Rubber Finger Monsters - [Folktoy.]

Rubber Finger Monsters. - [Folktoy.] - Circa late 1970's- early 1980's - also known as "Jigglers" "Uglies" "Finger Frights" "Moon Monsters" "Blobby guys"

• About: brightly, neon coloured, sometimes translucent, jiggly, rubber finger puppets.  – The exact origins to the designs are mysterious; (nobody seems to know exactly who exactly designed/produced them) and there seem to be variant brands found all around the world. - For the sake of simplicity, we'll be focusing on the Finger monsters found in North America today, where they still often circulate as a Party Favour, Arcade prizes, Classroom Rewards, or Dentists Treasure. (As they where very affordable to buy in bulk, when they where first produced, most cost 25¢.) Although they don't seem to have any credible folklore connected to them (in my research I've seen it claimed that they're moon aliens or perhaps 'bed monsters'.) - regardless, at this point they are certainly a part of a few generations collective childhoods. so it felt only right to include them in my collection.

• History: The earliest news clipping i could find about them is from a COSTPLUS newspaper imported toys catalogue dated 1984, which states that they where imported from somewhere unknown in hong-kong. - I've also found a vintage sign dating to the 80s [below via etsy] [so, it's very likely that these do in-fact go back a little bit further to the late 1970's, however these where the earliest evidence i could find online and i havent found anything from the 70s with proof attatched... so lets just keep writing!]-

...The original run seems to have been mass produced/manufactured in hong kong via the "diamond vending supply co." (nothing turns up when googling it.) -(which likely explains the somewhat sloppy (but oh, so very charming) paint job which the originals had.)

[image source: little weirdos.net]

According to the Archie McPhee Story "who would buy this?" [2008] the company sold the 'original' mass produced rubber finger monsters in 1993, But, Eventually the toys original manufacturers let the moulds become warped and also started using cheaper materials. (–as someone who's worked with molds to make figurines; that would likely explain why there's such a wide variety of shapes!!) – So, In response to the quality-dip; in 1994, Archie Mcphee & Co released a "deluxe set of original finger monsters" which they made themselves, they updated the designs, whilst attempting to stay true to the original puppets and making sure what they sold was of a decent quality. - These newer versions had a more solid paint job are made of 'soft rubber' and are a bit more 'alien-like' than 'monster-like' - the website claims that the monsters "come from the planet finger!"

[the new generation @Archie Mcphee]

– although i dont personally think they're quite as charming as the original cruder generic blobby guys, the company claims to have apparently sold over 4 million by 2008. (likely much more by now.) so i'm sure that its only a matter of time before they take over the planet. as for who made the original designs - I'd suppose it still remains a nostalgic mystery. I'll be sure to update this post if i ever find out more or if i ever draw additional monsters, for now green will have to do :)

Sticker Art & Research by @Samkalensky, part of my 'folktoys' & nostalgia series of stickers, check my shop and support for many more :)