Walking The Dinosaur: Vintage Dinosaur Toys (Marx, Sinclair, Invicta, Imperial, AAA, ChiTech)

Open the door and get on the floor, because in this episode of The Little Things we are going to walk the Dinosaur! Let’s take a journey through ancient pre-history to a time when dinosaurs were not just confined to zoos and theme parks! When they ran free, dragging their tails and standing upright like giant Rory Calhouns. These are the dinosaur toys that started the revolution and had kids wanting more. Classic Dinosaur toys like Invicta Models, Sinclair Mold a Rama, Marx Playsets, and the AAA and Imperial Rubber Dinosaur Toys. So jump in the way back machine and beware of dino..dino droppings, because we are taking a look at retro and vintage dinosaur toys from the ancient past. Boom Boom Acka Lacka Acka Boom! You know what I mean.
Thanks to : Malidicus on Flickr (providing several images)
Music: The Scavengers by Hayden Folker | / hayden-folker
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@cassthenerd6023]

Man, I had so many of these as a kid. I grew up in the 90's but my grandparents would buy some of even the really old ones for me from thrift stores and dime stores. I feel like I had a few of each of those that were in the video, so many memories unlocked.

[@thelittlethings3309]

A lot of these guys hung around forever in clearance bins and dime stores. They seem to have been included many generations toy boxes. I am glad so many people are enjoying the memories associated with these toys. For so long, most people just dismissed them for their inaccuracies. These toys, and the overall "look" of these dinos can really bring back great memories and be considered a great bit of dino history in and of themselves. Thanks for watching!

[@DoowopJohnnyBoy]

I’ve still got hundreds of them old AAA, Imperial, Do Mei, Impro, Tetleys, Marx, M.K. and cereal Box Dinos in the Attic and a handful of those Invicta’s from the Museum all collected back in the 80’s and 90’s

[@gen-xnerdcouch7627]

This was a great walk down memory lane. I was born in 1970 and started collecting Godzilla and dinosur stuff in 1977. I have many of the things you had shown in the video. In fact, to prove this in part, your pic at 14:04 is from my Malidicus account on Flickr. I am not mad and I am not asking you to take it down. Just please ask permission next time. Great videos.

[@itsahostiletakeover]

Incredible video on a little explored subject, great work! As a kid, my dinosaurs often consisted of Imperial and hordes of Hong Kong Marx KOs with a few of those D&D Chinasaurs (A lot of the Imperial and AAA figures used a lot of lead based paints so collectors beware). As an adult I've focused on collecting most of the original Marx figures and Invicta figures, there's just something about the monochrome unpainted nostalgia that hits me every time.

[@thelittlethings3309]

The Invicta dinos really are something special. They seemed pretty rare when I was a kid, and I only got a couple when I went to the Smithsonian, but I really liked them. Most of my dino toys were pretty much the same as those you mentioned. It's funny though, how every time I see that old style, upright, tail-dragging, T-Rex, it really brings back some great memories. Many of these old dinosaur toys are goofy and "unrealistic" by today's standards, but they are still fun and a snapshot into a great period of dinosaur history. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.

[@seansanders5959]

By far my favorite toys pre-Mego was my Marx Prehistoric Playset!

[@thelittlethings3309]

A great toy set, and really long lived. That toy set was popular for at least 2 generations, but alternate versions and knock-offs would put it in the hands of even more generations. Thanks for the comment.

[@manofaction1807]

They had the mouldarama over at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry... I always loved these machines.

[@thelittlethings3309]

You still find them out in the wild every so often, but they are becoming pretty rare. I loved them too as a kid, and I remember them at several theme parks and attractions, but they did burn a bit when they first cam out of the chute. Thanks for the comment!

[@cassthenerd6023]

Yep! I remember grabbing one there a few years ago, wish I still had the figure.

[@thelj3279]

Once again, happy childhood memories, many thanks!! My twin Sister and I have spent hours enjoying your videos and following this viewing will be making sure that we haven't missed anything!! Toy dinosaurs were very important to so many!! Our top draw retail go-to's were the Natural History Museum London and a big toy store called Hamley's!! It's easy to forget just how hugely popular these, in all their forms were!!!

[@thelittlethings3309]

I didn't really want to just make fun of the old dinos, though it is easy to do. Our understand and concepts of how they looked will change and change again. I like them all, for a variety of reasons, from the Crystal Palace Statues to the modern rendition of the T-Rex, Sue. The old versions, like the tail dragging, upright T-Rex brings back great memories. I have never hear of Hamley's, so I am going to look that one up. Thanks for watching these videos and thanks for the comment.

[@thelj3279]

​@@thelittlethings3309 Crystal Palace inspired us as kids and were then heavily involved in the early UK reptile hobby/trade!! A not so close relative who always wanted to be into what we were purchased the Crystal Palace aquarium almost directly opposite the park but was only interested in making money from horrendously imported animals!! We went another way as serious pet keepers with a major leaning towards Monitor Lizards!! Due to attending a private school offering a subject called zoology (you wouldn't find that on any mainstream curriculum nowadays) we had a teacher who handmade scale models for the Natural History Museum!! A big home move lately and some hotel living while the new place is made ready so a bit stressful lifeform wise but have animals at a friend's facility in their late 20's!! Into loads of other stuff and have avoided the very common pitfall of an interest in keeping reptiles becoming a collecting obsession, life is about balance I feel!! So sorry to rant on, point is that this can all be traced back to the earliest years and a fierce passion for dinosaurs, toy ones being a massive part of this!! I also totally agree with what you said regarding the ongoing work and understanding, we've still only really scratched the surface of the history of life on this planet!!!

[@thelittlethings3309]

Wow! That is really cool. I had a friend who had a Savannah Monitor which became really large. He was handled a good amount and treated well, so he was pretty tame. I used to hang out with him and go to the local herpetological group and handle some of the big reptiles there too. I always liked that stuff and thought it was interesting, but I knew wouldn't make a good owner so it was better if I didn't actually get one. I also grew up in Florida, so large reptiles were pretty common. Being common didn't make me like them any less! I have always wanted to see the Crystal Palace Dinos myself, for real. One day I will make it there. In the meantime, I have a hobby of traveling around the states going to different museums and dinosaur themed attractions (especially the old ones). I ranted too. Anyway, thanks again for your comments.

[@JB-js4xi]

Excellent video! I had the Tim Mee dinos in the early 70s and am almost sure they were hand me downs. I recently bought the reissues for a huge boost of nostalgic happiness.

[@Vekurus]

I don't recall the year, but I received a dinosaur set with a simple 2D vinyl mat and various styles of toys, including the Hollow ones at 7:39. There were more sold toys, but these hollow ones were the bigger toys. Also had the big dude on the far left at 10:48.

[@damienbastings]

I won't get upset at toys back then including Dimetrodon (Since it's not a dinosaur), and it was thought to be one

[@thelittlethings3309]

Dimetrodon is everywhere. It just looks so cool.

[@megalosaurusrex4637]

Thank you for bring back So many memories.

[@thelittlethings3309]

Thank you for watching!

[@user-xb3qd7yp6d]

One manufacturer that was not mentioned in your fun video were the prehistoric Dinosaurs and Mammals done by the J.K.Miller corporation. Done in a waxy material they were easily broken. They seemed to be produced from the late 50's to the very early 60's. They also produced modern Jungle animals as well. And they were very good and lifelike.

[@thelittlethings3309]

This is great! I didn't know about those! They seem to be really rare now due to their brittle nature. Dinosaur Collector Site A says that they were the precursor to the Mold-A-Rama Dinos. Really neat, and likely some of the oldest stuff available. I am going to take some time to look at these. Thanks for the comment!

[@Bullboy_Adventures]

20:34 there it is, my childhood playset that i haven't played with in nearly 20 years.

[@thelittlethings3309]

Man, those Marx toys, or at least their molds, stuck around for ever! So many different generations played with versions of those dinos. Thanks for the comment!

[@edgarcazares640]

when i was young i had all those dinos

[@thelittlethings3309]

They bring back great memories. Thanks for watching!

[@godofzombi]

Man I didn't know about Dinoland. Thanks for this!

[@thelittlethings3309]

You bet. I subject near and dear to my heart. Thanks for watching!

[@darkstarZ74]

I didn't know that Rory Calhoun dragged his tail.

[@thelittlethings3309]

He did. Drug it all over the place and made a real mess. Thanks for watching!

[@antonmassopust568]

Thank you for the memories, this is awesome. I still collect dinosaur toys on occasion and I buy some for Christmas for kids who have nothing at the YMCA. Waldo sets I had as a kid and I still have them. Especially the Britons. The ones that I used for teaching kids about dinosaurs at my old school and I had a couple of other schools. It's weird one time another kid came over to me. And he was all grown up and he said. Hey, I remember you you've taught me about dinosaurs.

[@thelittlethings3309]

I haven't heard from anyone that used the Dinos as a teaching tool. That' s really great. Also, your buying toys for the kids at Christmas is great. That probably makes the difference between a terrible Christmas and a great one for many of them. Thanks for watching and thanks for the good work you are doing.

[@Kevsspot]

I had the red T. Rex with the big Adam's apple!

[@coolghouls9269]

I had a lot of these as a kid, mostly chinasaurs. I don't know why but even the most inaccurate ones have a charm that just can't be matched by any modern dino depictions today.

[@thelittlethings3309]

I totally agree with that. Part of it is nostalgia, another part is imagination, and another part, yet, is pure artistic achievement. Accurate or not, they were really interesting and fun toys. Thanks for the comment.

[@alexnejako777]

had dinosaurs from 4 years old onward including the British Museum ones. we had a dinosaur movie class in DC in 1982 where we made a movie that included the giant Triceratops sculpture that was on the National Mall.

[@alexnejako777]

the big dinosaur toys with their huge gullets were good for consuming hapless Adventure People.

[@thelittlethings3309]

That sounds cool. I got an Invicta T-Rex and Triceratops from the Smithsonian back in the early 80s. Going there as a kid was one of my best childhood memories. And man, those imperial rubber dinos lived on 3.75 inch figs! Paleontologists speculate that they made up nearly 75% of their diets. Nature is a wonderous thing. Thanks for the comments!

[@thelj3279]

Invicta, it's all coming back now, thanks again, marvellous stuff!!!💚

[@thelittlethings3309]

I really liked the Invicta dinos, but they were really rare over here when I was a kid. I purchased a couple when I was a kid and I finally made it to the Smithsonian. I still have the Invicta T-Rex. One of the few toys I kept. I had never seen dinosaur fossils until that point (except in books) and it brings back great memories. Thanks again for watching.

[@denizen9998]

I called the Marx allosaurus "Cutesaurus" Also don't forget the Cracker Jack dinos. The last invicta dinosaur was, I think, the cetiosaurus was pretty accurate. Just wish it wasn't colored only purple.

[@thelittlethings3309]

The Marx Allosaurus was a dino-wunkus. No doubt. Thanks for the comment!

[@felipevanenckmeira5787]

I love this video, it's like a documentary on a topic I always love to search: vintage dinosaur toys. Many chinasaurs were based on Marx figures, but there's one that seems to be exclusive to them: that's Uintatherium. Chinasaur Uintatherium seems to be based on a Charles Knight drawing, and I don't think Marx toys produced this creature.

[@thelittlethings3309]

I think that you're right! In a sea of mythical dragon-like creatures, figures that would inspire D&D monsters and Marx rip-offs, they decided to take a stand and portray a semi-accurate Uintatherium. Strange choice, but good for them. Even the Macrauchenia seems to have been based on a Marx original. That's a great observation, and I will keep a look out to see if they got that mold from an older set. Thanks for the comment!

[@jimminybunkwhack5706]

That collection of Randtoy brand Chinasaurs look more like Kaiju creatures

[@thelittlethings3309]

Yes they do! You gots ta love em. They made no sense in the best kind of way.

[@Extronguy]

ah nostalgia even tho i was born in 2011 in 2015 i got the small dino figure dat i love

[@thelittlethings3309]

Gotta know your roots. Thanks for watching.

[@antesdequenacieranadiemeco4332]

great video, can we have more information about the dimetrodon dragon in the image of the time 20:40 in the left corner of the screen, because i had it as a child and lost it and i never can got more informaton about that toy

[@thelittlethings3309]

It appears that you are talking about that one on the box of "Chinasaurs". It was also a dragon included in one of the "Sword and the Sorcerer" sets. You can see it at 22:35 of my "Barbarians! The Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery Toys of the 1980s" on the right side. It looks like it was offered in several Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery Playsets as well as in cheaper "dinosaur" playsets throughout the 1980s. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.

[@antesdequenacieranadiemeco4332]

@@thelittlethings3309 Thank you very much for the information thanks to this I was able to get it again on ebay, great videos continue with this excellent series

[@thelittlethings3309]

That's great! Thanks!

[@billychessher9905]

I have the Charles night version of the Marx T-Rex 🦖

[@thelittlethings3309]

I love those old T-Rex toys. I know they are not accurate, but they bring back a ton of good memories. Thanks for watching.

[@diebesgrab]

Just for the record, the name Brontosaurus is back. A pretty comprehensive look at the diplodocid family tree (which includes apatosaurines such as Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus) was published in 2015 which determined that the Brontosaurus type species (Brontosaurus excelsus) differed sufficiently from the Apatosaurus type species (Apatosaurus ajax) that it constituted a separate genus, and since it was originally assigned as its own genus, it retained that original name. To boil it down without all the taxonomic lingo, Brontosaurus officially exists again (alongside Apatosaurus). Tell your friends!

[@thelittlethings3309]

Brontosaurus is back! That is great to know. I really missed calling it brontosaurus and never really could adjust to the apatosaurus moniker. I think I am going to go out right now and visit my local Sinclair and tell them that they have a mighty fine concrete BRONTOSAURUS out front. I have a feeling they will answer with "a concrete what?" They probably still think it's an apatosaurus. Their loss. Thanks!

[@dubuyajay9964]

I had the Invicta Triceratops!

[@thelittlethings3309]

One of the best! I had the T-Rex and the Triceratops. I got them from my first visit to the Smithsonian, and I still remember my parents complaining that they were expensive for dino toys. Maybe compared to the cheap bags of Dino toys? I still have the T-Rex. He is sitting on my desk now. Thanks for the comment!

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@thelittlethings3309 I am very sad I no longer have him. I used him, Ideal, and some other dinos as "wild dinos" when I played with my Dino Riders as a kid. I still remember the field trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and History I bought him on.

[@thelittlethings3309]

The Dino Riders was a neat toy line. It used those Smithsonian Dinosaurs that were really great toys. I saw that fisher price made very similar type toys in their Imaginext line when walking through a store a few years back. It's a fun concept. Also, it seems those Invicta Dinos were generally relegated to the gift shops of larger museums, so they often really have some memories attached to them. Thanks again!

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@thelittlethings3309 It's the other way around tbh. The Dino Riders were converted to Smithsonian and then "Cadillacs And Dinosaurs" toys!

[@thelittlethings3309]

That's interesting. I didn't know that. I also need to check out those Cadillacs and Dinosaur toys. Thanks!

[@Curlyheart]

Why did you call the ankylosaur "baby"? 📸😕

[@thelittlethings3309]

A reference to old Virginia Slims ads. And they ankylosaur was acting like a petulant twit that day. It needed to grow up.

[@VectorOfKnowledge]

I love bullshit like this 😍

[@thelittlethings3309]

Me too. Thanks for watching!