so i'm trying to learn about Mumbo's/1st gen M Frames because I'd like to purchase some to add to my collection. it's just so dang confusing with all the different combo's. i've been doing the research i could from various places (Thanks Paul for your help through PM), and running through various pics on flickr, it seems a lot of people confuse models and lens shapes and end up with mismatched boxes, i don't want to be one of those people.

i'm going to write all the things i think i know about Mumbo's and 1st gen M frames and hopefully you guys can confirm or correct them, here goes:

1. there were 9 original releases of the Mumbo's, each frame color (white, black, neon yellow) had 3 different variations (V, 67, Hybrid).

2. the neon yellow Mumbo colorway, in all retail versions came with black ear socks and nose piece (i've seen some pics with green socks, i'm assuming those were custom accessories).

3. the Mumbo lenses were cut slightly different than the 1st gen M frame lenses in that the Mumbo lenses used a different (Razor Blade?) nose piece.

4. for similar colorways, the Mumbo frame and the 1st gen M frame are exactly the same.

5. the 67 lens does not have a gap between the frame on the corners, while the hybrid lens does.

6. the only colorways which should have the Mumbo box with the yellow lettering are the black, white and neon yellow colors and they should have only the V, 67 and Hybrid lens options. (or could have there been an overlap in oakley putting out other colorways in the yellow lettering Mumbo boxes?)

Your observations look spot on. I wouldn't think there would be any box overlaps, since the took the Mumbo name off for a reason. If anything, I'd think the original colorways continued for a bit with the new box before the other lens options and colors started to be produced.

The Mumbo was released in late 1989, and here's the 1990 catalog:


As you see colors and lens shapes are as you stated.

1991 showed the progression from the swap over in 1990 with the addition of Strip, Sweep, Heater, with Strike/Slash promised in Fall of 1991. Colors expanded into some crystals and the 4 splatter designs.


Here's a UK pricelist from March 1992 which still called them Mumbos, but also mentions Slits (as a product name)


In 1993 we see most of the same lens colors, but the shapes are down to the normal 4 we saw until the Radar took over. Of course Hybrid was later changed once the Pro M Frame hit in 1997, but that made sense, since it was a hybrid of V and 67, both which were no longer around.

It does make mention of the rubber kits at this point with White, Slate, Blue, Black, and Clear being offerings.


In 1996, the lens shapes are still the same, with Slash pictured in the lineup finally. The Icon takes prominence on the temple instead of the Classic logo.


1997 still shows the old models despite the new Pro M Frame, which would provide the basis of the M Frame overhaul.

Awesome post, Dann. Super-cool vintage stuff. Takes me back to highschool days when I starved to death, saved my lunch money, and secretly bought M Frames when my grandparents took me to the mall!

ok, now here's where i'm going to throw you a curveball. i have a good relationship with someone who says they used to be a european distributor for oakley during the 80's into the very early 90's. i 100% believe him on this. the most modern thing he had were subzero's, i bought those first and they are 100% legit, factory fresh never opened, with the model barcode on the box, not a mark of oil from handling on them, hinges exactly how you'd expect for something that hadn't been opened for ~20 years etc.

he told me he had one mumbo in neon yellow remaining w/ heater lens and one mumbo in crystal red remaining w/ v lens. from everything i've learned, those shouldn't exist. so i was like what the...i asked him to take pics of them in the box. keep in mind, these would have (theoretically) been for sale in the europeon market not usa. other than thinking these combo's shouldn't exist with those boxes, they look totally legit, and i think they are. correct lens type sticker/label on box, correct lenses (seemingly) on frames. the fact that the UK pricelist posted still has the name as mumbo further backs up the possibility of these.

the pics are in my gallery:




what to make of this???

Don't suppose I can answer that. Oakley Europe works on their own to a degree, but since they're more marketing and distribution, not production, you'd think they would receive the same goods.

Now the only thing I can think of is perhaps Europe didn't have the legal issue with the name, so all the excess boxes were used over there. Just a wild guess. Makes me wish I was collecting at the time so I had first hand knowledge.

its interesting that one

maybe as its europeon stock as dann said the variations were slightly different, BUT...the lense sticker is blue V which should mean its a V blue iridium, not a grey lense as i understand it the lense stickers illustrated the lense colour as they did on the m-frames, blades and frogskins.....so was there a lense swop?....

after all this time, questions like this throw up and unknown......

great fun

Wouls seem so based on these in my collection:

Notice the "Mumbo Deflection Device" on the Yellow/Grey 67. The Splatter still mentions Mumbo, so they could have kept the working name for a while overseas.

yep, exactly, the unknown continues....

nice to see there are still NOS vintage pairs out there also

i love that mumbo box however long i look at it-thats what makes a real mumbo...

i've seen the stickers on the 1st gen m-frames boxes that illustrate the color, but those versions are larger square shaped stickers with the actual lens color name printed on them.

knowing as much as i do about him, i have no reason to doubt him. he really has never opened his stuff. other things i've received from him have been as such. when i first moved the hinges on the subzero's i bought from him, i knew i was the first one to touch those glasses, it was exactly as i would expect trying to move a hinge that has been sitting from the factory for 20+ years.

i guess i just made the thread b/c it's hard to belive (but i do belive it's legit) since my only resource to the vintage stuff is the database here, and if Dann didn't put it in the database, it doesn't exist, hahaha. seriously though, i posted the pics to start a good conversation, to have some fun (as Paul said) with something old, that's new.

*edit above* oh wait, i was just looking through Paul's pics of his mumbo's and he does have a mumbo with blue lens and a small blue circle sticker, but it's a different color blue. on Paul's mumbo's it's light blue with white letters, the ones in my pics are dark blue with white letters.

Good thread anyhow. We wouldn't even have this much info so far without them. I sure didn't know the first thing about most vintage until well after I started the site.

and also, doesn't Paul's mumbo box show that oakley was using the mumbo box beyond the original 9 variations which only had grey lens options?

man, this oakley mystery is too distracting, hahaha. i need to actually do real work for bit, i'll be back, haha.

you certainly started a good conversation!

i wouldnt call it fun, unless you are ok with me coming round and sinking a rusty fork into your neck so i can off with those mumbos lol!

seriously, good thread and we know as much as we know through the knowledge of members on here, but it seems this one will continue for a while!

that's how i know i'm after the right things when i have to watch out for flying sharp objects, haha.

no, honestly im joking adrian, those are trash dude, they cant even put the right glasses in the box so they match....

if i was you i would buy them to prevent them dissapointing anyone who may want to buy them, send them to me (ill cover shipping) and ill destroy them.....

its the least i can do.......

The selflessness around here is amazing.

im almost emotional over these, i feel sorry we have all had to be subjected to it......

Joking aside, I agree with part of what Paul said. Adrian, if you have bought from this person before and trust him, then I say buy the Mumbos/M-Frames, regardless of what box they are in. Worry about what they are later. You never know how long that window of opportunity will remain open.

haha, so i hate to give away the things i'm going to get instead of just popping things up by surprise in the latest purchases thread, but i am picking up his last M Frame model too and asked him to take a pic of that one to see how those stickers compared to the U.S. versions and for the M Frame it looks like they were exactly the same.



i asked him to give me a little history of the Mumbo in the European market and this is what he said:

"The Mumbo is the more ephemeral model in the Oakley story ( 1 year )and thus a model very rare to find.The european Oakley distributors received the Mumbo at the time it was
released that means in 89. The first Mumbos were produced in 3 frame colors, black, white and yellow and in 3 frame styles ( hybrid, 67, V). But in 90, further to a dispute with a clothing cie called Mambo, Oakley was obliged to change the name Mumbo in M Frame. But during a short "floating time", some identic sunglasses have been released
under the 2 names, Mumbo and M Frame. That is the reason why there were some Mumbos in other colors ( ie crystal red ) and frame styles (strike, heater ) than the first ones. And I'm quite sure that the European market was prioritary to get this "floating time" production, as the Mambo clothing cie was located far from here."

i'm not sure if any of the U.S. Mumbo's ever had the dark blue stickers with the grey lenses, but i'm positive that's how he received them. i got more proof, but you'll have to wait until i pop into the latest purchases thread down the line, haha.

Interesting stuff right here, following this closely :D
And congrats on such great scores of course ;)

good stuff

so if ive read right, you have just picked up 2 neon yellow MIN NOS mumbos and a crystal red all in mumbo boxes....dont see that everyday!

well done.....share the wealth i say-you only need one mumbo adrian ;)

I think what he states pretty much clears most of the confusion up. As we've seen the "M Frame: Mumbo with Hammers" works as a gateway between the transition. His dates seem to be spot on as well. Certainly need to flag this thread in the 'Best Of' so others can find it in the future.

yeh agreed, good clarification

guess we just need to clear up how adrian will distribute his excess mumbos......

any takers?

i definitely will be building a nice little NOS Oakley collection of the what i would consider being Oakely's 1st vintage era (80s - early 90s). i'll always listen to trades bnib for bnib. ;) there are some frogskin's and jacket's from Oakley's 2nd vintage era (mid 90s - very early 00s) that are still on my list, but i have learned to not force getting certain things. what Bob said is exactly my current motto, i'm just going with the flow and reaching into the windows that open. and yea, i might not ever see an open window like this again.