Original G1 Toy Releases

Auto Morph · 02-09-2010, 07:24 AM

So nowadays, we get new toys released in waves every few months or whenever (a la the movie figs).

But back in 1984, how and when were the original G1 figures released into toy shops around the world? (I say the world, but this question is mainly aimed at those in the UK, as that's where I'm based, but would be very interested to hear stories from any other country)

Which were the first ones on the shelves? Did some shops get them far in advance of others? When exactly did the first '84 models appear?

Although I am in my 30s now (just), my memory does not go that far back with any degree of accuracy!

swampflight · 02-09-2010, 07:32 AM

The first time I ever saw a Transformer figure was at,(anybody remember?),the first job I ever had at a store called Super-X,(which became Goodings,which went out of business), and it was a GN.1 Swindle and I've been a collector ever since.

Auto Morph · 02-09-2010, 07:37 AM

I do remember getting Prime and Starscream for my 8th birthday, bought for me by my grandparents from a shop called Eastgate House (part of the John Lewis chain I beleive)in Peterborough, which would have been back in '86, so the first run '84 toys were still on the shelves 2 years after release... just like movie legends Megatron HA!

Sorry, easy target, couldn't resist.

OldDirtyBot · 02-09-2010, 09:59 AM

First TF I ever saw was Soundwave at a flea market. Had no idea what it was or what TF were, I just knew I wanted it! Didn't get it though. I got Shockwave not long after though.

In the US the toys followed the cartoons pretty closely it seemed. When new cartoons came out I found the toys in the stores.

Anthony Adams · 02-09-2010, 10:47 AM

I THINK the first TF I ever saw/got was G1 Prime, back in 1989/1990, when I was 4, 5 years old respectively, (mostlikely a christmas/birthday preseant), this was well after the series had ended though, I remember picking up a few/recieving a few over the next few years. I vaguely remember seeing G1 Grimlock in a woolworths store once, but didn't get him, mother didn't have the money with her at the time (£12), I think i was about 6, not sure.

Magnus' Mate · 02-09-2010, 02:09 PM

Well, in the UK, we didn't get a lot of the 1984 TFs initially - most notably Megatron, who was held back until 1985. A few of the Autobot cars were held back as well.

Optimus Vader · 02-09-2010, 02:14 PM

No clue. I was six in '84. I fell in love with the cartoon and asked Santa for some TF's.

Satomiblood · 02-09-2010, 02:24 PM

I remember K-Mart being a very common stop for TF's.

grune7 · 02-09-2010, 02:55 PM

The first ones I remember seeing were the cassettes Rumble, Ravage, Laserbeak and Frenzy at Heck's. My parents wouldn't get them for me, this was before the cartoon was on even. After the cartoon came out they were really hard to find. The next ones I remember seeing and actually the first ones I got were Mixmaster at Hart's and Snarl and Swoop at a little independant toy shop down town. I remember they had a KO Starscream too.

Cornholiocon · 02-09-2010, 05:25 PM

I grew up in a little redneck town in southwestern Oregon and remember seeing several of the original autobots and Megatron at a Bi-Mart in 1984 around the time the cartoon came out. Prime was my first purchase and is still my favorite TF.