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Via an Ebay listing by seller sdr5_53 we have some images of Takara’s 1984 World Fair Catalog which was part of the part of the presentation that convinced Hasbro representatives to bring the toys to the US.
We have a look at several pre-Transformers toys pages including the toys which would later become Optimus Prime, Devastator, the main Autobot cars and more. A very interesting piece of Transformers history.
See the mirrored images after the break and then share your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
Micah
I guess this would be cheaper than owning my catalog. But I have the real one. lol. It's like taking a picture of a Mona Lisa. Lol..Anyways… My idea is to make high quality copies. Take it to a publishing company and sell them. Maybe next year..
Joey Slick
Another memory just came to me from that day – while I was standing in line to talk with Paul, I heard a very convincing "well that's just prime!" behind me and turned around to compliment the impressionist, but it was Garry Chalk! He signed my clamshell Beast Wars VHS tape case and seemed very happy to be there.
Nevermore
Of course you do.
Fafnir72
Oh those were the days when a kids catalog had Malboor on it with no one batting an eyelid.
Novaburnhilde
D'aw, that's wholesome as hell. <3
TheSpacebridge
Ha ha, yes that was me.
I've been giving away toys to kids at shows for 25 odd years now.
I remember that one especially as another guy at the table was outraged I would give away a toy but not haggle with him!
Joey Slick
Very cool. I also recall a young kid with his mom asking about a loose G1 Hot Rod and you just gave it to him for free and made his day
TheSpacebridge
Yup thats me.
My table was on the wall left side of the hall as you look at the stage.
Joey Slick
If you're Paul Hitchens, you worked a nice trade with teenage me back at Botcon 1998 at your sales table!
TheSpacebridge
FYI its definitely not the only one in existance, I have one. View attachment 29643331
Fafnir72
Aka Powered Convoy.
BIGGUY007
Was that a blue Ultra Magnus?
Fafnir72
Kinda scary that costlier doesn't automatically translate to higher quality. I blame us adults for allowing companies like TT to bleed our wallets dry for nostalgia guilty as charged!
Pixelmaster
Really doesn't help too I've heard some nightmare stories about having mainline tiers of design choices/ QC, like Convoy's shoulder ratchets breaking due to the ratchets not being reinforced, some tabs are too small etc.
Fafnir72
Aaaaand some of the 1st releases with non wheeled tank treads! when the cheaper Tf lines had wheels!
I stopped after some of the gamma powersuits and ditched their 1st battle station Dai something somsthing for an Arcadia non painted SDF-1. not a filthy rich furry
Pixelmaster
I wouldn't mind trying out Diaclone reboot if their prices weren't that batshit expensive. 50 bucks for a 10 cm toy is really something.
Diaclone collectors are like the furries of the toy collecting side of things, suspiciously rich and hiding in plain sight
Fafnir72
Way before the interwebs I had the wrong belief that TF was a JP show ala Macross tha Hb adapted but in reality was an American concept which used Jp designed toys. So I thought too that it was 1984 Jp when it should have been 1985 Jp.
But boy, all those Takara products even way back in Japan the SRP on tbe closest wbich is the revived Hal….Diaclone line is now priced at MP44 levels
Fafnir72
Tell the OP who I responded to which you conveniently omitted.
saberconvoy
Oh boy, I can\'t wait for Gamma Magnus.
falderal
I’m confused. The front page says “Takara’s 1984 World Fair Catalog which was part of the part of the presentation that convinced Hasbro representatives to bring the toys to the US.”
I thought it was well documented that this happened a year earlier at the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show. There’s even video of it
(Takara booth is at 1:30)