When were Palitoy 12 backs first released?

[Palifan]

I know from looking at the year by year Star Wars book that the figures were released around march 1978 but I'm wondering if the Palitoy figures were released at the same time?

My Birthday is towards the end of April and I'm sure I was given some then as I had the Palitoy Deathstar for Christmas 78 but i'm just wondering if these figures were all shipped around the same time around the world.

Any thoughts?

Ian

 

[palitoyjunky]

I was always under the impression Palitoy was around 6 months behind Kenner maybe a little less, obviously not sure :roll:

Perhaps the like of Jim Stevenson could shed some light on this :idea:

 

[Palifan]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

 

[mr_palitoy]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/british-toy-making-project/toy-manufacturers/palitoy

January 1978 to tie in with the release of the film according to this source. That was also the year I took my dad on a tour
of midland toy shops looking for a jawa, which would have been in the easter or summer holidays that year.

cheers Jason

 

[lee gray]

I was reading the other day that the kenner Toys were finally released in America in february 78 so I cant see us getting them before that but you never know.

Its amazing to think now that we got the film 7 months after America, what a long wait, lucky there wasnt the internet or wiki back then as would have known everything about it.

 

[Palifan]

Thanks for sending that link through Jason, I always thought I saw Star Wars in early 78 so it's great to see some conformation of that!

As for the release of the figures it does feel like they must have arrived with us at the same time, or very close to their release in the US. It all fits in with my memory of having them at the end of April 78. Also I remember receiving my VCJ once I had my Palitoy Death Star (which I was given for Christmas 78), and I remember it being early in the year when we had a school break so I'm thinking it was around March time 79. Still so wish I'd kept my card back from that Jawa to know for sure it was Palitoy but at least a couple of questions in my mind have been cleared up.

Ian

 

[David Tree]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/british-toy-making-project/toy-manufacturers/palitoy

January 1978 to tie in with the release of the film according to this source. That was also the year I took my dad on a tour
of midland toy shops looking for a jawa, which would have been in the easter or summer holidays that year.

cheers Jason

It's incorrect as they are using generic information.
They've had copies of Celebration Europe exhibit text since 2008.

The first product was a board game for January 1978, which was rushed to have something at the film debut. The main launch was mid March 1978, with the first 12 figures (at a wholesale cost of 60p each, in cases of 48), 3 vehicles, Luke/ Leia 12", masks, kites, Play Doh, Dip Dots and poster sets. A £235,000 advertising campaign at Easter, Palitoy's largest ever for a product launch, was spent across retail and comics.
The first 3 die cast followed in May with a few more products, including the Death Star play set, with the first TV commercial before the year was out.

Hope that helps.
Dave.

 

[_Lee_]

My username says it all

My old dear remembers getting me a Palitoy 12 back trooper around last few months of 78.She knows it was that because she saw the moc one i own,and got quite emotional...ahh memories

 

[Palifan]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/british-toy-making-project/toy-manufacturers/palitoy

January 1978 to tie in with the release of the film according to this source. That was also the year I took my dad on a tour
of midland toy shops looking for a jawa, which would have been in the easter or summer holidays that year.

cheers Jason

It's incorrect as they are using generic information.
They've had copies of Celebration Europe exhibit text since 2008.

The first product was a board game for January 1978, which was rushed to have something at the film debut. The main launch was mid March 1978, with the first 12 figures (at a wholesale cost of 60p each, in cases of 48), 3 vehicles, Luke/ Leia 12", masks, kites, Play Doh, Dip Dots and poster sets. A £235,000 advertising campaign at Easter, Palitoy's largest ever for a product launch, was spent across retail and comics.
The first 3 die cast followed in May with a few more products, including the Death Star play set, with the first TV commercial before the year was out.

Hope that helps.
Dave.

Big thanks for that info Dave!

It looks like I did get my figures at the end of April 78 (as I always thought), and as a young child time always seemed to crawl by so by me saying it felt like an age before getting them it could have been three weeks for all I know! :lol:

The other reason I asked was to see if the figures packed on the Palitoy cards were the same coo as the ones first released in the US and because of the timing of all of this it seems like they would have been. I wonder if there's even a DT sabre out there sealed onto a Palitoy card (think I'm reaching now but at least the VCJ has surfaced)? Also it makes sense that a few Palitoy 12 back moc's have turned up with SKU footers in them.

Happy days!

Ian

 

[palitoyjunky]

Thanks for sending that link through Jason, I always thought I saw Star Wars in early 78 so it's great to see some conformation of that!

As for the release of the figures it does feel like they must have arrived with us at the same time, or very close to their release in the US. It all fits in with my memory of having them at the end of April 78. Also I remember receiving my VCJ once I had my Palitoy Death Star (which I was given for Christmas 78), and I remember it being early in the year when we had a school break so I'm thinking it was around March time 79. Still so wish I'd kept my card back from that Jawa to know for sure it was Palitoy but at least a couple of questions in my mind have been cleared up.

Ian

The UK premier date for Star Wars was Dec 27th 1977, what a Christmas that must have been

 

[Palifan]

All I remember from seeing Star Wars was that I kept on at my Dad so much to see it that he finally gave in and took me. The queue went right around the block and we just about made it in for the screening as it was so packed (I can't even imagine what would have happened if we didn't make that screening and had to wait two and a half hours for the next!).

I only really remember 3po and R2 in the desert after their escape pod crashed from the film and the only other strange thing I remember is that the Batman and Robin cartoon was on TV when we got back. It's strange what sticks with you although Star Wars has stuck with us all.

Ian

 

[panastur]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/british-toy-making-project/toy-manufacturers/palitoy

January 1978 to tie in with the release of the film according to this source. That was also the year I took my dad on a tour
of midland toy shops looking for a jawa, which would have been in the easter or summer holidays that year.

cheers Jason

It's incorrect as they are using generic information.
They've had copies of Celebration Europe exhibit text since 2008.

The first product was a board game for January 1978, which was rushed to have something at the film debut. The main launch was mid March 1978, with the first 12 figures (at a wholesale cost of 60p each, in cases of 48), 3 vehicles, Luke/ Leia 12", masks, kites, Play Doh, Dip Dots and poster sets. A £235,000 advertising campaign at Easter, Palitoy's largest ever for a product launch, was spent across retail and comics.
The first 3 die cast followed in May with a few more products, including the Death Star play set, with the first TV commercial before the year was out.

Hope that helps.
Dave.

Hi Dave,

Did all 12 figures were available at once in March 1978? From the info i use to have, Jawa, DSC and the Tusken were delayed till may-june 1978. Maybe the reason Jawa and DSC are only available on PAL SW 12 back "B" card.

My thoughts,

JC :?

 

[David Tree]

possibly

 

[Palifan]

Hi Dave,

Did all 12 figures were available at once in March 1978? From the info i use to have, Jawa, DSC and the Tusken were delayed till may-june 1978. Maybe the reason Jawa and DSC are only available on PAL SW 12 back "B" card.

My thoughts,

JC :?[/quote]


That sort of fits in with my memory of receiving them as I know for sure the Jawa was the last I received. It was worth the wait though as it was a VCJ (even if I'll never know for sure if it was Palitoy or Kenner :evil: ).

Ian

 

[Captainsolo1978]

I think the Sand Person, Jawa and DSC were released later. See John Kellerman's book. There was a store advert for three new figures. I think only the first nine were available at first.

 

[palitoyjunky]

Odd how the Sand People is readily available on an A card then :roll:

 

[Palifan]

That is a bit odd that there are so many A backs around for it. Maybe the card backs were printed up together with the other ones but they had to wait for the figures to be produced?

I'm never quite sure how toy companies come up with their numbers for how many to make in one go. Perhaps they printed up the same amount of A cards for each figure and then started to print the B backs? Saying that though I don't think anyone has found an A back Death Squad Commander yet so it's probably can't be that.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Ian

 

[palitoyjunky]

Yeh we certainly haven't found any A card backs for the DSC or indeed Jawa as yet.

 

[David Tree]

Before this runs away with itself and fact is created out of nowhere
Kellerman relates only to Kenner and from what paperwork/details I have I'm not aware of any phased launch within the first twelve.

Dave

 

[Palifan]

It's a good thing to point out that the phased launch was based on something mentioned only for the Kenner release, although the time period between US and UK releases seems very close (if not the same?), so maybe there could be something in not all 12 being available at the same time in the UK. I have often heard from people who had these figures bought for them back in 78 finding that the Jawa was a really tricky one to get and it certainly was the last of the first 12 for me.

If anyone out there does have any info on the Palitoy release schedule from back in the day it would be good to hear (although if Dave hasn't found anything after his years of digging I'm doubting anyone else has).

Ian