In 1985, Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment introduced audiences to the plight of the ThunderCats and their fight to protect Third Earth. The story of ThunderCats could be traced back to a single dinner between Ted Wolf and his daughter, Janice Wolf, in 1981. The two enjoyed workshopping ideas like superheroes, so they brainstormed the various characters […]
Wheeljack’s Lab – Vintage Toy Blog
Follow this blog for the new, the unusual, the rare and cool Generation 1 G1 Transformers toys. Reviews, news, toy resources, galleries, unboxing, opinions and personal reflections on vintage toys.
The Ten Most Expensive Shogun Warriors Toys
Mattel introduced the Shogun Warriors to America in 1977. Unlike most of Mattel’s catalog, the American toy maker did not develop this toy line. Instead, they saw a popular trend from Japan, the love for giant robots in Tokusatsu, and felt that America would also embrace the robots. So, they licensed several popular toy brands […]
Moments in Toy History: Converting Japanese Toys into the Transformers
In 1984, Hasbro created history when they introduced the Transformers action figures to the market. With a powerful story and exciting gameplay, these toys captured the hearts of children across the planet. While Transformers made a huge splash, they were not the first toy to depict transforming robots. For instance, Banai created toys with basic […]
Moments in Toy History: Revisioning A Real American Hero, G.I. Joe
The story of G.I. Joe began in 1963 when Stanley Winston from Manhattan created his prototype for a military-themed action figure. From the moment that Donald Levine, an executive at Hasbro, set eyes on the prototype, he knew he saw a hit. Thus, Hasbro became the home of G.I. Joe for only the sum of […]
Moments in Toy History: How Mattel Gained the Power through He-Man
Since its founding in 1945, Mattel has been one of the most influential toy manufacturers in both the United States and the world. While one of their earliest creations was the Magic 8 Ball, which continues to entertain children and function as a paperweight, their largest toy line, Barbie, emerged in 1959. With the unrivaled […]
Moments in Toy History: The Story Behind Kenner Star Wars
For most who grew up in the 1970s, there was one major event that defined the decade: the release of Star Wars and the launch of Kenner’s toy line. While George Lucas did not create the first movie to be labeled a blockbuster, his science fiction epic became a phenomenon of its own. By utilizing […]
The Top Ten AFA-Graded Toys That Have Come Through Our Doors
Since we here at Wheeljack’s Lab have bought and sold toys for decades, we have seen many rare toys, like those that are AFA-Graded. It always excites us when we see one of these toys with professional grading pass through our doors. While finding a mint thirty-five-year-old toy is rare, these are even rarer. For, […]
Best Place to Sell Toys
Best Places to Sell Toys Here at Wheeljack’s Lab, we’ve been buying vintage action figures for over 20 years. He-Man, Thundercats, M.A.S.K., Transformers, G.I. Joe—you name it. If you’re looking to cash in your toy collection, we’ve got the tools and tips to help. Here’s how to determine how much your collection is worth as […]
Places That Buy Action Figures
Places That Buy Toys As toy collectors for over two decades, we understand that you are here because you have a collection of playthings that you want to convert to currency. Choosing the right place that buys auction figures is an important decision. As expert people who buy toys, we will show you how to […]
Best Way to Sell Toys and Action Figures
The Best Way to Sell Toys (Action Figures) Do you have an old toy collection you’d like to turn into cash? If you have a few old action figures that are doing little more than collecting dust, we can help you free space and earn cash by selling your old toys. Here at Wheeljack’s Lab, […]