Action Man is an action figure launched in Britain in 1966 by Palitoy as a licensed copy of Hasbro’s American “movable fighting man”, G.I. Joe.
Action Man was originally produced and sold in the United Kingdom and Australia by Palitoy Ltd of Coalville, Leicestershire from 1966 until 1984 (Palitoy also offered sub-licences to various toy manufacturers in various markets).
The figure and accessories were originally based on the Hasbro (US) 1964 G.I. Joe figure (for 1966–1969 production). Hasbro’s G.I. Joe figure was patented in 1966. Even the specific method of attaching the appendages was patented as a “Connection for Use in Toy Figures”. The first Action Man figures were Action Soldier, Action Sailor and Action Pilot. All were available in the four original hair colours: Blonde, Auburn, Brown and Black. They were accompanied by outfits depicting United States Forces of WWII and the Korean War. From 1970-1984, the basic boxed figures and accompanying uniforms and accessories would reflect the forces of the United Kingdom rather than the USA. Action Man was subsequently reintroduced in 1993, based on the G.I. Joe Hall of Fame figure of that time.
Palitoy (from 1964, a British subsidiary of General Mills) was the UK licensee for Hasbro Industries. Palitoy grew out of a plastics firm established by Alfred Edward Pallett in 1909 and went on to become one of Britain’s leading toy manufacturers until its ultimate closure in 1984.
In 1996 Hasbro used the Kenner brand, which they had acquired, to release a short run of Action Man figures in the UK rather than the Hasbro brand. Possibly to distinguish them from Hasbro’s GI Joe line.
Action Man: Kenner 1996
