Laser Breathing Robosaur

Laser Breathing Robosaur / DYNA-SAW / MASTERMIND
Remote Control
Glacier Toys / Glacier Enterprise GE-118
GO-7425X

Left: Remote control version
Right: Windup version

In the mid 1980's Glacier Toys of Taiwan released a small 3" mini dinosaur. This dinosaur figure would eventually transition from a simple manual windup figure to a more complex remote controlled figure that could pick up small objects.

Glacier Toys would release a direct to market version under the GE label known as 'Laser Breathing Robosaur'. Later Glacier would release an upgraded version under the name 'DYNA-SAW', as if a hillbilly was pronouncing "DINO-SAUR". Lastly Glacier Toys would sell their manufacturing services to Transistor Robots and produce a figure under the name 'MASTERMIND'. 
 

VERSIONS (V1) - (V4)

(V1) Windup Versions

As shown on the packaging, the figure does actually shoot SPARKS from it's mouth - pretty cool!! (See video further below)

(V1a) Purple

Notice the manual windup device mounted on the side of the body. Unfortunately this figure is missing both hand guns. Sticker on the lower leg reads:
G7
GO-7425X

(V1b) Lime Green

Figure came with two yellow hand guns. This example is missing one of it's guns.
Again, it is clear to see the leg sticker of: G0-7425X

(V1c) Navy Blue

Photo Credit: Flattermann2

Video Credit: Flattermann2
See the actual SPARKS come out of their mouths!

SPARKS are alive!


(V2) Remote Control Versions
Forward & Backward motion only

 Glacier Toys promotional print. This image comes from a larger toy print/catalog that we acquired. The catalog highlights toys which Glacier could manufacture for other private label toy companies as well.
In the above promotion print, note the labeling of "GE-118". GE = Glacier Enterprise, product number 118 corresponds to Laser Breathing Robosaur.

The box wording on this version claims to be "remote" controlled, however,
a cord actually connects the figure directly to the controller.

(V2a) Grey

Note the manual windup device has been removed from the side of the figure. Unfortunately, in this case the black wire connecting the figure to the controller has been cut off. You can see a fragment of the black wire still sticking out the back.

Note the same G7, GO-7425X sticker on the leg.
Figure is missing both hand guns.

 (V2b) Black

This example shows it with one gun in the hand.
In addition, the wire connecting to the controller is still intact.

Back of the box oddly enough has the display window on it.

Foam tray insert Robosaur

 

Noteworthy is the blue and black outline drawing on the top of the box. This drawing is the same style off of the Glacier Toys promotional print above and the back of the (V3) box below.

(V3) Remote Control Versions
Forward & Backward motion
and Pickup/Lift/Release (arms)

 

(V3a) Grey

Photo Credit: The Old Robots Website

Glacier Toys transitions from a figure that can only move forward and backward, to figure that also has arm movements. This new figure was released under the name DYNA-SAW and could pick up small objects.

 

Dyna-Saw packing very much mimics the box style of 1980's Royal Condor products which were also produced in Taiwan and most likely by Glacier Toys as well.

Note the blue to pink gradient lettering of Lift-N-Carry with the heavy black outline. Also note the blue to black grid background on the DYNA-SAW box above. Both of these characteristics appear over and over again on Royal Condor packaging. 

Some examples below are boxed versions of ASTROBOT and PENTA BOT.

DYNA-SAW in action.
Video Credit: Low Barometer Traders

 (V3b) Red

 

Back of the DYNA-SAW box.
Note the pale blue diagram of the figure and it's actions is the same style as Laser Breathing Robosaur above.

 

(V4) Remote Control Versions
Forward & Backward motion
and Pickup/Lift/Release (arms)

Photo Credit: RoboPlastic Apocalypse (Click Here)

Transistor Robots (Four Star) would release the (V3) figure under their label with the new name of 'MASTERMIND". While we do not have a high-resolution photography of Mastermind with his package, we can still view the DYNA-SAW figure to know what he actually looked like.

Since Glacier Toys supplied products to Transistor Robots, it is clear to see, even in the low-resolution newspaper ad that the (V3) DYNA-SAW and (V4) MASTERMIND are he same figure while the actual colors may have varied.

SIDE NOTE:

Like T-Rex transforming figures?
Very interesting Grimlock type figure: Big Beast Guardlanship
(Click here to learn more)

 
(Astro Magnum Home Page)

Have additional information or photos? Looking to sell a variant figure?
Please contact us at: astromagnumguide@gmail.com

SPARK MAN - 4 Changeable

SPARK MAN - 4 Changeable
Super Electronic
Space Robot/Gun
Intecs LTD - KOREA
Item No.109

The man, the myth, the legend... SPARK MAN!

In 1983, a Japanese toy company called Toyco would release a magnificent transforming figure to the world named 'Astro Magnum'. Shortly afterwards, Toyco would license the Astro Magnum manufacturing mold/design to a Korean toy company called 'Intecs'. Later in 1983, Intecs released the first of several licensed figures they would produce. Even before Intecs Transformers G1 Shockwave was released, the world would meet... SPARK MAN!

Astro Magnum is the original, the big kahuna or top dog of them all. In the long lineage of licensed and KO figures that came from the original Astro Magnum mold, SPARK MAN is a must have!

 

 Picture above: (v2) Spark Man figures and (v2) box.
Showing 3 of 7 complete SPARK MAN examples used for this post.

Made in Korea

Shockwave box. Photo credit: IamRachet.com

Box back of an AFA graded Transformers G1 Shockwave.
Below the Tech Specs it reads:
"Made and printed in Korea. Manufactured by Intecs, Ltd., Seoul"

VERSIONS
There are three versions of SPARK MAN (v1), (v2) & (v3).
These versions differ in their boxes, stickers, wrist molds and battery covers.

Box Front Differences

(click picture to enlarge)

Currently, of the dozen or so photographed boxed examples of Spark Man that circulate on the internet, this is the only known example of a (v1) box.

Differences between (v1) box on the left & (v2) box on the right:
A. (v1) box no "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker on the box top right corner
B. (v1) figure no "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker on the figure
C. (v1) patent area is completely blank on the front.

Box Back Differences

(click picture to enlarge)

(v1) Does not have USA patents listed yet.
Taiwan patent is 'stamped' on the box only.

(v2) Has four USA patents now.
Taiwan patent is printed on the box now.
"PATENT PENDING" has red letters now.

SPARK MAN's (v2) box reads: Exciting space sounds with pulsating lights.
It also shares:
Patent Pending information
Japan: 58-037528
U.K/Hong Kong: 1016277
Korea: 11123
USA: 583161, 583162, 583163, 583164
Taiwan: 7330259

LICENSED BATTERY COVER IDENTIFICATION

Evolution of the Astro Magnum battery cover molds.
1. 'Made in Japan' stamp. 'Battery Energy Gunborg' sticker. Symmetrical

2. 'Made in Korea' silver sticker. Symmetrical
3. 'Made in Korea' stamp. Symmetrical
4. 'Made in Korea' stamp with deep slots. Asymmetrical
5.'Made in Korea' stamp with shallow slots. Asymmetrical

(v2) SPARK MAN box scan. Instructions are on the back.
(Click to enlarge)

Instructions on the box show you how to change from:
1. SPARK MAN
2. ANTI-AIR-GUN (GUNBORG)
3. VULCAN BASE
4. LASER GUN

 

SPARK MAN's box features photographs of the blue & black Astro Magnum prototype used on Astro Magnum's box, these are not pictures of SPARK MAN.

Foam tray for SPARK MAN (v1) & (v2) are identical

(v2) Spark Man

SPARK MAN did not come with an optional sticker sheet or loose instructions. The instructions were printed on the back of SPARK MAN's box. The only sticker (v2) SPARK MAN had was factory applied and it reads: © 1983 Intecs LTD. This sticker was applied onto the top of his chest and in rare cases it was placed on the front of the clear plastic chest window.

A.  "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker on (v2) figure.
B. Residue from where the "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker used to be on (v2). 

 

Above: Spark Man (v3).
The figure does not have an Intecs chest decal. The wrist has a ridge on it now. The battery cover is asymmetrical and has deep slots now. This figure has evolved in the manufacturing process and is now identical to N-4-SR (v3) and Electronic Magnum (v2).

TF Scraps blog has a great article on (v3) Spark Man
(click here)

Photo Credit: Logicfry

Rare example of the (v2) "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker being placed on the chest window.
Noteworthy is the sale sticker for $23.99.

The exact same (v2) "© 1983 Intecs LTD." sticker on the figure was also placed directly on the outside of the SPARKMAN box in the top corner next to Item NO.109
Intecs LTD does not appear printed on the box.

The SPARK MAN artwork above is unique to only the SPARK MAN box and not lifted from Astro Magnum nor repeated on other subsequent figures.

SPARK MAN often comes with what appears to be a coded price sticker. It reads:
795468  $12.99
*ROBOT PISTLD
915 M37 TY1
The last line on each sticker is some kind of unique code, meaning = unknown currently.
Similar type stickers can be found on (TG-117 Robot Pistol) boxes.

UPDATE: These prices stickers appear to have come from Spencer Gifts, the store found in just about every 1980s mall.

Photo Credit: Brandon Alamo - Rogue Five Toys

SPARK MAN sound switch has two sound options. Unlike Astro Magnum, SPARK MAN does not come with a sound switch sticker identifying those sounds and the space remains blank.The black sound switch has 5 small ridges.

The back of this particular Spark Man box has a Korean quality control sticker applied to it. A similar quality control sticker can be found on the Korean made (Robot-Gun) box.

Photo courtesy: JCShockwave instagram (v2) Spark Man

 Excluding the top flap, SPARK MAN and (Galactic Man) have the same size box and almost identical foam inserts. Also shown (Super Electronic Gun Astro Magnum).

CUSTOM

Here we have a (V1) Spark Man figure that someone previously customized. It includes custom Autobot stickers as well as converting the eye to chrome vs. a red color. Beautiful figure to have as long a collectors realize it is custom vs. an official release.

SPARK MAN is a wonderful figure that is harder and harder to find. Finding a figure with the Intecs sticker still intact is collecting gold! Only second to the actual Astro Magnum figure, SPARK MAN should be on every collectors list! Happy hunting everyone and thank you Intecs of Korea for the collecting fun!

(Astro Magnum Home Page)

Questions of comments, please email us at: astromagnumguide@gmail.com

Thank you!

G1 Dinobot Sludge - Glacier Toys - Glacier Enterprise (GE) Knockoffs

Dinosaur Robo: Glacier Enterprises GE-1298 series to Robosaur to Transistor Robots.
Dinobot Sludge bootleg - "Made in Taiwan" 

For additional information on Glacier Toys / Glacier Enterprise's background and history with Dinosaur Robo please visit our page on Dinosaur Robo (GE) series KO Slag (Click Here)

(Left): Robosaur Brontosaurus. (Middle): Four Star Dinosaur I Robot. (Right): Dinosaur Robo

This post will follow and catalog the chronological lineage of Glacier Enterprises 'Sludge' or Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus figure through it's evolution. Takara Dinosaur Robo, Prehistory Animal, Ancient Animal, Dinosaur Robot, Transformers Sludge, etc. will be picked up in a subsequent post.

(V1)
(V1) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus

Example 1: (V1) GE-1298
Dinosaur Robo 2 Brontosaurus
Litardi SPA Italy stcker
Photo Credit: Astrogiochi

Photo Credit: Astrogiochi

(V1) GE logo upper left corner. Yellow circle burst behind the figure. Figure comes with chrome sword and electron cannon.

Photo Credit: Fantasy Games

Example 2: (V1) Comes with chrome sword and black electron cannon.
Damaged Italian distributor sticker in upper right corner:
'CID' or Centro Italiano Distribuzione Italy.


(V2)

(V2) ASTRO-FORM - 2 Brontosaurus

Photo Credit: themycia

ASTRO-FORM TM
Released by: Videl Distributing Corp. Concord, Ontario - Canada.
Upper right corner shows ASTRO-FORM was then being sub-distributed in Italy by:
'CID' or Centro Italiano Distribuzione Italy.
Note: GE logo and GE-1298 removed from the box.

Black text at the bottom of the box gives us the name VIDEL DISTRIBUTING CORP.
Text at the top in black contains bi-lingual English and French wording.

Photo Credit: themycia
Damaged figure missing chrome shoulder piece.

While these images of ASTRO-FORM are low-resolution, they are:
1. Currently the only known images of ASTRO-FORM (Sludge)
2. Critical into seeing Glacier (GE) produce a mixed private label figure/box with both GE & Videl Distributing.

In Canada, Videl Distributing Corp. filed the trademark "Astro-Form" on Dec 5th, 1984. Videl would use the name Astro-Form on other products they sold.

Photo Credit: Dr. Bias
Videl's "Astro-Form" version of Bandai's Scrambled Egg.
Bi-lingual English / French packaging.

In November of 1985, Videl Distributing would find themselves in a legal dispute with Takara Co LTD & Hasbro Canada Inc. over "Copyright Infringement". Court number:
T-2455-85 (click here)

(V3)
(V3) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus

Example 1: GE Glacier logo removed from upper left corner, GE-1298 remains.
Front half of the body is still smooth without body plates.
Clear head, gray body parts.

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection

Example 2: GE Glacier logo removed from upper left corner.
Front half of the body is still smooth without body plates.
Clear head, gray body parts.

 

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection

Complete: Figure, box, foam insert, sword, dinobot blaster & unused sticker sheet.

(V4)
(V4) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus (horn added)

Introduction of the HORN on the head. Also, the introduction of the geometric body plates on BOTH the rear half and now the front half.
Clear head, clear horn & smooth gray body parts.

(V5)
(V5) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus
(V5) Tan neck & Tan foot

Figure has geometric body plates down the entire length of the figure's back.

Example 1: Mixed body colors. Tan textured neck. Tan rear foot.

Example 2: Mixed body colors. Tan textured neck. Tan rear foot.

Figure in robot mode has a red chest.

(V6)
(V6) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus
Gray back half of the body.

Introduction of the 6 feet variants
Prior versions had hinges on the tail section to allow the tall to fold over.
Versions (V6) and higher, the hinges are instead replaced with new 5th & 6th mini feet.

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection.
VDM Italy import sticker.

Example 1: (V6) We now see the introduction of the orange: head cap, horn & upper neck.
The lower neck is gray. The rear half of the figure's body is all gray. Front limbs are tan.
This picture show a complete figure: box, figure, foam, weapons and unused sticker sheet.

Example 2: (V6)

(V7a & V7b)
(V7) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus
Tan back half of the body.

(V7a)

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection

(V7a) Imported into Italy via 'VDM' or 'Vi Da Mi' S.A.S Milano Italy

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection

(V7a) Figure still has an orange head cap, horn & upper neck. Lower neck and front limbs are gray. Rear half of the body is tan. Figure has geometric body plates along entire back.

(V7b)

(V7b) Also imported into Italy via 'VDM' or 'Vi Da Mi' S.A.S Milano Italy

(V7b) This is the same figure as (V6a) except the front limbs are tan.This particular example is unfortunately damaged with the top of it's orange head cap removed.

(V8a & V8b)
(V8) Dinosaur Robo - 2 Brontosaurus
Laser box art

(V8a)
(Clear Head)

Box art has been completely changed to laser lines and artwork figure vs. a photograph of the figure on the front of the box. All references to GE have been removed

Photo Credit: Rob Srnecz Collection

 
The figure on the box is highly deceptive. The actual figure is gray despite the tan figure on the box. Box is actually showing a (V10) Four Star figure.

(V8b)
(Orange Head)

Figure comes with a chrome sword and black electron cannon gun.
 

(V9a & V9b)
(V9) Robosaur - Brontosaurus #117

Robosaur, unlike the (V8) box uses figure photography vs. art work. Despite using photography, once again the tan figure used on the box is actually the (V10) Four Star tan figure.

Robosaur Brontosaurus #117.
In 1985 Glacier Enterprises Inc. Ltd (GE) began manufacturing for:
Wales Industries Inc. New York. Samples exist with Toys "R" Us & Playland price tags. Playland price tag was $9.99.

Wales Industries would find themselves in a legal dispute with Hasbro.
In Wales Indus.Inc. vs. Hasbro Bradley Inc. it said:
"Plaintiff Wales Industrial Inc. ("Wales") plans to import and distribute into the United States its own version of several convertible robot toys, which are manufactured in Taiwan by third party defendant Glacier Enterprises Co., Ltd. ("Glacier"), a Taiwanese company".

Robosaur Brontosaurus now comes with BONY body plates vs. the geometric shapes in prior versions.

(V9a & V9b) are the same box, foam and figures. They only differ in their weapons.

A. (V9a) Figure comes with the electron cannon gun and chrome sword.
B. (V9b) Figure comes with different black blaster and chrome ax now.

 

 Unlike other Dinosaur Robo versions or a G1 Sludge Transformer, the chest pieces are 'NOT' intended to open in (V8-V10) figures. Chest should remain closed as seen in image A. Since there are no hinges, any attempt to open the chest will simply break the pin instead.

Photo Credit: RoboPlastic Apocalypse
Toys & Gifts Outlet advertisement: 10/23/85

(V10)
(V10) Transistor Robots (Four Star) - Dinosaur I Robot

Photo Credit: Shane Sallee Collection

Note price tag: $8.97
Transistor Robots were often sold at Kmart.

Photo Credit: Shane Sallee Collection

 Back of the box.
Transformation instructions
"Made in Taiwan
1985 © FOUR STAR"

Photo Credit: Shane Sallee Collection

Dinosaur I Robot came with same weapons a (V9b) Robosaur:
a black gun as well as a chrome ax

 Note, silver eye sticker has fallen off of this example.

(V10) Transistor Robots Dinosaur I Robot, Dinobot Sludge KO.
Distributed by Four Star International Trading Company in 1985.
Sidenote: Dinosaur II Robot was a Dinobot Slag KO.
Click here to see the Four Star Slag post
"Dinosaur converts to robot"

This example has the silver eye sticker still applied.

Four Star version = Tan Body

The Four Star version is easily identified:
1. Tan body (limbs, neck, back half)
2. Full back has BONY body plates
 

 Similar to the Four Star Slag KO, the underside of the body has a sticker:
"1985© FOUR STAR" and the "Made in Taiwan" stamp.

 

Visit KO Dinobot Slag
CLICK HERE

Visit KO Prontosaurus 3 - winged Sludge
CLICK HERE

Colorful Grimlock Dinobot bootleg
Visit the Big Beast Guardlanship review
CLICK HERE

 

Know of an additional version? Please let us know.
If you are looking to sell a variant,  please contact us with some detailed pictures and an asking price. We are very much still collectors ourselves and are always looking for new additions.

astromagnumguide@gmail.com