With the plethora of licensed transformers made in the last 35+ years, we thought it may be useful to identify who were the G1 licensees and what they produced.
Licensees have been identified from official Hasbro marketing material from the years 1984 to 1986. Links to advertising has been added where possible and links to merchandise from photos provided by collectors. Thank you to everyone that has contributed!
Knowing is half the battle, if you know more or would like to contribute we would appreciate hearing from you.
Contact Us!
Aladdin Industries were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Lunch Boxes and Thermos
American Publishing Corp was a licensee from 1984 to 1986.
Jigsaw Puzzles - 125 / 200 piece - Season 1 boxart
Kid Wiz Sliding Puzzles
Magnetix Puzzle
Presto-Magix Transfers
Stick n' Lift
Arrow Industries Inc was a licensee from 1984 to 1985.
Avalon Industries were only listed as a licnessee in 1986. For an unknown reason Hasbro repackaged their Paint/Pencil by Number sets with the Avalon branding removed. This does make the Avalon sets much harder to find.
Aviva was a Licensee for only 1985.
Ballatine Books was a licensee from 1985 to 1986.
Find Your Fate Junior - Individual Books
BBC International was a licensee from 1984 to 1986.
Shoes - Laced
Shoes (Joggers) - Velcro
Shoes (Joggers) - Laced
Boots
Shoe Boxes
Slipper Socks
Butterfly Originals was a licensee from 1985 to 1986. Manu of the products packaging denotes Spindex, which was the distributer.
Erasers
Cheinco was a licensee in 1985 and 1986
Coleco were licensees from 1984 to 1986
Collegeville Flag and Manufacturing Company was a licensee between 1984 and 1986. They continuted to produce transformers costumes into 1987.
Face Lift Masks
Halloween Costumes - Hanger or Boxed
Halloween - Trick or Treat Bags
1986 Collegeville Catalog - courtsey of plaidstallions.com
Colorforms was a licensee form 1984-1986.
Lazer Blazers
Coolux Inc appeared in tranformers marketing material in 1985 only, they were a company that imported plush toys but ceased to exist in 1989. We have not been able to attribute any merchandise to Coolux.
Contact us if you know more.
Crest Apparel / Sandpiper were Licensees in 1984 through 1986.
Swimwear
Crowd Caps were licensees in 1984.
Datasoft were listed as a licensee in 1985 transformers marketing material. Datasoft primarily published video games, based on licenses from movies and TV shows as well as original games. Based on the transformers video games that were released in 1986 it appears Hasbro decided a different licensee could better meet their demand for a product in the video game market.
Datasoft appear to have gone bankrupt in 1987 or 1988. Contact Us if you know more!
Diamond Toys were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Switchable Stickerables
TFTM Sticker Book
DuCair Bioessence Inc was a licensee from 1985 to 1986.
Durham Industries were licensees 1984-1986.
Ero Industries were licensees 1984 to 1986.
Extra Special were licensees from 1984 to 1986. In the 1984 marketing material they were listed in the paper products / stationary items. However as yet we cannot attribute any transformers merchandise to them. Extra Special did manufacture porcelin items for both My Little Pony and the Cabbage Patch toy lines.
Contact us if you know more!!
Family Home Entertainment was a licensee from 1985 to 1986. f.h.e continued to release licensed records into 1987
Hasbro were also able to leverage their existing products with transformers branding to take advantage of their popularity.
Color-Vue Pencil by Number
Paint by Number
Pencil by Number
Avalon were the orignal licensees of the Paint/Pencil by number sets, these were repacked into Hasbro branded packaging for some reason. Hasbro did produce a significant number of other Paint/Pencil by number sets, see more at the paint by number museum.
HG Toys were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Clip 'N' Sip
Clip On
Roller Stamps
Stamp Bots (Packaging variants - 413, 2-413)
Hi-Flier were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Keel Kites - Trade advert (courtesy of 3D Joes)
Hoyle Products were licensees from 1985 to 1986.
Imaginings 3 were licensees from 1985 - 1986.
Suitcase (briefcase type)
Wallet - Magic Action Picture (lenticular image)
Wallet - Organiser
IJE Publishing, Inc. Kid Stuff Records were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Deluxe Talking Storybooks (Cassettes)
Listen'n Look Book (Hardcover books)
Story Books with Records
Story Books Gift Pack
M&D Balloons were licensees in 1985.
Mylar Ballons
In 2000 M&D Balloons were acquired by American Greetings. During 2002, Amscan acquired M&D Balloons from American Greetings.
Marshallan Products were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Dinner Trays
Marvel Books were licensees from 1984-1986.
Coloring Books
Activity Books
Story Books (Big Looker Softcovers)
Story Books (Hardcovers)
Sticker Adventures Books
Marvel Comic group prduced the transformers comics from 1984 - 1986 (and beyond!!!).
Meritus Industries was a licensee from 1985 to 1986.
Nasta Industies. Inc were licensees from 1984 to 1986
National Latex was a licensee from 1984 to 1986.
National Sporting Goods were licensees from 1985-1986
Nelsonic Industries was a licensee in 1985 and 1986.
Nelsonic produced numerous toy-themed wrist-watches during their existence, often targeting younger audiences with likenesses of characters from popular franchises such as Barbie, the Ghostbusters, and Mario. Nelsonic became notable during the early mid 1980s for being the first electronics company in the United States to produce game-watches, multi-purpose electronic devices capable of functioning as both a time-piece and as a typically electronic game.
Did Nelsonic industries create and produce the mailway Time Warrior watch?
There was a Smokescreen watch that was released in the UK with House Martin packaging, was House Martin simply a distributer and the watches came from Nelsonic Industries? Contact Us if you know more!
Panosh Place is best known for the voltron line of toys, they were founded in 1984, and the company filed for bankruptcy in October 1987.
Panosh Place is only listed as a licensee in 1984, so perhaps, once they got Voltron on board they discontinued any plans they had for producing transformers merchandise (Or maybe even Hasbro terminated the agreement). Do you know more? Contact Us!
Pilgrim Sportswear was a licensee from 1984 - 1986.
Puffy Figure Top (Dimension Weld TM)
T-Shirts
Plymouth, Inc were licensees from 1985 to 1986
Book Covers / Portfolio Folders
Spiral Notepads (A6)
Spiral Notebooks(A4)
Pyramid Belt Company were licensees from 1985 to 1986. Manafacturing stamps tags listed them as Pyramid Industries Inc.
Belts
Knitted Wool Hat
Ear Muffs
Mittens and Gloves
Pyramid Industries were also licensees for other brands such as Go Bots, Pound Puppies and later Simpsons.
Revell were first listed as a licensee in mid 1985 through 1986. The 1985 Revell Catalog shows some transformers model kits (Painted diaclone model kits) of Jetfire, Sunstreaker, Red Alert and Roadbuster(Mugen Calibur colors). We know they got to the prototype stage, as can be seen in the catalog, however that appears as far as they progressed.
Knowing is half the battle, if you know more please contact us!
Riegel Textile Corp was a licemsee from 1985 to 1986.
Blanket Sleeper (Onesie)
Roth American was a licensee from 1985 - 1986.
Known today by the brand Russell Athletic, Russell Corp was a licensee in 1986.
Likely producing clothing - perhaps boys sweatshirts/pants sets - unfortunatly we havnt been able to confirm exactly what transformers branded items were produced.
Do you know more? - Contact us!
Sports Graphics were licensees in 1986.
Springs Industries were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Beach Towels
Bed Spreads
Curtains
Stuart Hall was listed as a new licensee in June 1984, however they did not appear on any other marketing material in 1985. There has been no merchandise linked directly to them as yet. Do you know more? Contact Us!
Sunbow productions were listed as licensees from 1984 - 1986, their involvement continued into 1987.
Swell-Wear Industries were licensees from 1985 to 1986.
Rain Boots
Rain Coat
Synergistics Research Corp was a licensee from 1984 to 1986.
Giant Ball Dart Game
Tara Toy Corp were licensees from 1984 - 1986. Trade Advert.
Jumbo Collectors case
The Toy Store Ltd were licensees in 1985 and 1986, however we have yet to attribute any specifc merchanise to them.
They did produce a pen light for Voltron and were also licencees for Thundercats. Do you know more? Contact us!
Tyco were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Electric Racing - Additional/replacement car
Union Underwear were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Various Underoos and funpals adverts
Fruit of the Loom licensed its brands (underoos and funpals) to makers of finished clothing products. Allowing selling of Fruit of the Loom products by the Union Underwear Company.
Unique Industries were licensees from 1984 to 1986.
Party Favors
Tablewear and Supplementaries
Universal Industries were licensees from 1985 to 1986.
Caps
Caps (Glow in the dark)
Universal Industries, Inc. "We cover the world" trademark was active from September 1985 (So any caps with this motto on the label are dated after this) (Further, R.O.C indicates Republic of China, so made in Taiwan R.O.C).
Viewmaster were licensees from 1985 to 1986.
Viewmaster Showbeam Projector
Warren Paper Products were licensees 1984 to 1986.
Puzzles - 3D stand Up
Western Graphics were licensees from 1985 to 1986
Western Publishing Co were licensees from 1985 to 1986.
Wormser Co was a licensee from 1984 - 1986.
Bathrobes
Fleece (tracksuit)
Pajamas (Mostly Glow in the dark, robot mode on one side / vehicle mode the other)
Pajamas (Footed)
Promotional Tie In Merchandise
Beatrice Hunt Wesson - Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Hunts Snack Pack Pudding
HiC fruit drinks by Minute Maid.
Ziploc
Campbells Soup - Spaghetti-o's
Proctor and Gambles Bounce fabric softener / Coast soap
Promotional also included mailin for Camshaft (expires June 1, 1985)
Frito Lay - Variety Pack / Cheese Chooser's
Ralston Purina - Cookie-Crisp Cereal