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Dinosaur and Prehistoric Figures Companies from the Dinosaur Collector  

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The Dinosaur Collector with his staff. The Dino Boyz with sand box dinosaurs.

Toy Companies AAA Bandai Battat Bullyland Ajax Tim-Mee Bin style figures Cherilea Chilau Companies Home Dino Riders Fame Master FunRise Furuta Inpro Invicta Jasman Kabaya Kaiyodo UHA Kinto Lido Nabisco Linde Marolin Marx Miller MPC Neoform RalPartha Oresenigo PlayVision Panosh Papo Playskool Procon ROM Safari Ltd Schleich Schredies Sinclair Starlux TootsieToy Toyway Topps ThunderBeasts UKRD White Post more PALEOZOIC BEFORE THE DINOSAURS MESOZOIC THE DINOSAURS CENOZOIC AFTER THE DINOS SEAS OF THE MESOZOIC DINOSAUR COMPANIES NEWS RECENT UPDATES DINOSAUR COLLECTOR HOME OTHER SITES AND REFERENCES Diorama pages

If you are looking for figures from a particular company, this is a limited alternative to visiting the diorama pages; a way to check out some of the more popular companies. The links below will take you to pictures displaying some figures from the series.  In some cases the links will take you to pages with detailed information, as in the Marx, MPC, Safari and Schleich pages. For the rest, most of the companies are represented in the dioramas you can access by clicking on the Site A or Site B icons at the bottom.  I have some links to other sites in my favorite links page, which has information about collectables.  See the news page for new releases.  Prices vary but generally rare figures cost more.  Ebay is a common source for many collectables and prices seem to vary widely, though generally seem to get higher.  Many companies distribute figures from various manufacturers, for example UKRD figures have been distributed by Boely and Toyway among others, while Bullyland produces and distributes their own figures. Also the molds for Marx, Inpro and others have passed through various hands. Generally I try to list figures by the manufacturer stamped on the figure.

Collectables 1950 – 1980: Dinosaur toys from this period are generally not to a fixed scale or painted.  The Zallinger Mural and to a lesser extent artists like Burien and Knight were the major influence. It is the age of Brontosaurus and Trachodon with dragging tails and kangaroo postures.

Ajax Plastic Corp 1950's toy company; figures strongly resemble Tim-Mee originals.  Was known for using molds of other companies. Knock offs keep showing up.

Cherilea an English company. Stared in 1948 and purchased in the 70's by Sarna Ware. Dinosaur were made in the 50's

Chialu of Italy made a series of nice looking painted figures modeled after Rudolph Zallinger's "Age of Reptiles" mural that appeared in Life magazine in the early 1950s.  They have not preserved well as they were made of a composite.  The prehistoric flying squirrel is unique in toy lines, however; very collectable and rare.  One of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis' "Dinosphere" exhibit highlights is a very rare set of Chialu dinosaurs made in Italy in the 1950s.   Collected by Pennsylvania collector Joe DeMarco.

Inpro circa 1972, an English Company produced a line of Prehistoric toys some of which are still being marketed by Imperial Toys.  The hard plastic originals are very collectable.  

Linde produced a series of dinosaurs in Austria originally as give-aways with coffee in the 50's.  Made of a waxy green plastic that looks similar to Marx figures, only smaller.  Very collectable; the Rhamphorhynchus being highly sought after.

Miller Company in the 50's produced a line of large and small Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Mammal figures.  The figures were created in injection molds out of a waxy medium that has not proved to be very enduring.  All the figures are collectible with mint figures often selling for several hundred dollars.  Small Millers seem to have had a high extinction rate and are correspondingly highly valued.  The mammals are exceedingly well done and current toy reproductions have yet to surpass them. 

The Marx Toy Company produced many series of dinosaur play sets; arguably the best figures produced in this period.  Complete mint play sets are highly sought after and the molds are still in use. The collecting of Marx figures is very detailed and complex.  Colors and mold groups are important considerations in price. For detailed information, I recommend Mike Frederick’s book Dinosaur Collectibles, and reviewing specific articles from Prehistoric Times dealing with the Marx company.

The Multiple Products Corp(MPC) made a series of Dinosaur Play sets in the 1960's similar to Marx, the molds of which are still in use.  The figures were popular as premiums, and there was also a rare Dinosaur model kit.

Nabisco in the late 50's early 60's produced a line of dinosaurs and another of prehistoric mammals used as premiums.  The dinosaurs were small; about the size of Tim-Mee minis.  The mammals were well done but less common.  Molds are still in use (see Tootsie Toy).  The figures themselves were made by Lido - a well know maker of toy soldiers.

Neoform Danish company which produced a series of very rare, very collectable, prehistoric animals.

Orsenigo from Italy made a series of ugly rubber models that came in 2 sizes and are very collectable.  The Marvel figures are thought to be knock-offs.

Sinclair Gasoline produced and distributed several different original sets as well as Marx/MPC/Tim Mee figures to promote its gasoline products.  The high point was the New York's World Fair figures produced in vending machines some of which still exist.   Most are considered very collectable.  Books can be written on Sinclair collectables.  Major dinosaur Toys were Worlds Fair figures made of a waxy material produced in a vending machine.  Several of the machines still exist.  The mini Tim Mee figures were given away as premiums at Gas Stations.  The Spaulding Dinosaur Company (SDC) was a mixed group of MARX copies in blister packs.  There was also a set of Zallinger style figures also from the Worlds Fair that are often mistaken for Marx figures.  

Sell Rite Giftware (SRG) 1940's and 50's metal figures (also some rare plastic and ceramic copies) were sold in Museums and came in two sizes.  They look pretty dated now days but have preserved well.  A popular collectable.  Molds may still exist and at one point were said to have gone to Japan.

Schreddies Used as premiums in Germany and Austria for Warner margarine, Nabisco Shredded Wheat, Schreddies in the UK and tea Boxes in Common Wealth countries.

Timpo Toys The English company Timpo Toys 1938 - 1980. Best known for toy soldiers as well as animal figures. In 1981 many of the remaining assets were acquired by Toyway.  Timpo produced a line of collectable dinosaurs in a waxy plastic smaller but roughly similar to the Miller and Marx figures.  Molds may still exist.

Tootsie Toy produced large hollow sand box style dinosaur and prehistoric mammal figures in the 60's.  The dinosaurs are still occasionally used in play sets.  The mammals are rarer.  Molds probably still exist as recasts show up periodically.  The company is currently selling a mix of Ajax and Nabisco recasts.

Tim-Mee started about 1948 as a subsidiary of the Anchor Brush Company through an idea to make toys to keep the machinery always in use. Figures were sold in bagged sets of varying sizes. They were mainly sold in grocery, drug and 5 & 10 stores. Tim-Mee still exists as Processed Plastic and sells a few lines in Wal-Mart and Toys R Us.  There were 3 groups of Dinosaurs the Original, Smooth and the mini series.  Often all 3 are sold together in play sets along with Ajax, Lido, Marx and MPC recasts or copies.

Topps Dinosaurs 1980's were a small series originally created as candy premiums.  Recently there was also a new Jurassic Park line.

White Post Dinosaurs were a set made and sold at Dinosaur Land in White Post Va. very ugly very collectable.

High Quality Museum Lines (you can find the following lines represented on the diorama pages).  These are figures where there normally is a formal endorsement from a Museum.  Commonly the figures are done in a similar scale, identified by name and are painted.

Batatt  briefly produced a Museum line in conjunction with the Boston Museum of Science.  The dramatic postures and colorful paint were off set by an indifferent quality control.  There was a 1/40 scale series and mini pantograph versions.  There was also a smaller Tyrannosaurus figure produced separate from the pantograph line.  It was brought to market in only very small numbers.  Considered among the best Dinosaur toys ever made.  No longer tin production. The figures are copied by Vinyl figure makers in China.

Bullyland of Germany a veteran figure maker from Germany that has produced many dinosaur lines and an extensive Prehistoric Mammals line.  Not common in the US.  There is a Museum line, via the Natural history Museum in Stuttgart Germany with some of the best figures produced. Recently the ownership has changed.

Invicta, the grand father of the Museum lines, the was a 1/45 scale series of  unpainted Dinosaurs with British Natural History Museum.. Later most of the series was sold in painted versions. Most of the unpainted series can still be found.  There is also a plaster cast set of 4 figures based on Museum figures.   While most of the Invicta line may remain in production the British Natural History Museum has developed a new museum lines.

Kaiyodo  of Japan is primarily a model company specializing in high quality resin and vinyl models.  It has recently produced several popular series of small prehistoric  premiums for candy, companies, Coca Cola and bottled water producers the figures mostly designed by Araki Kazunari.  The most famous dinosaur sculptor in Japan.  The UHA Choco Egg Dino Tales, Furuta and Kabaya Dino World series are especially prominent.   Dr. Bob Bakker of the Tate Museum consulted on the Kabaya series.  The voted the best new figures 3 years running by Prehistoric times  UHA Kaiyodo figures are now being marketed in the US by Promotopia with English language packaging.

The Favorite Collection from Kinto of Japan released a series of soft dinosaurs based on their high quality resin figures.  The have been some softplay released but no new vinyl.

Marolin (VEB Plaho) an East German company that marketed figures possibly based on old molds dating back to the 30's.  The figures were reputed to be done in conjunction with the Leipzig Museum.  The Brontosaurus was recently included in an electric train set.

Play Vision established a relationship with National Geographic and briefly produced several series of Prehistoric Mammals, Dinosaurs and Prehistoric reptiles and Amphibians. First there was the small dinosaurs, then a Habitat Earth series the final dinosaur series was associated with the American Natural History Museum.  The was also a series of large prehistoric mammals and small prehistoric mammals.  More interesting was the selection of small prehistoric marine reptiles and another of prehistoric amphibians.  The figures were mostly drawn from the illustrations in Simon and Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures. Only the small dinosaur bin series is currently known to be in production others are becoming very collectible.

Procon small UK company that partners with educators released a new dinosaur series. Anthony Beeson a regular contributor to Dinosaur Collector provided the key technical input for the designs and figures choices.

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM ) in Canada, produced a line of Dinosaurs. Similar in style to Invicta and Marx figures.  Knocks offs of the figures are still being produced in China.  A Burgess Shale model series is currently being produced.

The Safari Company, has the premier Carnegie Museum line with largest range of dinosaurs figures.  Carnegie Safari represents the industry standard in modern dinosaur figures and established the 1/40 scale as a standard used by many museum lines.  Safari produces several other dinosaur series

Schleich of Germany produced its Museum line in conjunction with the Humboldt University of Berlin.  High quality production and an expanding line have recently made them a major company in the US market.  They seem to be especially popular with independent toy stores.  They released a new series of mini dinosaurs "Schleich Jr" and a line of Prehistoric Mammals. In 2007 changed ownership.

Toyway in England has marketed a variety of Dinosaur plays sets and Dinosaur series.  They are best known for the BBC Walking with Dinosaurs (WWD) figures that are being put out of production.  These were extremely faithful to the documentary even to the point of replicating the error of the Allosaurus eye horns.  They no longer market them in the US.  In England they market the old Carnage figures and are thought to own the old Timpo molds.  Recently releasing a new series with the British Natural history Museum.  See news page for more info. 2008 changed ownership

Makers of Metal figures usually intended for Role Playing Games Games.  This list is certainly not complete, as over the years there have been many RPG and Miniature figure companies that have also made prehistoric figures especially dinosaurs, but represents more of a list of what we used in the Dioramas or I have reviewed in Prehistoric Times. Typically the figures are designed with role playing and miniatures games in mind. The best work seems to come from the UK.

Honorable Lead Boiler Suit (HLBS) small English miniatures company with nice range dinosaur figures. Roughly 1/40 or Invicta scale. Saurian Safari and Mammalian Mayham rules are from here.

Grenadier had a small set of Dinosaurs fairly widely distributed and collected.  Old fashioned looking compared to the Ral Partha.

Ral Partha gone but not forgotten.  Had several Dinosaur and Prehistoric animals line, Partha Pewter, Beast Masters and others.  The molds have been passed through various successor companies.  Figures are every collectable and it included many rarely done figures.

Quick Reaction Force (QRF), of England has a range of small Triassic figures used with its prehistoric Game  System  Survive - O -Saurus inspired by the WWD Triassic chapter.  Very small figures, the size of monopoly counters.

Steve Barber Models produces the Prehistoric Settlements series with an extensive series of cave people for his Settlement game system.  There are also some Prehistoric animals and plants to go with the cave people.   His giant Club Moss are a favorite of mine.

Action figures: This a relatively modern category. The figures have some articulation, often a story line or movies tie in. JP figures by Hasbro are good example.

Carnage produced a line of high quality articulated figures.  Repaints were marketed via a Discovery series.  It started production of a second series before disappearing.  The Carnage figures are being marketed by other companies (Toyway and Toysmith) currently. Mini versions now sold at Dinosaur Farm.

Chap Mei from China has a line of solid and articulated JP style figures. Comes with action figures and accessories.They are marketed by ELC , Animal Planet and as part of their Dino Quest line with action figures. See Dino Rescue, Arctic Quest and others.

Dino Warriors Unimaz toys: Another set of action figures these are from Panache Place.  On a faraway planet called ZAURUS, in a far-future time, a noble race of humanoids called the NEOMEN live among intelligent, dinosaur-like creatures called ZAURIDS. Using the awesome power of these giants, the Neomen build and defend an exotic civilization that lives in harmony with nature until the Darthal Horde riding their ZAURIDS attack.  Why does this make me think Dino Riders?  The good guys have Pyrraptor a feathered biped, Blade rex an allosaurid sprouting horns everywhere and Treatolops a ceratopsian.  The bad guys have Tygronont a dicynodont, Ram rex an allosaurid crossed with an ankylosaurid and Shrashtar another ceratopsid. Make up your dinosaurs and you can’t be wrong. They are so awful I had to get some otherwise ten years from now no one will believe me. Seems like there was a second release.

Imaginext from Fischer-Price, released the T rex mountain that was out in time for Christmas.  The mountain came with a Ceratosaurus sold only with the play set. It is Ecovores verses Predators although some of the Ecovores are meat eaters? The cavemen have various catapult accessories. The most collectable being the small animals accessories trilobite, sea scorpion, lizard and early mammal. Big range of articualated figures see PlaySkool for similar figures. Top of the preschool market.

PlaySkool dinosaurs are aimed at preschool age children.  In the 1980's the hard plastic articulated Definitely Dinosaurs series was marketed and is considered collectable.  Still in production are the soft bodied hollow vinyl figures originally produced as Wendy's Premiums.  Little Foot and his friends from the Big Valley would fit in with these guys.  There is also a children's JP line briefly produced.

Thunder Beasts, by Sky Kids, were large vinyl semi articulated figures in 3 sizes.  Originally sold separately in a box containing a piece of dinosaur bone.  They came in 3 sizes with a large variety of dinosaur figures.  Later smaller boxed sets of several smaller figures in the same style were sold.  These were similar in size to the Hasbro JP figures and the raptors are often confused with JP figures. Action toys uses them in its big Dino Box.

Tyco 1988 - 1992 produced The Dino Riders series of action figures and prehistoric animal figures in 1/24 scale.  The Dinosaurs were used later by the Smithsonian dinosaur series and finally as the Dinosaurs and Cadillac's actions figures.  Some of the figures are quite good, they are the first series of quality articulated figures, Bob Bakker was reputed to be associated as a consultant with the figures.

Other Popular Producers and Distributors
AAA produced several series of solid hard rubber dinosaurs in large and medium sizes.  They are comparable to UKRD.  Recent releases seem to be restricted to the Early Learning Center (ELC) in England.

Bandai in Japan has four series of diorama figures in rubbery vinyl. They come is pieces like UHA but with the size and feel of FameMaster.

Cadbury Yowie from Australia produced 3 series of small prehistoric animals and fish that are snapped together.  Some of the most interesting figures ever produced.

Disney sells a large set of softplay and a small set of solid vinyl figure at its theme park.

FameMaster from China has some very attractive 3D rubber puzzles. Use a little glue and you have some unique figures.

FunRise toy a set 14of solid vinyl figures and 8 green die cast figures plus some large hollow vinyl figures. Still in bussiness but nothing new.

Furuta Japanese premiums Designed by Araki Kazunari.

Hing Fat from China makes solid vinyl dinosaur and cavemen. Best know distributor is Fischel toys but also shows up in dollar store play sets.

 Imperial Toys  markets vinyl toys from a variety of makers in China.  Most are pretty awful party favor style dinosaurs with open mouths.  Commonly sold in Drug Stores.  The larger vinyl line is similar in construction to the Jasman sand box line but smaller and not as well done but there are a few figures that stand out.  The Mastodon from this set is pretty good.  Also they marketed rubbery recast Inpro figures done in bright colors.

Jasman markets large vinyl toys from a variety of makers in China.  The Jasman Diorama series is a popular companion to the Museum quality lines.  Still in production.  They recently had 3 articulated figures that mimic the JP Hasbro line.

JARU makes inexpensive Marx MPC Inpro knock offs. There are some original figures that broaden the Marx style and are worth having. Inexpensive custom projects.

K&M has several medium to very small dinosaur and prehistoric animal lines.  Several of their Wild Republic Lines are still in production the bin style tubes have custom painted figures.  K&M seems do be establishing a place in many Museum shops selling low priced articulated sets.  The Dinosauria line is their museum line. The company in showing up in Museum stores and independent stores. 2008 relesing a high quality set of figures from the National Geographic Sea monster movie.

Kaybaya Japanese premiums UHA style.

Laramie Toys made 3 dinosaur play sets with nice card board back drops.  The hollow painted vinyl figures look like Invicta figures.  There are a few figures that are different the nodosaur, Styracosaurus, Parasaurolophus and Apatosaurus. I liked these sets, this is the way the hollow figures should be marketed.

Match Box is best known for its toy cars but produced dinosaur series.  The JP series of metal dinosaurs, vehicles and play sets are of high quality.  They also produced a series of dinosaurs for their Monster In My Pockets plastic toy figures.  These seem to have been primarily sold in Europe.

Panosh Toys sold a series of 48 small figures made in a rubbery plastic material made in Macau.  The quality of the figures declined over time.  The originals are high lighted with white florescence paint.  Later figures are not highlighted and come is very bright greens, yellows, pink and blue.   Some of the figures are very well designed and make excellent custom projects.  A personal favorite.

Papo a French company has recently produced a limited set of dinosaurs, cavemen and mammoth.  The figures are highly detailed with three point stances similar to Schleich and Bullyland. The figures are expensive and detailed but not very accurate. They have made steady in progress among independent stores.

Play Mobile finally is selling Dinosaur sets to go with its great range of ferns, trees, and rocks. Initially only found in Germany.

Retro Classic Japanese premiums and some larger models. UHA style figures.

Salvat Editoresfrom Portugal, our source Boki estimated there are around 47 figures from a company based in Portugal that made knock offs of major Museum sets like Safari, Bullyland and Battat.

Salas a small number of figures from Mexico produced by the well know artist Max Sala. Didn't last long or distribute widely. Best figures were the Centrosaurus and Utahraptor. Molds except for T rex still exist.

Sega Japanese premiums and some larger models. UHA style figures.

Starlux of France, then NEWSTARLUX, then gone? It produced an extensive line of prehistoric figures in a brittle hard plastic.  Hard to find in the US.

Tomy Japanese dinosaur set.

Toysmith distributes UKRD, Famemaster, old Resaurus and other sets from China.

TS Toys has 2 series on WWD style figures made in China.  There is a vinyl set and a smaller sized set with latex skin and filled to give a realistic flesh appearance.  TS Toys in the US denies that there are any Dinosaur Toys in it inventory but the figures are stamped TS Toys. Dinosaur Farm is a good source.

Tsukuda of Japan made a series large vinyl dinosaur models with glass eyes.  Hard to find and collectable.

Yujin from Japan makes some premium figures like Yowie or Kaiyodo.

Waiphoon Toys of China produces several very attractive dinosaur toy lines; some have a Kaiyodo look, while another set appears to be based on the ROM figures.  There is also a set of large figures done in a Jurassic Park style. Most recently a set of large and tube figures with a Daikin look.

UKRD is the classic rubber Dinosaur company.  I have not found any information about the Company itself, but the figures are marked made in China and stamped as U.K.R.D. (United Kingdom Rubber Dinosaurs?).  ToySmith has released new painted versions for 2004.

Movie and Television spin offs, the Og Son of fire Radio show is the earliest known prehistoric toy tie in with several metal cavemen and a dinosaur.  Several children's shows had action figures and dinosaurs marketed but the Dino Riders / Dinosaurs and Cadillac's animated series were the first high quality figures to be made.  Dinosaurs marketed in conjunction with JP have set the standard for future movie tie-ins.   In addition to selling their own lines, the movies influenced existing companies to produce new figures.  The larger number of Gallimimus and Velociraptor figures after JP 1 and the explosion of the carnotaurs and Iguanodons after Disney's Dinosaur movie are a good example.

Dino Riders / Dinosaurs and Cadillac's used Tyco’s articulated dinosaurs with a variety of action figures and accessories.  There was also a craft set to make Dino Rider accessories that came with a hard plastic Tyrannosaurus and Pteranodon. 

Ice Age and Ice Age 2 animated movie. The first had one set of fast food premiums in addition to a set of small porcelain figures from France used for children at Epiphany.   Prehistoric Mammals just don't seem to have the same cachet as dinosaurs, unfortunately. The second movie has generated a big release of action figures.

Jurassic Park (JP) I, II, III movies, dinosaur toys, premiums and play sets were produced by HASBRO, Playskool as well as several other companies, and released additional figures for each new movie.  Figures have been produced in solid plastic, vinyl and metal.  The articulate and electronic figures are of high quality and very collectable.  Some limited production figures have become very sought after, such as the King of the Dinosaurs toy spin-off - Rumor is that Hasbro discontinued the line.  You will find JP figures scattered around the dioramas and I have not put together a Hasbro page since there are a plethora of sites out there already with that information.

Disney's Dinosaur Movie, dinosaur toys, premiums were produced by a variety of companies such as Mattel, McDonalds and Bullyland.  Several sets of articulated figures, including a giant Aladar and Carnotaurus, were produced.  There was a nice set of mini plastic figures sold in eggs.  This was actually a pretty decent picture with several panoramic scenes in the beginning and at the end.  It was aimed at an age group a little older than Land Before Time, and not to the range of age groups the JP movie did.  Still, I think the movie is underrated. 

Land Before Time, animated Video series aimed at young children.  Little Foot and his friends have adventures aimed at the plush animal crowd with, surprisingly, not much merchandising.  There were some fast food premiums, puppets and at least one set of figures.  See Safari Wild Safari babies and Playskool figures for similar styles. 2007

Land of the Lost was a children's Saturday TV show.  Two soft Playskool style dinosaur figures were sold.  The mvoie slated for 2008 may generate some toys.

King Kong by Michael Jackson has produced a large theropod and medium and small sets of articulated figures. The is also a set of premiums from Japan. These are not exactly the dinosaurs we know after all 65 million years have gone by. Best guess is the 3 fingered theropod is a carchardontid and the sauropods are titanosaurs. There is also a large raptor. There was supposed to be a lambeosaurid and ceratopsid I guess they were cut?

Miracle Planet NHK from Japan an education program of DVD's had a set of figures made. See Yujin.

Primeval UK TV show also on BBC America has some hard to find action figures with some prehistorics.

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