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