joe King, attempted to revive Major Matt Mason as a new line of stories and toys. He had these T-shirts for sale at San Diego Comic Con.

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