Universal
A brief history of Universal Toys from the perspective of the military diecast enthusiast
Background
Timeline
Scale
Model Tanks
Tiny Tanks
Combat Unit
Kidco
- Tough Wheels
Matchbox
Over the Years, Universal has manufactured a variety of diecast tanks. Some have been marketed through Universal and it's subsidiaries. Others were manufactured by Universal, but sold under various store brands (K-Mart, Montgomery Ward, etc.)
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The Universal Group was founded by Mr. David C.W. Yeh in 1964 in Hong Kong. It acted as a contractor for overseas toy companies. By the late seventies, Universal was the largest toy manufacturer in Hong Kong. It also began to market and design its own toy products. Although Universal "had it's finger's in" many different diecast brands, the literature is mostly limited to Universals purchase of Lesney/Matchbox in 1982 and the subsequent sale to Tyco in 1992. I have been able to track Universal to several armor lines... Universal manufactured at least 4 lines of tanks/military vehicles:
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 Early Version, King Tiger |
 Early Version, JS III |
 Back of Box |
 Scale Model Tanks |
 Back of Box, second set of six |
 "Scale Model Tanks", alternate release, no plastic insert for this version |
 1986 K-Mart version |
The initial castings of these tanks appeared circa 1974. At least six were marketed (3101 through 3106) in box very similar to Zylmex tanks of the era. The models are printed with the logo "Product of Universal". In 1986 these models were released through K-Mart. The box is similar to the 1970's release, except that the price ($1.09) is actually printed on the box with the K-mart "K" logo, and the front-bottom of the box lists each model. The early versions were made in Hong Kong. I think the moulds were sold to IMEX sometime after Universal ceased toy making, circa 1992. The later versions (IMEX) are made in China and are stamped "Made in China" on the back. Hint: This is a great way to tell which "vintage" your model is!
Tank Type |
Number on Base |
| KING TIGER TANK | 3101 |
| M60 A1 TANK | 3102 |
| JOSEPH STALIN III T-10 TANK | 3103 |
| BRITISH CHIEFTAIN TANK | 3104 |
| AMX30 NAPOLEON TANK | 3105 |
| CHINESE TYPE 61 TANK | 3106 |
| BRITISH CENTURION MK III TANK | 3107 |
| PANTHER TANK | 3108 |
| KAMPFPANZER LEOPARD TANK | 3109 |
| PANZER IV TANK | 3110 |
| M551 SHERIDAN TANK | 3111 |
| RUSSIAN T-54 TANK | 3112 |
Please also see my IMEX page
 Montgomery Ward Panther 1:110 Manufactured by Universal, manufacturer of the early 'IMEX/Scale Model Tanks' tanks(?) |
 Montgomery Ward Rear of Card Note the four other models in this series. |
 K-Mart Tiny Tanks K-Mart also marketed Tiny Tanks, offering the same four that Montgomery Ward offered. Again, made by Universal. |
 Tiny Tanks - K-mart version Walker Bulldog |
The rear of the K-mart card is identical to the Montgomery ward card |
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 Tiny Tanks Sherman |
 Tiny Tanks Sherman |
 Tiny Tanks Centurion |
Universal also made smaller scale (1:100, 1:110) scale tanks for Montgomery Ward and K-Mart. Branded Tiny Tanks, these were inexpensive ($0.78) tanks sold on cards.
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Universal also offered the "Combat Unit" series. It featured the Sherman tank, a jeep, covered truck and an artillery piece.
 Tough Wheels SU-100 |
 Back of Tough Wheels card Showing all four models |
 Kidco MASH |
 Kidco MASH |
 Kidco MASH |
Kidco was created/purchased(?) by Universal to help market toys in the USA. Soon after Universal purchased Matchbox, the Kidco brand was retired. In addition to tanks, Kidco also sold a series of vehicles in 1981 themed upon the popular TV show, MASH.
These molds really saw a lot of uses, as they were also marketed MANY other companies/distributors.
| Brand | Distributor | Year | Base of Tank |
| Uniborn | ? | ? | Uniborn in center of base |
| Tough Wheels | KIDCO | 1981 | Kidco tough wheels, made in Taiwan |
| Die Cast Dyna Mite | Padgett Bros | ? | tank number, not recessed |
| Victory Force | Imperial Toy | 1982 | tank number recessed in base |
| Die-cast metal tank | Ja-Ru | ? | tank number recessed in base |
| Bad Guys | Azrak-Hamway | 1982 | tank number recessed in base |
| Military Action | Kelly Toys/Continental Plastics | 1983 | Uniborn in small letters on side of base |
Please also see my "Uniborn" page
From 1982-1992 Matchbox was owned by Universal Toys. Universal purchased Matchbox when it went into receivership. Soon after the purchase, most of the manufacturing was moved to Macau.
This period saw only one military release. The Commando series was released in 1989. It was comprised of approximately 24 vehicles, many of which were civilian vehicles painted in the Commando paint schemes. These were meant to represent a military convoy. The paint scheme was black with some yellow and gray camo blotches ("Dagger Force") or olive green with brown camo ("Strike Team"). Of the 24 models released, the actual military models (not civilian repaints) consisted of a jeep, a covered truck, a couple of jets, 2 versions of the Weasel, 2 versions of a self propelled gun, and a re-release of the swamp rat (bayou boat with an armed figure).
Of those, the self propelled gun and the Weasel are the most hardcore military models of the set.
 Matchbox Commando |
 Matchbox Commando Rear |
 Matchbox Commando |
 Matchbox Commando comparison to Superfast version |
For more on Matchbox, in general, please see my "Matchbox" page
Reference: Mack, Charlie, Universal Matchbox Toys: The Universal Years, 1982-1992, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1993
1992 to Present
As best as I can determine, 1992 saw the exit of Universal
from the diecast toy business. Today Universal still exists as "
Universal
International Investment Ltd" and now invests in real
estate, dry cleaning, and other financial investments.
