The Golden Age of Remco Toys

[@Marshall728]

In the early 1980's at Xmas my family was low on funds, so my mom got our presents from Pic N Save. I got The Remco Clyde's Car Crusher. It was one of the best Xmas presents I ever got. You make cars from Tin Foil on molds, color them with markers, pick them up with a crane, place them on the conveyer belt and then crush them. Great times...

[@silentxero5955]

That is so cool! It just shows that a simple toy/gift can give so much joy and happiness without having to be expensive and or popular! We are/were BLESSED to have loving parents who sacrificed what they could just to have something to give us that brought us so much happiness 😊

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

I almost forgot about that I think remember seeing on a TV commercial back in the day

[@dewback1975]

I had clydes also , a fews years ago I bought it again on eBay

[@rascal0175]

I have to laugh at this. It points out boys are not girls. We build things, we break things, we catch things, we wreck things, we shoot things, we throw rocks, we stay out late, we ignore homework, we love our dog, dig holes, build forts and fires, and are generally politically incorrect. Loved it. We are either in trouble or making trouble, and one day we become men. We stressed out mothers and angered our wives. I told my wife don’t get confused, boys are not girls. She said “I know, thank God.” She knew the difference and liked it. Boys, if anything, are aggressive risk takers. Over the millenniums that trait has helped make progress, for better or worse. If nothing else, we laughed a lot, sometimes shooting soda pop through our nose, causing even more laughter. Back in the day…. God help us, we even had cap guns and played war.

[@1down4upworkshop61]

I had that toy as a child ... Loved it ...

[@thomaslouis5626]

A few years ago my wife and I attended a toy show. One guy had dozens of original corgi bat mobile cars for sale and still in original boxes. We were talking and I said I wish I had kept mine from when I was a kid because they're worth money today. He said: But then you wouldn't have any memories playing with them. That comment really hit me.

[@chrischriskidnicky6088]

You could have played with them and kept them

[@ripley7t429]

I had the Remco bazooka in 76. My Uncle did some fixing/modifications to it and I could launch dirt clods and golf balls, believe a few tennis balls too quite a ways. I got banned from the war games at the construction sites in the neighborhood due to putting the hurt on a few of the guys. I could only play if I didnt bring the green tube.

[@subraxas]

😀

[@grgygantz6760]

I had that very same toy.

[@theashpilez]

Same year we made a few lighter fluid powered tennis ball "launchers".. lol.. Thought the house was empty we were pummeling, thought i saw a guy flanking us. Well he was, chased us off, then finished up the supplies. Never heard a man laugh so hard in my life. We found out later there was light damage to the siding we pummeled. He didn't care told us his yard is ours to play in..just don't walk in the garden... Those were the days when neighbors were neighbors not enemies trying to show each other up.

[@henryescat1104]

Would love to see more of the old REMCO TOYS.

[@frankwilliams9706]

Appreciate the review! My father was one of the 3 founders of Remco, early '50's, "REMot COntrol" was the focus. Until his death in 1964, he designed all the toys, well done for one who was forced to leave high scool before graduation to help support his family. (Williams is from my maternal side).

[@ThatJunkman]

thats great, remco was one of the best!

[@maxxravin3478]

I grew up in the '50s and '60s when Remco was a major player. I got the Frogman for Christmas. Great pool toy. Remco's Monkey Division was an extensive collection of military toys. Helmets, guns, canteens, phony walkie talkies, grenades, you name it. Their bazooka was one of the greatest toys I ever had. Your video brought back great memories.

[@frdjr2527]

I had so many Remco toys that I received for Christmas from 1957-62. Christmas 1959 was the year I got the most Remco toys, Project Yankee Doodle, Coney Island Penny Machine, Thrills 'n' Spills Horse Race, Movieland Drive-In and a Firebird 99. I actually first had one in 1957 with the red steering wheel that I wore out fast. I loved cars. I got a new one in '59 with a black steering wheel. Also, I got a Frogman for Christmas 1961. I was a big fan of the TV show, Sea Hunt. There were others, notably the Flying Fox propeller airliner that I got for Christmas 1960. Thanks for posting this and bringing back childhood memories!

[@saltaeb99]

I am proud to say that I was in a remco toys TV commercial in 1965 called BLIPPO!

[@ThatJunkman]

Very cool

[@saltaeb99]

It was. Also in other commercials. Do you have BLIPPO?

[@JackieWohlenhaus]

That McDonald’s play set is something I’ve wanted for a long time. I love that creepy era of their advertising.

[@MrJtmendoza180]

The DC Warlord action figure is so AWESOME! They are perfect in scale for the other MOTU figs.

[@silentxero5955]

DEFINITELY! I LOVED WARLORD! My mom and grandma got me Warlord and Arak:Son of Thunder figures while I was recovering from tonsil surgery. I would team up with MOTU and Dungeons&Dragons figures (LJN,?) to create my own fantasy adventure world!!

[@learning2bcivil]

I had all the universal monster figures. Sadly I sold them at a garage sale, but I repurchased them all later on EBay as an adult. I also had a few of the Warrior Beasts and Pirates of the Galaxseas from Remco. They might have been Masters of the Universe knock offs but I liked them.

[@bjpalm1994]

Warrior Beasts & Pirates of the Galaxies were awesome!

[@henryescat1104]

Show more REMCO!

[@katenunyabizness9221]

Fun stuff! The Supercar toy was re-released a few years later as the Land of the Giants Space Sled.

[@LannieLord]

REMCO did LOTS of sketchy things like that ! LOL. The Lost in Space goofball helmet and gun set .

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

I cannot believe you didn't mention the infamous Remco Lost In Space Robot toy, first produced in 1966.

[@LannieLord]

Seriously yeah . Also the robot was so popular that they over produced it and by like 1969 / 1970 it was in a LOT of discount stores like Child World and Play World for about $5.99 or even less. As an adult collector - I found one in the box at a toy show. I only paid like $200.00 at the time. My favorite thing about it was- some kid wrote "50 cents" on the BOX as if it was BOUGHT and SOLD at a garage sale before I got it for $200.00 ! LOL.

[@billybobbills]

His is the first video of yours I have watched and I really enjoyed it. I was born in '78 and had some '80s Remco stuff I loved. Glad to see another fan. Looking forward to watching more of your videos

[@laming2006]

My most memorable Remco toy was the Bulldog Tank. It was so awesome!

[@Eagle127]

Have a few mint in box. My favorite !

[@isleifoterogarcia4478]

In 1963 Remco made a toy submarine based on the Irwin Allen sci-fi TV series “Voyage to the bottom of the Sea” It was bright yellow, with a rubber band motor that propels the toy under the water. It came with 2 frogmen. small figures. I recall as one of the first toys I got. I loved that show, and this toy got my attention. You not even mention it.

[@LannieLord]

The Toy in the display box is worth $1000.00 if in perfect shape.But you will NEVER find that in perfect shape.

[@thatoldcomicsmell56]

That’s crazy. I’ve been racking my brains the past several months trying to figure out a climbing Spiderman toy I had around 1979 or 1980. Lo and behold, it’s the one at 8:15!

[@jonnun7713]

Brother, you're not going to believe this oh, but I have been looking for this toy for many years! This was my favorite toy from my childhood!

[@dfstout7531]

I had the Spider-Man too. Got it for Christmas.

[@philipatkinson843]

I remember being excited on my birthday because my grandma got me the Superman that looks like the Spider-Man set you featured here. Superman would charge up and you could plug in a glowing green kryptonite rock for him to carry and he also used the string coming from his back so you could fly him across your backyard. The wrestlers you showed here were great too because you could actually pose them to body slam each other or dropkick whereas the WWE figures were hard plastic and didn't bend very well for actually imitating the wrestling moves.

[@edb.1577]

I had their Creature from the black lagoon and wolf man figures!

[@nealwestmoreland8576]

I've always felt that Remco was an under appreciated toy company.Sure alot of their action figure lines were designed to piggyback on more successful lines but they did it so well.I was a toy snob as a kis and own it but as an adult I thank Remco for the Sgt.Rock and the Bad Guys lines that helped supplement the first couple years of GIJoe A Real American Hero.Then there were the many plays with Masters of the Universe lines that beefed up kids He-Man collections and in hindsight the Remco 5.5 figures were soooo much better than the many knock off lines. Remco has a rich history even if the 80's helped lead to its downfall.

[@frdjr2527]

In the 1950s and 60s, Remco was a major player. I had many Remco toys in the late 50s and early 60s. Remco and other toymakers would start advertising their new toys on kids TV shows both local and national as soon as school would start every September. The toymakers knew the growing power of TV and targeted baby boomer kids accordingly.

[@sampoernaquatrain1710]

Great video! Do not however forget my very favorite Remco products: the larger-scale Universal Monsters line (Mego-sized) that also had glow-in-the-dark features, and had their own scale Monsterizer that was battery-powered. They are awesome and somehow I've retained mine to adulthood! Thanks Mom!

[@LannieLord]

They were in Toys R Us for like $1.99 in 1982. The Phantom was IMPOSSIBLE to find. The Mummy and Wolfman were ALWAYS there in torn up boxes. I had the Creature . They did NOT glow in the dark very well.

[@Albendova666]

Man I really wanted that system 7 rifle. Wow I haven’t thought of that thing until seeing it in this video..wow that as cool man

[@silentxero5955]

I remember their KISS line of merchandise; the KISS YOUR FACE make up kit and the commercial. Thank you T.J., for bringing back great memories!

[@krisrhood2127]

I had the make up kit and I used it

[@pgh45rpms]

I grew up in the 50's and remember the Firebird 99, Movieland drive in, and my favorite -- Remco transistor radio kit. You asembled the radio and could listen to several local stations. It was more than a toy. It actually worked. The Remco company began in 1949 and filed for bankruptcy in 1971.

[@d.vaughn8990]

The mortar is freak'in awesome. I would've wore that thing out!

[@williamkresse2966]

I had one and it was a blast !

[@grgygantz6760]

Had the bazooka, crazy fun toy.

[@MezTZO]

1:50 S.W.A.T. Kats is based on a Hanna-Barbera cartoon series that sure as heck didn't feel or look like a standard HB series. It lasted 2 seasons, had amazing action and animation (especially in the 2nd season) and while not mega-popular as old franchises like Transformers or G.I. Joe, it has a solid fanbase that are still hoping for a comeback to this day.

[@gdawg614]

totally, S.W.A.T. Kats was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid, and would be awesome if they brought it back.

[@seanswader7425]

I loved the hard rock soundtrack

[@919ENTERTAINMENTLLC]

They tried to bring it with Kickstarter.

[@ryanbarker5217]

i didn't have a lot of remco growing up, but the one that stands out is 'earthquake tower.'

[@unclewilliesworld932]

i'am 58 an still have all my toys from back in the day. remco rocked!

[@fangslaughter1198]

Thanks for the memories. Have you ever covered the Johnny 7 OMA (one Man Army) Topper Toys. If I had to choose a favourite toy, from my childhood That’s it. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened it on Christmas. I went on to be section Light Machine Gunner, Canadian Infantry. Lol.

[@ThatJunkman]

Thanks man. I will have to look into the Johnny 7

[@jlovebirch]

The ultimate Remco playset was for "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" with its big, detailed submarine, spider-like sea monster, and other extras.

[@grgygantz6760]

Remco such a great toy company. They had a complete military line of toys. Called Monkey Jungle gear. I had the bazooka. Which actually fired blue missiles. Made out of plastic and they hurt. They made a helmet that had a face shield that you could put down. Had a radio in it also. I did have a diver, since we had a pool. Back in 1961.

[@carbidejones5076]

sometime you are a total dork, other times you hit the nail right on the head, you are gifted with nostalgia and what we loved as kids.

[@Thunderclouification]

In the 60's I got Remco's Thimble City. Fun running a city without any prior experience. My mom probably sold it at a yard sale for 25¢.

[@jayducharme]

I had Mr. Brain. It was a lot of fun. I also had three other Remco robots from the 1960s: their Lost in Space robot and two of the largest toy robots ever sold: Rudy the Robot and the Tin Man. They were pretty awesome.

[@stevejones7079]

You brought back huge memories of old vintage remco toyline 👍

[@ciscodeer9094]

No Junkman those toys were way before my time

[@ThatJunkman]

But they were cool :) if I said “cool toys of the 50s” you wouldn’t have clicked it :)

[@pizzakidofwindermere7907]

Loved my REMCO toys from the 50's and 60's and love seeing them on the internet-- the Coney Island Penny arcade (my favorite), the Movieland drive in theatre, the Gianr Wheel Picture BNGO game, Firebird console,.Dialmaster telephones, so many memories!

[@spankynater4242]

“The wet part of the stick”! LMAO that’s hilarious, I’ve never heard that one before.

[@ItsSeanTheProducer]

When I was a kid (I was born in 1967), one Christmas I got the System 7 rifle/weapon system. I had completely forgotten about it, until I saw it on the thumbnail for this video. It really was a very cool toy. I remember playing with it for years.

[@masudashizue777]

I remember walking next to a house on base and there was a kid playing with his Remco mortar. His target was an exploding pillbox which came with the mortar as a target. This was back in 1964 or so.

[@chrisresor1893]

The one that stands out to me was the Phanton Raider ship that transformed into a surface Raider. Also the Irwin Allen stuff namely the Lost In Space robot and the Voyage to Bottom of the Sea playset with the yellow Seaview. Great vid!

[@lannyfloyd6131]

Always wanted the warlord figures to go along with my masters of the universe but never got any. My cousins always managed to find those just to aggravate me with.

[@darrenhood4033]

My dad had the mortar set as a kid. The reason why toys in the 1950's were so realistic was due to the designers all being WWII vets and using their experiences in the field to help with their toymaking. The reason why this practice was abandoned was due to the increasing unpopularity of the vietnam.

[@Barnabas45]

Can't believe you didn't mention The Lost In Space Remco Robot!

[@Tones-he3cj]

Absoutley it was one of their best products. I managed to buy one off ebay a few years back, it wasn't cheap but it's been on my buckletlist of Lost in Space Toys to buy. "The Mechanical Men" Episode made the toy famous.

[@f6scott]

Remco Speedrail monorail toy 1970 my neighbor had one

[@jasonarringotn2501]

Loved the monster line, of course they were drafted into my Star Wars toys!

[@Acemechanicalservices]

This is off topic, but I got a play set one Christmas called the “Big Loader”. It was a construction theme. There was one motorized car that would go around a track dropping and picking up different bodies of construction equipment. It would scoop marbles as a front end loader, put them into a dump truck, change into the dump truck body, then back up a hill and dump them into a hopper, where the operation would begin all over. It used a smart design of tabs on the track that would shift the car from forward to reverse. It had more functions, but I can’t remember them all. It was probably my favorite toy ever. Anyone else remember this?

[@dabunnyman9133]

Remco was famous for re-using molds for toy lines. You can see a ray-gun and helmet used for Land Of The Giants, Star Trek and their own Monkey Division just by putting a new sticker with the show name on it.

[@grgygantz6760]

I remember the Monkey division toys. Did you ever have the helmet. I had the bazooka

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

You barely scratched the surface of amazing 1960s REMCO toys. They made Mr. Kelly’s Car Wash and a junior version of it. There was Barney’s Auto Factory. Played with them all back then. They were great toys!!!

[@user-ye9ph5iq5z]

Don’t forget the “KISS your face” makeup kit from REMCO of course

[@deathstroke5335]

I'm 45 years old and still have all my Universal Monsters, except the Mummy. I remember having the Monsterizer too, it basically was just a cool way to make them glow. Brings back a lot of memories! Thanks for posting!

[@fletchkeilman2205]

The Mummy was THE HARDEST to find! Still don't have one! Did your parents look everywhere for it, too?

[@deathstroke5335]

@@fletchkeilman2205 That I do not remember; however, I do remember having 2 Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein figures, as well as 2 Creatures, one was dark green and the other fully glowed--that one i still have. Unfortunately, the dark green creature i got taken away in elementary school when i was playing with it in class and never got it back. I may have received all of them as Christmas gifts.

[@bluewolf7572]

Remco tanks were the best toys in the 60’s. Battery powered and loads of fun

[@erl00558]

Man, if I had that mortar toy I’d have been laying siege to my sister’s bedroom door from across the hall fairly frequently

[@alfredodedarc]

Soooo many memories,.when you said Remco, in the 50s & 60s. Inexpensive ANC’s I had the drive inn.

[@rustyvonhammerdown9054]

Great video. I recently acquired a couple loose Remco Universal Monster figures (phantom and Frankenstein). They've clearly been played with a lot but hey, free toys is free toys.

[@ericgood1335]

I had the Kennedy Airport set. The audio was a small record player and the headset was a pliable plastic tube. I loved the jets.

[@kevingeary2072]

I had all the monster stuff when I was growing up. Really loved the 8" figures with crushing arms feature. My younger brother had the all the Mcdonalds toys and had playing with them with him. 70's was a fun time!

[@pa1adin111]

I had the System 7 rifle, it was fun. After I lost the extra stuff for it I used it as a machine gun when my friends and I played war.

[@hankmessaros6700]

Wow those 60s toys look great. I had some of the 70s, but wow thank you for putting this up it put a smile on my face

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

Something long forgotten was 'Mighty mike" trucks, they were all wheel drive and came in sets with bridges and terrain parts to climb over. I got one for christmas in I believe '67, it was what I really wanted. Being 4 at the time, it was a lot of fun seeing what it could drive over. My uncle had their giant helicopter which he showed me once before putting it back in it's box, he knew me too well!

[@russb3816]

When I was a kid I had the remco tricky school bus. I was about 3yo and thought it was so cool. Blow a whistle it would drive blow it again and it would stop and doors would open. Very fond memories of that tool

[@lifelongpatriot3695]

My favorite was the Bulldog tank. One xmas my brother and I each got one, I think around 1962 0r 1963. I was 10 at the time.The good old days.

[@kenjohnson2650]

What a flashback. I also had the Kennedy Airport. Hardest part was putting stickers on those planes lol

[@Rigel_Chiokis]

The McDonaldland Playset is reminiscent of the cartoonish sets they used to build for their tv commercials. All of which was kind of a rift off of H. R. Puffenstuff, from the lates 60's early 70's.

[@formwiz7096]

Forget the 70s; in the 50s, Remco led the way with space stuff. Lots of rockets, radar dishes and screens, and stuff just as the space race was starting.

[@arthuramos5425]

I'm a 70s kid from a very small town. The nearest town to buy these remco toys was 10 miles away. And in the 70s you could actually buy some of these toys that just litterally sat on the shelf and they were copywritten from the 60's to early 70's

[@seanswader7425]

I loved the universal horror figures. I kinda thought swat cats was playmates, guess I was wrong. Loved the rockin soundtrack to that show

[@gerrymichaud3851]

I remember in the 60s I got a tank that shot shells. My mom walked into the room just as I released the shell and hit her in the head.

[@Poolboy28560]

my favorite Remco toy: Remco Speedrail. Monorail train with the speed of slotcars.

[@blacktalon1597]

I had a Remix Bulldog tank that lasted years. All the kids in neighborhood had one so we battled all summer. I'm 74.

[@craigbloxham8344]

Thanks for giving Remco some love.

[@edwardgrimes7680]

I had the mortar and the bazooka circa 1963. They were spring-loaded and fired their hard plastic projectiles with surprising accuracy and reasonable velocity. We used them in our ‘wars’ with “the Germans”. Great fun.

[@michaelhewitt258]

Way better stuff In the early to mid 1960's

[@jamesstewart3771]

I had the McDonald figures when I was little . They had little triggers on their back that would make the heads move around . I had Ronald , Hamburgler, mayor Mcheese , and the grimace .

[@rodgeroxie8459]

Those were some great toys. You can’t find anymore.

[@masudashizue777]

My favorite Remco toy was The Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Playset. I would now pay over $1,000 for a mint, unopened example. I remember seeing a glorious display made up of a dozen of them at the Toyland in Okinawa in 1965 or 1966.

[@steveperry1344]

i had a lot of these type of toys in the 50's and 60's and many toy guns. it's amazing how intricate and realistic they were. do they still have similar type things today?

[@5quareson]

That drive-in theater is very cool, and I definitely had the energized spider-man

[@JosephHolness-u2m]

The Best REMCO in my opinion was that HUGE United Airlines 727 they made.

[@ShawnGilmer1]

I remember have all the remco monsters and the play house they had. Wolfman, the mummy, Dracula, and Frankenstein.

[@ghostmanscores1666]

The frog man is cool. I had a rubber orange one with neat accessories, but he didn't wind up.

[@gerrymichaud3851]

I would love to get my hands on a Remco Sound Fx Machine from 1979. I had one when they first came out but it was lost in the many Navy moves I did.

[@beatlejeb]

I'm surprised that the 1964 Beatles dolls weren't mentioned. They are now highly collectible among Beatles fans.

[@dmk7700]

My favorite childhood toy from the early 60's was the (Large) REMCO Bull-Dog Tank.

[@scottydavis7502]

the remco B-29 ball turrent gunner was one of their best 50s toys.also the submarine.

[@gspendlove]

Just seeing that Universal Monster packaging and those figures brought back a flood of memories. My brother and I had them all and, yes, they were extras in our Creature Cantina set-up. I laughed out loud when you said that, because I'd just been thinking it! We had a Karate Kid set too, with Daniel and Miyagi. We used to joke that Miyagi was training Daniel and Daniel got something wrong so Miyagi threw him through that breakaway door as punishment. Great laughs. I seem to remember us having some of those wrestling and DC figures too, but I'm not sure. Boy do I miss the '80s. I'm going to build a time machine.

[@leodziurka7709]

Great videos brings back good memories

[@tawnieriekena7]

I still have my 1964 Remco Beatles dolls. Paid about $4.00 for the set of 4. Easily worth more than 100 times that amount now.

[@berbtheherb]

a used 4 set of them is 500 buckaroonies

[@tawnieriekena7]

@@berbtheherb I have the original boxes too. Dolls and boxes in near mint condition. Probably worth $1000.00

[@berbtheherb]

@@tawnieriekena7 maybe if theyre not opened ive seen unopened single dolls go for 500 smackaroos

[@tawnieriekena7]

@@berbtheherb They aren't for sale at any price. Whatever they are worth, it is certainly more than the $4.00 I paid for them.

[@Mysterwright]

That Remco Mortar looks like it'd spook a house cat. Shoot off a plastic missile, watch it drop and see fluffy jump back or maybe hiss like wtf?

[@awwrelic]

Oh, I remember seeing some of these in the wish books of the 60s and 70s when I was a young'un. These days I actually have a battery-powered two-player maze game called Fascination, from 1961. On the side of the box is Remco's byline at the time: "Every Boy wants a Remco Toy...(and almost like an afterthought) and so do girls".

[@carter358]

I had that Energized Spider -Man as a kid. I'd love to have those Remco Universal Monsters and Sgt. Rock figures these days.

[@Taffer-bx7uc]

Dat mortar is cool. My dad grew up during the 1800s and his toys were Lincoln log cabins...literally.

[@subraxas]

During "1800s"?!!! 😲 😲 😲 Like, how old are you?

[@mikeleiby6737]

Left out the cool Remco 60’s stuff.. whirlybird helicopter, mighty Matilda aircraft carrier, barracuda submarine. They were pricey at 9.98 but worth it !!

[@3v249]

Does anybody remember the deluxe reading defender Dan? It was a machine gun with real belt firing action they could actually fire plastic bullets.

[@polymorphism1966]

Thank you. I had several of these toys and they were awesome. Nowadays nothing is fun

[@TimmehJay]

Having one of those McDonaldland play sets made you the coolest kid at school when I was young. I was never the coolest kid at school but my best friend had one so I was cool by proxy.

[@rjc7289]

I had the Energized Spider Man. They also made an Energized version of Batman, The Green Goblin and The Incredible Hulk, which I didn't have. One thing they made in the 70's you didn't mention that was somewhat popular was the Kiss Your Face makeup set, where you could paint your face to look like one of the members of Kiss. I would love to see a revival of their older toys, especially the Energized figures and the mortar launcher.

[@rascal0175]

Let’s look at the 50s. That’s when Remco shined.

[@b003]

Still have my Mr. Brain in the box.