MYSTERY : Transforming Robot KOs

MYSTERY COMPANY ?

HELP! Who did it?

In 1985, an unidentified toy company took a surprising step in the world of Taiwanese transforming robots—by gathering a set of seemingly unrelated knockoff figures and uniting them into a single, cohesive robot collection. This newly assembled lineup features seven distinct robots, all repackaged and rebranded to form a connected series.

The company sourced existing (V1) figures and reissued them in updated (V2) and (V3) packaging designs, complete with exclusive group artwork—the key visual element that ties these seven robots together as one collection. While researching this topic, four possible manufacturer or distributor names have consistently surfaced:

M & J Merchandises, Inc.
TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
LEECOTEX IND. CO., LTD
Tzan Hung Toys

Despite these leads, the true identity of the company responsible for combining these figures remains unknown. If you have more information or additional clues that could help solve this mystery, your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Artwork from the back of the boxes. 
Version 1: features (9) figures with wide scenery
Version 2: features (10) figures with narrow but taller scenery

Artwork Figure List
1. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy fighter)
2. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (jet helicopter)

3. Thunder Bot

4. Tankbot

5. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy tank)

6. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy offending tank)

7. Fightbot

8.Timebot

9. Motortron (white)

10. Motortron (black)

CONVERTIBLE
COSMIC FIGHTER

(V1) CONVERTIBLE COSMIC FIGHTER
20 in 1
Battery operated figure 
Sold for $22.99

(V2) CONVERTIBLE COSMIC FIGHTER
Box cover with 10 mini pics on the front of the box.

(Back of the box)
Photographs demonstrating how a single toy converts 
into 20 different alternative modes
"Made in Taiwan R.O.C."

Foam insert with components to make 20 unique vehicles
Knockoff of Takara's Microman Armored Machine Cosmic Fighter
Similar to Grandstand Convertors Deltrarian Fighter.


TANKBOT

Tankbot with his Tomahawk ax and Arm Gun

 
(V1) TANKBOT
Accessories visible via box windows
Knockoff of Takatoku Sankan-OH DX
Also sold as 'Shogun-Robo Voltus DX' by TTW Toys 702.
"Transformer!! Tank - Robot"
(back of the box currently unknown but probably similar to V2)


(V2) & (V3) TANKBOT
(Box Front)
Only the figure is visible now
Diecast Metal
Made in Taiwan


Foam insert with weapons

(V2) TANKBOT
(Box back)
Transformer!! Tank - Robot


(V3) TANKBOT
(back of the box)

U.S. Customs & Border Protection lists both 
TANKBOT and FIGHTBOT with CBP Recordation Effective Date: 3 Oct 1985
CBP list the Owner of Intellectual Property Right as:
M & J Merchandises, Inc.


FIGHTBOT

(V1) FIGHT BOT (red & black)
14 in 1 Fighters
Taiwanese knockoff of Takara's DIAKRON Multi-force 14 Robot or 

Diaclone Gats Blocker. 

(V2) FIGHT BOT (green & purple)

(V2) FIGHTBOT version comes

 in Transformers Constructicon colors

"Transform from 14 fighters to robot and back!"
Box front


Example 1: Inside foam insert

Example 2: Inside foam insert with alternative driver colors


Example 3: Variant colored drivers with more white parts


Box rear
Made in Taiwan R.O.C.
Collection artwork in top left.

French toy catalog featuring FIGHTBOT
as well as HERGOSS robots Macross & Baxinger.
To learn more about HERGOSS figures (click here)

  

THUNDER BOT

(V1) Thunder Bot (Box front)
(V1) No window on the front of the box to view Thunder Bot in heli mode.
Copyright information centered on box front.
Robot & Black Thunder Heli


(V2) Thunder Bot (Box front)
1. Copyright information on the left side of the box
2. Cutout see through window on the front in the shape of helicopter.

(V1) & (V2) Thunder Bot (Box rear)

(V1) & (V2) Thunder Bot (Box side)
Note: Eyes light up

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
Item No.269

Photo Credit: TelecommanderCorp

(V3) Thunder Bot
Robot & Black Thunder Heli

 
(V3) Thunder Bot
Robot & Black Thunder Heli
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A.
Made in Taiwan

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
Logo forms two 'T's joined by a 'M' together forming a smiley face.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Thunder Bot (TOY CONVERTIBLE ROBOT AND HELICOPTER)
receives U.S. import clearance on 9 Dec 1985
Lists the 'Owner Name' as: 
TAIWAN TOY MAN MANUFACTURING CO. 

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. also released 'Power Scorpion' in 1986

MOTORTRON (White)

MOTORTRON (White)
"Transform from motorcycle to robot and back!"
Super Road Racer
Knockoff of Wingman Winner II - Dream Soldier Super Road Racer 

Motortron (White)
Still 9 figures on the back of the box. 
Note: Purple to blue letters similar to FIGHTBOT

 Motortron foam insert with: 
Robot in motorcycle mode, instructions and white wings.

MOTORTRON (Black)

Photo Credit: TeleCommanderCorp

MOTORTRON (Black)
Super Road Racer
Knockoff of Wingman Winner II - Dream Soldier Super Road Racer 


Back of the Motortron box is the only version 
with the 7th figure being Black Motortron itself.
Note: Red to black letters


Black Motortron in robot mode

Black Motortron in motorcycle mode

 

TIMEBOT

TIMEBOT
(Box front)
5 function LCD digital watch as the core
Diecast metal and plastic


TIMEBOT is a mini Voltron watch & combiner robot lion figure

(Box back)
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. LEECOTEX IND. CO., LTD
Made in Taiwan R.O.C.
Note: Yellow missiles

LEECOTEX is an exporter from Taiwan on various Italian toy boxes, listed as:
LEECOTEX INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD
6F No.311 Fu-Hsing N. RD Taipei Taiwan

Alternative (Box back) text: 
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. Item No. L102
Note: Blue missles

Canadian alternative (Box back) text: 
Imported and distributed by
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. Item No. L102
Imported by: Thinkway Trading Corp., 
160 Don Park Rd., Unit #3, 
Markham, Ontario L3R 1C3 Canada.
(Bilingual French & English box)
Note: Yellow missiles

SIDE NOTE:

The example shown above is often referred to as the “TIMEBOT” variant—an extremely rare transition piece produced during the shift from the Lionbot branding to the Timebot name. Despite the branding change, this version maintains the same scale and overall design as the standard TIMEBOT release.

According to collector reports, Bandai originally contracted Tzan Hung Toys to manufacture several robot lines, including Lionbot, Voltron, and Golion. However, in 1986 Bandai revoked the licensing agreement. Following this, Tzan Hung Toys rebranded itself under a new name: Diecast Metal Toys.

This transitional TIMEBOT variant represents a unique slice of toy history and is highly sought after by vintage robot and Voltron collectors.

ASTRO MAGNUM - Hergoss Savie

Astro Magnum
067 Hergoss line by Savie.
France Exclusive
Made in Macau

Ultra Rare Astro Magnum Hergoss 067 by Savie – French Variant Transforming Robot Toy

The Astro Magnum Hergoss 067 is an ultra rare transforming robot figure sold in France by the toy company Savie. As part of Savie’s Hergoss toy line, this collectible robot is officially numbered 067. The Hergoss series featured a variety of transformable robots and action figures released exclusively in the French market during the 1980s. 
To learn more about the Hergoss robot line of toys (click here)

While the Hergoss Astro Magnum 067 shares visual similarities with the RG-908 Robot Fighting Gun (click here), there are several key differences between the two versions—details of which are highlighted below.

As of now, this is the only known boxed example of the Hergoss Astro Magnum 067 figure, making it an incredibly rare and sought-after piece for vintage robot toy collectors and fans of retro transforming figures.

Astro Magnum Hergoss comes in a similar package style to original licensed Toyco Japanese Astro Magnum from 1983. Hergoss Astro Magnum was released in France during 1985-1986. Package reads: "Super Robot Electronique 4 Transformations"

1985
Jeux Et Jouets - French Toy Catalog
Featuring "Robot pisolet Hergoss 067"
Sold for 184 French Francs or $20.77 US Dollars adjusted for 1985.

Complete boxed Astro Magnum Hergoss compared to Toyco Astro Magnum.
Exact same size boxes. In may aspects Savie tried to mimic the feel and look of the original Toyco Astro Magnum packaging.

Rear of the box.
Super robot electronique 4 transformations
Astro Magnum
Hergoss Savie

NON. 99 PISTOLET LASER
Il est équipe avec un rayon laser infra- rouge haute énergie et est efficace sous différentes conditions de bataille grace à sa puissance. Grace à son laser il peut attaquer et détruire tout objet.

Side Box Hergoss vs. Toyco Astro Magnum
Note: Laser Volcan vs. Laser Vulcan
Note: Gunoha vs. Gunborg

 

Hergoss foam insert for Astro Magnum
Specifically fit for the exact figure even down to the shield handle on the barrel cover. 

While similar to RG-908 Robot Fighting Gun,
Hergoss Astro Magnum differs in the following ways:

 

Different style hoses between RG-908 & Astro Magnum Hergoss.

A. Sound switch on Astro Magnum Hergoss is tall with 4 small ridges.
Greenish gray body color.
B. RG-908 sound switch is short deep 'V'.
Gray body color.

A. Astro Magnum Hergoss's feet and legs are plastic with a light dull color chrome.
B. RG-908's feet and legs are plastic with a bright shiny heavy chrome.

1986
Jeux Et Jouets 86 French toy catalog.
Astro Magnum Hergoss from a 1986 catalog featuring toys from the Savie Hergoss robot toy line. Sold with other Hergoss figures like the french variant 'Jetfire'.

To see more catalog examples of Astro Magnum in France, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Photo Credit: Passion Jouets

Note: Savie logo in top right corner
Often referred to as 'Robot pistolet'.

Hergoss instructions:

French Instructions: Astro Magnum Hergoss 067
Ref. 34459 Fabrique en Macau
Note: Only know instructions to feature these drawings that detail the figure.

-Electronique -transformable
-Rayon lumineux
-Sons de tirs
différents, générés
par circuit intégré

Back side of the French Hergoss instructions.

The figure on the instructions has an odd inaccurate face depiction.
Pointy top and two googly eyes. 

1985 
Noel french toy catalog features Astro Magnum Hergoss

1985 
Listed for 175.00 French Francs or $17.50 in 1985
Note: The figure is missing the tip of the cannon and in gun mode, 
they put the barrel only on one hand.

Photo Credit: Passion Jouets

1986
 Noel Toy Catalog featuring 'Robot Magnum' or Astro Magnum Hergoss. Once again listed next to Savie Hergoss Jetfire. Listed at 130.00 French Francs or $13.00 in 1986

Photo Credit: Robotcollections.fr

To learn more about the Hergoss robot line of toys (click here)

Historic contact information for Savie:
Z.I. 06270 Villeneuve-Loubet France
Tel. (93) 20.69.69
Telex 470271 F

(Astro Magnum Home Page)

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

Thank you!