MICROPHONE & TOY AMP
1978, CARNIVAL
This extremely rare dual amplifier and microphone set had multi-coloured lights that would flash along to the music. The microphone, with a 6ft cord, allowed the user to sing along to the songs. It is so rare that very few collectors have it in their collections and funnily enough, the only thing that made it a ‘KISS’ product was the logo stuck on the side - even the packaging did not mention the band or Aucoin anywhere except the sticker. Listed for $16.99 in the 1980 JC Penney catalogue, was this an item that the store decided would go well with the other KISS items and hastily organised for the logo to be made to be slipped into packaging? Did they have lots of unsold amps they thought they could move by making it a ‘KISS amp’? Who knows? It’s certainly not a KISS product in any other way. Hard to say if many (or any) made it to the mass market based on their scarcity. Others suggest that the one in the catalogue was just a mock-up and the KISS version was never made - the versions that appear in collectors’ hands may even be counterfeits (Especially as the logo sticker does not match). But we’re not touching THAT one!
Thanks to Chopareno for the info and David Hessie for the pic!