When i was about 4/5 years old, my mum and dad bought me the lifeguard action man and the horse. That toy stuck with me and prompted me to join the lifeguards regiment later on in life where i spent 4 years in London on public duties…thanks Palitoy 😊
Probably the most enjoyable half hour in front of the telly I’ll have this Christmas. What an informed and heartfelt tribute to a true golden era. Thank you.
Man that takes me back to some fond memories, I'm 59 now had the horse, blues and Royals Trooper, Arctic skier, diver, mountaineer, 105mm gun, Scorpion Tank, helicopter and various other uniforms. These were in turn passed on to the not so well off grandchildren of a family friend by my mother when i myself joined the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in early 80s. When kids were content playing war fighting and secret missions eh. Thanks for this 👏👏👏👏🏴
Goodness me, a blast from the past. I was a very spoilt child and had nearly everything action man, had so many stars had all the free stuff too. I have two large steamer trunks full of it that my sister wanted to throw out from our family home, I better go salvage them all quick lol lovely vid. 👍
I'd love to own an original action man today in pristine condition. I had many happy hours playing with my action man. Now in my sixties with fond memories of action man
Man, why is it I never want the Action Man videos to end... The nostalgia and memories it brings back. I once commented that I couldn't afford to collect Action Man, so I'd keep watching Tony's videos instead... after watching this one, I found myself scrolling ebay because 'One little Action Man won't hurt!' ... Never stop making these videos
Excellent video! Superb quality and highly informative. I still can’t get over how gorgeous these uniforms look 40+ years later. Truly remarkable craftsmanship
I love these Action Man videos, it gives me a good excuse to show it to my nephews because i can tell them its a toy video while showing them unique things from history.
I'm 61 and wish I had these old play mates still today. Too many to remember , red devil ( throw him out of a 12 storey flat ) brilliant, mine detector that worked, search light etc.Used to send old broken ones to the dolls hospital and had them repaired and returned. Had the talking one with pull cord, then real hair and eagle eyes. The star thing was a great marketing thing, collect them for more accesories. Happy days. Thanks for the video and a new subsciber. Mark
You can tell these guys cared about what they made. And I can tell tony has a love for these figures and uniforms just like the people who made em. I'm not into collecting action man but I do enjoy the history behind em. Excellent video!
Very nostalgic. I sold off all my old toys a few years ago at a local toy fair. The Scorpion Tank, helicopter, three blokes, and endless uniforms and accessories. I remember two grown men almost fighting over the stuff, before id even got it out on the table!
@ I enjoy most of your videos a lot. I’ve played Action Man as a kid, but in the 90s, so my Action Man was a James Bond-like super spy character. Never before your channel I knew about its rich history. I was familiar to G.I.Joe dolls, because we are mostly surrounded by American toy-related content, and it’s so exciting to watch videos and discover history of British toys.
What a great video to start off my morning. Did anyone else have a tear in their eye? Action man was certainly part of my life, l ended up in Scotland’s Calvary regiment.
Excellent video. It continues to amaze me how much detail and effort went into all of these uniforms. And I really miss that kind of beautiful box art and packaging.
The attention to detail is amazing and really shows the pride that they had making these awesome figures. Outstanding video as always my friend and I always look forward to seeing the next.
One of my all time, and treasured Christmas presents was the Action Man Life Guards uniform… and horse. I still have the pics somewhere, of a very excited young child on Christmas morning, unwrapping it. Sadly my bloody brother sold ALL of my Action Man stuff which had been resigned to the loft a few years years before…. I was bereft, and never forgiven him. They would be worth a fortune now! …. I love these nostalgic videos, a wonderful walk down memory Lane.
Another amazing video, thank you. I (collected)played with action man from about 1980 to 84 had some of the later reissued uniforms you mentioned. The attention to detail is brilliant as always. ❤
My dad bought me an Action Man and a Russian WWII Soldier complete with the Ushanka, which you showed. It was 1970, and it was a present for being brave at the dentist. Conveniently, the dentists was located above the toy shop (not exactly, but within 20metres). Anyway, the star collection, which they later stopped, was superb. I got about 3 free action men for 20 stars each. The story doesn't end there. My best friend, trained as a Chartered Accountant with the now defunct (and disgraced) Arthur Andersen. One of his first audits, was the liquidation of Palitoy in Leicester. He married a girl who had a young boy who got extremely lucky. The liquidator sold the action men for 3p each.
Bring back memories. Had a green beret army soldier and had the Lancers uniform. And the red devils uniform. Wish I still had them. I kept them right up to the early 2000's. Love to get hold of these again
Thank you for the education on action man and I find it very interesting and I really enjoyed seeing some of vintage military footage and ads. Thank you for sharing and merry Christmas to you and your family
I had the standard Action man, but got the Para uniform set with the SLR and the cloth berat. Also had the Gemini boat with the battery operated outboard motor and the deep sea diving suit with the Rubber Shark!!!
Excellent stuff. I didn't get bitten by the Action Man bug, despite being gifted a shed load of the soldiers and vehicles. However, I was desperately keen to own this set of Ceremonial figures, along with the WW2 accurate uniforms. I absolutely admire the toymakers' skill and dedication. I would have been proud to display these chaps.
What a wonderfully made and enjoyable video, made even better by your interviews with the people involved in creating the range and of course, by showing all of the amazing examples from your personal collection!
That’s why these boys toys were simply the best most accurate well fitted & designed uniforms ever made bar none ….. in one word Brilliant , thx for sharing Tony fantastic video mate well done loved it 🥰
I loved my action men toys as a kid! My favourite was my ww2 German soldier on a motorcycle with a sidecar. I also loved my SAS action man all in back with a respirator and HK sub machine!
Had three (eventually) one even spoke! One was a Diver. What with Airfix and Action Man RM Commandos i became one joining at the age of 16.. il be 66 this Boxing Day, txs so many happy memories of years gone by 👍
While the Colt 1911 is not accurate for a 1970s era Para, it should be noted that the UK purchased thousands of 1911 for use in both world wars. The Royal Navy and the Flying Corps purchased a bunch in the Great War chambered for the same .455 cartridge as the Webley automatic pistol. During WW2 40,000 were purchased in .45 ACP and issued primarily to the Paras. You can see Sean Connery use one to good effect in “A Bridge Too Far”.
These guys were before my time. I arrived in the late 80's and wasn't going to be doing much until the early 90's. By then the original Action Man had retired. There was a "return" sorts of in the mid 90's and I did get hold of one then. Sadly neither my example or the return lasted very long and I never got a chance to to really delve into the world after that. It's a sad thing that our children will ever get to appreciate this sort of effort and quality again. Not unless you pay £100's for limited run specials that have been then been scalped on auction sites. Amazing that these guys were available on shop shelves en mass
My mum and dad bought my first Action Man after I completed my first week at school (1965/66). I can still remember being given the box, with Action Man wearing a fully one-piece orange overall (and metal zip), a blue plastic cap and tall plastic boots with moulded laces. I went on to collect many uniforms and accessories, along with my younger brother. Wish I’d kept them all now.
@@AnalogToyslooking back, I can’t believe the amount of AM kit my brother and I bought. Saving the ‘stars’ from packaging, to put towards another set. My Frogman’s outfit perishing because I never removed it to dry it properly (and put talcum powder on it), and my brothers Red Devil taking many trips out the bedroom window, or zipping down the washing line in his Breaches Boy! What memories.
I once had most of the Canadian Mountie, Red Devil Uniform and a couple of British Officer Talking Commander Figures. I even had the Space Uniform too.
Great video, as a current serving Lancer the 17/21st Lancer Action Man was always a favourite as a child. We don’t call the it a cap badge, it’s a moto.
Thank you .this best episode after your docs you did .sutch cool line .love your proffestional film making .take care have great christmas and new year.i proberly be watching this video more than once .
Great video, I had action man as a kid and Kobe my A&SH uniform……but I eventually joined the 17/21st Lancers, …interesting to note that the Officers Uniform has a Lancers motto on the cap.
The para wears a Para Depot DZ flash (sky blue over maroon). Strictly, that could mean he's recruit training staff, in the "remedial training platoon", pre-parachute (P Coy) training staff, HQ admin staff, or a junior para in training. 😊
Great insight to cool figures. At 30:36, those aren't hussars. They're Royal Horse Artillery. Very similar uniforms but... hussars are cavalry and artillery are... well... artillery.
I also loved the Officer uniform … yes I had that too, and sooooooo loved the Sam Browne belt. That is very akin to the real officers uniform… and of course very highly polished!! Sam Browne belt I have been privileged to wear for many years… I finally hang it up in a few weeks.
@@AnalogToys Sorry, it is a splendid video. Well presented. I just always notice the sailor because it is often shown missing bits, or tied wrong. My second Action Man was the sailor about the same time that I joined the mob. (My first was the Life Guards with horse set).
I have got the last Parachute Regiment uniform in my loft and the Guardsman. Also have French foreign legion and lots of other bits. I must dig them out
Am so pleased I still have mine today Can’t think what age I was when I first got my first action man but I was born 1966 so it wasn’t long before first one arrived the soldier with none gripping hands and machine gun then got flung out the bedroom window with a parachute and broke his leg 😂😂
Of course any lancer would also have been issued with a sabre, so I just used my Horse Guard sabre and sabre belt with my 17th/21 Lancers uniform. I also used a Marx cowboy horse, not having the Action Man horse myself.
When i was about 4/5 years old, my mum and dad bought me the lifeguard action man and the horse. That toy stuck with me and prompted me to join the lifeguards regiment later on in life where i spent 4 years in London on public duties…thanks Palitoy 😊
Shame you didn’t become a soldier 😂
I am now 60 years young . I still have 12 original Action men . Even now I look at the with fondness .
Probably the most enjoyable half hour in front of the telly I’ll have this Christmas. What an informed and heartfelt tribute to a true golden era. Thank you.
Absolutely Agree
Man that takes me back to some fond memories, I'm 59 now had the horse, blues and Royals Trooper, Arctic skier, diver, mountaineer, 105mm gun, Scorpion Tank, helicopter and various other uniforms. These were in turn passed on to the not so well off grandchildren of a family friend by my mother when i myself joined the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in early 80s. When kids were content playing war fighting and secret missions eh. Thanks for this 👏👏👏👏🏴
You're really in your element with videos like these, and believe me I know how much extra work they take, but man it's such a treat for the viewer.
Thanks, it's nice to hear that.
Goodness me, a blast from the past. I was a very spoilt child and had nearly everything action man, had so many stars had all the free stuff too. I have two large steamer trunks full of it that my sister wanted to throw out from our family home, I better go salvage them all quick lol lovely vid. 👍
I'd love to own an original action man today in pristine condition. I had many happy hours playing with my action man. Now in my sixties with fond memories of action man
I had one of those bloody parachute... i spent years of my childhood chucking it of high places and it never ONCE opened!
Same here! The falls caused my Talking Commander Action Man to develop a permanent speech impediment.
@@AtheistOrphan 😆😆
@@flashgordon1262 Glad i wasn't the only nut out there, good job Action man was strong enough to survive the fall, lol!
It never opened for me either when I jumped out of the bedroom window! 😂
Man, why is it I never want the Action Man videos to end... The nostalgia and memories it brings back. I once commented that I couldn't afford to collect Action Man, so I'd keep watching Tony's videos instead... after watching this one, I found myself scrolling ebay because 'One little Action Man won't hurt!' ... Never stop making these videos
Thanks mate, I certainly will!
Excellent video! Superb quality and highly informative. I still can’t get over how gorgeous these uniforms look 40+ years later. Truly remarkable craftsmanship
I love these Action Man videos, it gives me a good excuse to show it to my nephews because i can tell them its a toy video while showing them unique things from history.
I'm 61 and wish I had these old play mates still today. Too many to remember , red devil ( throw him out of a 12 storey flat ) brilliant, mine detector that worked, search light etc.Used to send old broken ones to the dolls hospital and had them repaired and returned. Had the talking one with pull cord, then real hair and eagle eyes. The star thing was a great marketing thing, collect them for more accesories. Happy days. Thanks for the video and a new subsciber. Mark
You can tell these guys cared about what they made. And I can tell tony has a love for these figures and uniforms just like the people who made em. I'm not into collecting action man but I do enjoy the history behind em. Excellent video!
Beautiful nostalgia trip for Christmas time .
A great video- thank you. As a child spending Xmas and birthday money on Action Man accessories was pure joy. Getting the annual was amazing too.
Very nostalgic. I sold off all my old toys a few years ago at a local toy fair. The Scorpion Tank, helicopter, three blokes, and endless uniforms and accessories. I remember two grown men almost fighting over the stuff, before id even got it out on the table!
There’s no other channel like Analog Toys. Great documentary. Thank you so much, Tony!
Glad you enjoy it!
@ I enjoy most of your videos a lot. I’ve played Action Man as a kid, but in the 90s, so my Action Man was a James Bond-like super spy character. Never before your channel I knew about its rich history. I was familiar to G.I.Joe dolls, because we are mostly surrounded by American toy-related content, and it’s so exciting to watch videos and discover history of British toys.
What a great video to start off my morning. Did anyone else have a tear in their eye? Action man was certainly part of my life, l ended up in Scotland’s Calvary regiment.
Excellent video. It continues to amaze me how much detail and effort went into all of these uniforms. And I really miss that kind of beautiful box art and packaging.
The attention to detail is amazing and really shows the pride that they had making these awesome figures. Outstanding video as always my friend and I always look forward to seeing the next.
Gorgeous presentation: The Toys and the meticulous work you put into it. Well done sir! The level of detail almost makes me view these as model kits.
One of my all time, and treasured Christmas presents was the Action Man Life Guards uniform… and horse. I still have the pics somewhere, of a very excited young child on Christmas morning, unwrapping it. Sadly my bloody brother sold ALL of my Action Man stuff which had been resigned to the loft a few years years before…. I was bereft, and never forgiven him. They would be worth a fortune now! …. I love these nostalgic videos, a wonderful walk down memory Lane.
Another amazing video, thank you. I (collected)played with action man from about 1980 to 84 had some of the later reissued uniforms you mentioned. The attention to detail is brilliant as always. ❤
Wonderful video, Tony. I absolutely loved this one. Such an amazing display of uniforms and groups working together to make these uniforms possible.
My dad bought me an Action Man and a Russian WWII Soldier complete with the Ushanka, which you showed. It was 1970, and it was a present for being brave at the dentist. Conveniently, the dentists was located above the toy shop (not exactly, but within 20metres). Anyway, the star collection, which they later stopped, was superb. I got about 3 free action men for 20 stars each.
The story doesn't end there. My best friend, trained as a Chartered Accountant with the now defunct (and disgraced) Arthur Andersen. One of his first audits, was the liquidation of Palitoy in Leicester. He married a girl who had a young boy who got extremely lucky. The liquidator sold the action men for 3p each.
Every bar was exceeded in this video, Tony. Im floored. Well done, my friend! 🫡
Thank you man!
@@AnalogToys
hey what would a typical production run be for these? vintage japanese toys are mysterious on this front
thousands? tens of? or more
Born in 62 and I’m now 62 and still love Action Man. Had about 13 at one point. 😂
Great video, had the grenadier and the marine when I was younger. I still have them somewhere. I looked after them.
Bring back memories. Had a green beret army soldier and had the Lancers uniform. And the red devils uniform. Wish I still had them. I kept them right up to the early 2000's. Love to get hold of these again
Still have my Grenadier guard and Royal Hussar uniforms in the loft somewhere with rest of my old Action Man stuff!
Thank you for the education on action man and I find it very interesting and I really enjoyed seeing some of vintage military footage and ads. Thank you for sharing and merry Christmas to you and your family
I had the standard Action man, but got the Para uniform set with the SLR and the cloth berat. Also had the Gemini boat with the battery operated outboard motor and the deep sea diving suit with the Rubber Shark!!!
Why have I only just seen your channel ?! Fantastic stuff and amazing nostalgia for me. Subbed!!!😊
Superbly presented, Superb content, thanks Tony
Excellent stuff. I didn't get bitten by the Action Man bug, despite being gifted a shed load of the soldiers and vehicles. However, I was desperately keen to own this set of Ceremonial figures, along with the WW2 accurate uniforms. I absolutely admire the toymakers' skill and dedication. I would have been proud to display these chaps.
What a wonderfully made and enjoyable video, made even better by your interviews with the people involved in creating the range and of course, by showing all of the amazing examples from your personal collection!
Thanks for this from France where we had Action Joe starting in 1975. My favourite outfit was the Parachute Regiment (Zip jacket and fabric beret).
That’s why these boys toys were simply the best most accurate well fitted & designed uniforms ever made bar none ….. in one word Brilliant , thx for sharing Tony fantastic video mate well done loved it 🥰
henshin cyborg in japan had some very cool stuff, not not garments this complex
I loved my action men toys as a kid! My favourite was my ww2 German soldier on a motorcycle with a sidecar. I also loved my SAS action man all in back with a respirator and HK sub machine!
Had three (eventually) one even spoke! One was a Diver. What with Airfix and Action Man RM Commandos i became one joining at the age of 16.. il be 66 this Boxing Day, txs so many happy memories of years gone by 👍
Merry Christmas Royal 🍻 🥳 PMPT
These Action Man sets are fantastic!
While the Colt 1911 is not accurate for a 1970s era Para, it should be noted that the UK purchased thousands of 1911 for use in both world wars. The Royal Navy and the Flying Corps purchased a bunch in the Great War chambered for the same .455 cartridge as the Webley automatic pistol. During WW2 40,000 were purchased in .45 ACP and issued primarily to the Paras.
You can see Sean Connery use one to good effect in “A Bridge Too Far”.
Those were the days. I had the Life Guard uniform and Red Devil parachutist kit plus numerous other bits and pieces. 👍
These guys were before my time.
I arrived in the late 80's and wasn't going to be doing much until the early 90's. By then the original Action Man had retired.
There was a "return" sorts of in the mid 90's and I did get hold of one then. Sadly neither my example or the return lasted very long and I never got a chance to to really delve into the world after that.
It's a sad thing that our children will ever get to appreciate this sort of effort and quality again. Not unless you pay £100's for limited run specials that have been then been scalped on auction sites.
Amazing that these guys were available on shop shelves en mass
Really enjoyed that. I still have my guardsman, a bit battered, but still here. Sad they never produced my regiment, RHA King's Troop.
My mum and dad bought my first Action Man after I completed my first week at school (1965/66). I can still remember being given the box, with Action Man wearing a fully one-piece orange overall (and metal zip), a blue plastic cap and tall plastic boots with moulded laces. I went on to collect many uniforms and accessories, along with my younger brother. Wish I’d kept them all now.
Sounds like you got the action pilot, good score!
@@AnalogToyslooking back, I can’t believe the amount of AM kit my brother and I bought. Saving the ‘stars’ from packaging, to put towards another set. My Frogman’s outfit perishing because I never removed it to dry it properly (and put talcum powder on it), and my brothers Red Devil taking many trips out the bedroom window, or zipping down the washing line in his Breaches Boy! What memories.
I once had most of the Canadian Mountie, Red Devil Uniform and a couple of British Officer Talking Commander Figures. I even had the Space Uniform too.
Great video, as always. First issue Parachute Regiment jacket had epaulettes. 😊
Thanks for the info!
Tony, thank you so much for another incredibly informative video about the history of Action Man! Love it!👍
Great video, as a current serving Lancer the 17/21st Lancer Action Man was always a favourite as a child. We don’t call the it a cap badge, it’s a moto.
With two t's ☠️
@ lol yeah not the motorway services lol DoG
Fantastic collection! British children were very lucky.
Thank you .this best episode after your docs you did .sutch cool line .love your proffestional film making .take care have great christmas and new year.i proberly be watching this video more than once .
Great content. Thanks for sharing with us Tony.
Your action man collection is phenomenal only you could have made this video
Great video. Thank you for creating and sharing it.
Very informative video Mate... not my jam but very interesting non the less. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and the familia!!! Cheers!
Great video, I had action man as a kid and Kobe my A&SH uniform……but I eventually joined the 17/21st Lancers, …interesting to note that the Officers Uniform has a Lancers motto on the cap.
The best toys ever. I adored mine and wish I still had them. 🥲
My parents gave me an empty box one Christmas. They told me it was an ‘Action Man Deserter’.
Another excellent video Tony. Kudos!
Top notch sir! Right man for the job sir !!!
I had loads of action men. I come from Leicestershire and I had friends thst used to raid the factory waste skips. I became a soldier myself.
Another excellent video. Thank you, very engaging.
They should bring these back...Awesome.
The para wears a Para Depot DZ flash (sky blue over maroon). Strictly, that could mean he's recruit training staff, in the "remedial training platoon", pre-parachute (P Coy) training staff, HQ admin staff, or a junior para in training. 😊
My aunt was a artist and painterly the artwork for action man I saw the paintings at her home when I was
a kid
70 to 77 was my era with AM. Wish I was young again! o7
wow, as an american, i did not realize just how high-quality the construction is on these
Amazing work on their uniforms etc very impressive action figures.
A deft discussion of the transition of the 60s into the 70s as Action Man attempted total ad fidelity to authentic designs. I want a few in my now.
I hold Action Man personally reponsible for me joining the Army. I couldnt resist that kilt!
The best video you have done tony
Absolutely amazing video.
I had the red devil, what a pain that was to pack up the parachute 🤣
Class, I’d hate to think how much they would cost today if produced.
Fantastic video. Tha is for your hard work
Thank God that I was a kid during the 70' s and not now.
Great insight to cool figures.
At 30:36, those aren't hussars. They're Royal Horse Artillery. Very similar uniforms but... hussars are cavalry and artillery are... well... artillery.
I also loved the Officer uniform … yes I had that too, and sooooooo loved the Sam Browne belt. That is very akin to the real officers uniform… and of course very highly polished!! Sam Browne belt I have been privileged to wear for many years… I finally hang it up in a few weeks.
It is a pity that the Sailor's collar & silk were not sorted out prior to filming. It is one of my favourites!
It’s a pity you chose to focus on a nitpick and ignore the obvious effort that went into this video.
@@AnalogToys Sorry, it is a splendid video. Well presented. I just always notice the sailor because it is often shown missing bits, or tied wrong. My second Action Man was the sailor about the same time that I joined the mob. (My first was the Life Guards with horse set).
I have got the last Parachute Regiment uniform in my loft and the Guardsman. Also have French foreign legion and lots of other bits. I must dig them out
Am so pleased I still have mine today
Can’t think what age I was when I first got my first action man but I was born 1966 so it wasn’t long before first one arrived the soldier with none gripping hands and machine gun then got flung out the bedroom window with a parachute and broke his leg 😂😂
Brilliant toys, just a bit light weight to play with, but I loved them ❤
Used to have the SAS Black Outfit, can't remember what happened to it? Would have kept it loved that outfit......
Still got the action man German Soldier.
Found it in a box in the loft .
I originally had a Tommy Gunn as it had British uniforms. But then got an Action Man with the Guards uniform, plus a Commando and deep sea diver
Brilliant, I really enjoyed that
😂anybody else noticed that Alisha Lehmann's hairstyle is an homage to the Life Guards head dress😂
Of course any lancer would also have been issued with a sabre, so I just used my Horse Guard sabre and sabre belt with my 17th/21 Lancers uniform. I also used a Marx cowboy horse, not having the Action Man horse myself.
Epic video. Very cool.
Palitoy is one of a kind. You'll never get the quality in both designs and outfits from Hasbro after they bought Palitoy.
I had a action man also mention,another toy called Tommy Gun
Pride of my collection
Flocking amazing .
The greatest boys toy ever invented, oh the memories 😊
Hey Tony wishing you and your family a happy holidays
Happy holidays to you too!
This stuff was really well made
Enjoyed every second of that.....cheese from Adelaide Digger ✌️
cheers not cheese 😂✌️
Oh my goodness, 17/21 Lancers would never have been allows to wear beards and moustaches! And it’s not a batton, it’s a swagger stick 😂
In Palitoy’s trade catalogues they refer to the accessory as a “baton” so take up your issue with them.
I remember the SLR that the toys carried often snapped.