Brief company history
Grandstand (also known as Grandstand Leisure Limited) was a known brand in the UK and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s which primarily imported and re-branded electronic games from third party manufacturers such as Tomy.
Grandstand was owned by Hales Ltd based in Harrogate, Yorkshire in England; Hales Ltd was a subsidiary of Adam Leisure Group PLC. The Grandstand brand was bought out by Tiger Electronics which in turn was bought out by Hasbro in 1998. The Adam Leisure Group as a company have since been dissolved.
Grandstand Convertors
In 1984 transforming robots were the latest fad with Tonka’s Go-Bots and Hasbro's Transformers. Grandstand decided to cash in on their success; while not fully diversifying from their main staple of gaming systems, they imported toys from various other toy lines in Japan licensing from such toy companies as Toybox, Yonezawa Corporation and Takara. Overall Grandstand Convertors only had 11 toys in their lineup, 4 of which were “motorised” requiring batteries.
The Convertors had a paper thin story line and each figure also had a brief bio and there was no supporting cartoon or comic to promote the line with children; even the boxes appear quite bland when compared to the original Transformers and Go-Bots. Unlike the Go-Bots and Transformers there was no good versus evil, all the Convertors were evil but anyone who captured one could use their power to defend against other Convertors.
The line was released in mid January 1985 and lasted up to around 1987; against The Transformers however there was no competition. On the bright side it meant the UK got to see a few of Takara's Diaclone and Microman releases.
Grandstand Convertors did feature some promotional work, in comic books there were full page colour advertisements, there were 3 in all featuring Omegatron, Deltarian Shuttle and Deltarian Tracker.
These adverts appear to have been released weekly over 3 weeks in 1985. They each feature a missing word competition in order to win 1 of 50 Omegatrons for first prize or 1 of 100 Deltarian Trackers for second prize. You had to complete all three missing word puzzles from all 3 of the adverts in order to enter the competition.
Grandstand (also known as Grandstand Leisure Limited) was a known brand in the UK and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s which primarily imported and re-branded electronic games from third party manufacturers such as Tomy.
Grandstand was owned by Hales Ltd based in Harrogate, Yorkshire in England; Hales Ltd was a subsidiary of Adam Leisure Group PLC. The Grandstand brand was bought out by Tiger Electronics which in turn was bought out by Hasbro in 1998. The Adam Leisure Group as a company have since been dissolved.
Grandstand Convertors
In 1984 transforming robots were the latest fad with Tonka’s Go-Bots and Hasbro's Transformers. Grandstand decided to cash in on their success; while not fully diversifying from their main staple of gaming systems, they imported toys from various other toy lines in Japan licensing from such toy companies as Toybox, Yonezawa Corporation and Takara. Overall Grandstand Convertors only had 11 toys in their lineup, 4 of which were “motorised” requiring batteries.
The Convertors had a paper thin story line and each figure also had a brief bio and there was no supporting cartoon or comic to promote the line with children; even the boxes appear quite bland when compared to the original Transformers and Go-Bots. Unlike the Go-Bots and Transformers there was no good versus evil, all the Convertors were evil but anyone who captured one could use their power to defend against other Convertors.
The line was released in mid January 1985 and lasted up to around 1987; against The Transformers however there was no competition. On the bright side it meant the UK got to see a few of Takara's Diaclone and Microman releases.
Grandstand Convertors did feature some promotional work, in comic books there were full page colour advertisements, there were 3 in all featuring Omegatron, Deltarian Shuttle and Deltarian Tracker.
These adverts appear to have been released weekly over 3 weeks in 1985. They each feature a missing word competition in order to win 1 of 50 Omegatrons for first prize or 1 of 100 Deltarian Trackers for second prize. You had to complete all three missing word puzzles from all 3 of the adverts in order to enter the competition.
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| "Episode One" |
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| "Episode 2" |
Four television adverts were produced in total; the initial advert was an overview of the whole Grandstand Convertors line, the next advert focused on Deltatron and the third focused on Omegatron and Betatron. The fourth and final advert was another follow up for the overall toy line.
The master tapes for the adverts have long gone but the first advert was unearthed and uploaded amongst a retro advert / commercial compilation on YouTube by VideotapeFTW on the 16th June 2021. Many thanks to Sbann for the heads up. I have clipped out the 30 second advert with permission and it is below. This recording is from a VHS tape which had a recording of the programme "TV-am" on ITV from the 13th April 1985.
Here is the second advert featuring a wider range of the figures, again this aired in 1985 in the UK.
Additionally, toy shops sold a pull out Grandstand Convertors poster for 70p featuring the entire toy line as well as a competition to win 1 of 6 Omegatrons. To enter you had to send in a drawing of the Convertors attacking Earth which had to be sent in by the 1st July 1985.
The Backstory
This is the story of the evil Grandstand Convertors. It takes place not in the future, not in some dark and distant corner of the universe, but here and now on Earth. Your Earth!
Already these mutants have conquered almost all our galaxy. Yet because they represent a force so evil, hardly anyone has dared admit their existence or speak their name. But now their name must be spoken and someone has to make a stand. That someone is you. Only you can save the Earth.
First, you must learn learn to recognise a Convertor when you see one. It's not always easy - one minute they could be a car or a plane and the next...a deadly robot.
Deadliest of all is Omegatron, Lord of the Convertors and the ultimate mutant. Often he will appear as a tank or a rocket, but don't be fooled - he can quickly convert into a robot of monstrous power.
Omegatron has many followers, like Sigmatron and Betatron, and there are many battle machines in support too. Like the Deltarian Fighter which is capable of converting into over 16 different forms.
If you manage to capture a Convertor its power will pass on to you. You can then use it to defend the Earth against other Convertors. But watch out, they're sneaky that it may just change into something you can't recognise and slip out of your control again.
So stick with it, and be on your guard at all times, because the future of the Earth is in your hands.
Above all, remember - NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS!
Omegatron is probably the most evil mutant in the entire universe. He is the dark master of all other Convertors.
His great powers enable him to convert into three different forms, each with many other variations.
The first of his main forms is the motorised Omega Space-Tank which is a powerful fighting vehicle with rotating gun turret.
The second form is the Omega Space Command-Centre made up of a rocket and track system around which the Omega Space-Tank patrols.
Finally, there is Omegatron himself, a fearsome motorised robot with glowing head, movable arms, and wings that can be changed to many different formations.
Original Price: £30.95
Product Code: 19048
Omegatron is the most well known of the Convertors and the most common one found on eBay. Omegatron was licensed from Toybox and is identical to their own Mechabot-1 figure; Omegatron even came with Mechabot-1's sticker sheet. Mechabot-1 commands a high price on the second hand market, if you aren't picky Omegatron is a cheaper alternative. The figure is a repackaged Mechabot-1 and is certainly nowhere near as expensive. At the time, the only downside to Omegatron is that because it was licensed by Grandstand, Hasbro were unable to release Omega Supreme in the UK.
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| Grandstand Convertors Catalogue 1985. Courtesy of Retromash.com |
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| Grandstand Convertors Catalogue 1985. Courtesy of Retromash.com |
The Backstory
This is the story of the evil Grandstand Convertors. It takes place not in the future, not in some dark and distant corner of the universe, but here and now on Earth. Your Earth!
Already these mutants have conquered almost all our galaxy. Yet because they represent a force so evil, hardly anyone has dared admit their existence or speak their name. But now their name must be spoken and someone has to make a stand. That someone is you. Only you can save the Earth.
First, you must learn learn to recognise a Convertor when you see one. It's not always easy - one minute they could be a car or a plane and the next...a deadly robot.
Deadliest of all is Omegatron, Lord of the Convertors and the ultimate mutant. Often he will appear as a tank or a rocket, but don't be fooled - he can quickly convert into a robot of monstrous power.
Omegatron has many followers, like Sigmatron and Betatron, and there are many battle machines in support too. Like the Deltarian Fighter which is capable of converting into over 16 different forms.
If you manage to capture a Convertor its power will pass on to you. You can then use it to defend the Earth against other Convertors. But watch out, they're sneaky that it may just change into something you can't recognise and slip out of your control again.
So stick with it, and be on your guard at all times, because the future of the Earth is in your hands.
Above all, remember - NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS!
The Toy Line
Omegatron
His great powers enable him to convert into three different forms, each with many other variations.
The first of his main forms is the motorised Omega Space-Tank which is a powerful fighting vehicle with rotating gun turret.
The second form is the Omega Space Command-Centre made up of a rocket and track system around which the Omega Space-Tank patrols.
Finally, there is Omegatron himself, a fearsome motorised robot with glowing head, movable arms, and wings that can be changed to many different formations.
Original Price: £30.95
Product Code: 19048
Omegatron is the most well known of the Convertors and the most common one found on eBay. Omegatron was licensed from Toybox and is identical to their own Mechabot-1 figure; Omegatron even came with Mechabot-1's sticker sheet. Mechabot-1 commands a high price on the second hand market, if you aren't picky Omegatron is a cheaper alternative. The figure is a repackaged Mechabot-1 and is certainly nowhere near as expensive. At the time, the only downside to Omegatron is that because it was licensed by Grandstand, Hasbro were unable to release Omega Supreme in the UK.
Click here for more details on Omegatron.
A distant relation of Sigmatron and Betatron, Deltatron too has an everyday disguise - that of a powerful fighter plane. He is one of the slickest of the Convertors because he can convert automatically to a deadly motorised robot.
Original Price: £15.99
Product Code: 1910-5
Deltatron is a remote controlled robot licensed through Yonezawa Corporation. The original figure released in Japan was called "Fighter Robo"; with the remote control you move it forwards for the jet to transform into a robot and backwards to turn back into the jet. It came with a gun, a missile launcher and 3 missiles.
Deltatron
A distant relation of Sigmatron and Betatron, Deltatron too has an everyday disguise - that of a powerful fighter plane. He is one of the slickest of the Convertors because he can convert automatically to a deadly motorised robot.
Original Price: £15.99
Product Code: 1910-5
Deltatron is a remote controlled robot licensed through Yonezawa Corporation. The original figure released in Japan was called "Fighter Robo"; with the remote control you move it forwards for the jet to transform into a robot and backwards to turn back into the jet. It came with a gun, a missile launcher and 3 missiles.
Click here for more details on Deltatron.
Sigmatron is one of Omegatron's many followers. He is one of two warriors (the other is Betatron) whose great trick is to be disguised as an ordinary earth jeep, but then change in to an evil fighter robot to attack his enemies.
Original Price: £12.99
Product Code: 1901-9
Sigmatron is licensed through Yonezawa Corporation, and unlike the other 2 figures licensed from Yonezawa, this figure is not motorised and is a more traditional transforming robot. It looks similar in jeep mode to Betatron, but this figure is big with its robot mode towering at 12 inches. For accessories, it comes with a chromed gun and radar dish. This figure is quite fragile as when you pull the bull bars section on the jeep to transform it into a robot, it is held on by 2 rubber / light plastic strips which are liable to break.
Sigmatron
Sigmatron is one of Omegatron's many followers. He is one of two warriors (the other is Betatron) whose great trick is to be disguised as an ordinary earth jeep, but then change in to an evil fighter robot to attack his enemies.
Original Price: £12.99
Product Code: 1901-9
Sigmatron is licensed through Yonezawa Corporation, and unlike the other 2 figures licensed from Yonezawa, this figure is not motorised and is a more traditional transforming robot. It looks similar in jeep mode to Betatron, but this figure is big with its robot mode towering at 12 inches. For accessories, it comes with a chromed gun and radar dish. This figure is quite fragile as when you pull the bull bars section on the jeep to transform it into a robot, it is held on by 2 rubber / light plastic strips which are liable to break.
Click here for more details on Sigmatron.
The blood brother of Sigmatron, Betatron is equally as nasty in the way he can sneak up on earthlings in his everyday disguise of a motorised jeep. But watch out, he can quickly convert into two different motorised robots.
Original Price: £16.99
Product Code: 1900-6
Betatron is licensed through Yonezawa Corporation and is a motorised triple changer - a jeep mode and 2 different robot modes. In jeep & robot mode it can roll or walk forwards or backwards. In the full robot mode, it does not have any motorised gimmicks. In Japan it was originally released as "Daijim Robot". For accessories, it comes with a front bumber, x2 chromed fists, x2 leg covers, x1 bazooka and 4 missiles.
Betatron
The blood brother of Sigmatron, Betatron is equally as nasty in the way he can sneak up on earthlings in his everyday disguise of a motorised jeep. But watch out, he can quickly convert into two different motorised robots.
Original Price: £16.99
Product Code: 1900-6
Betatron is licensed through Yonezawa Corporation and is a motorised triple changer - a jeep mode and 2 different robot modes. In jeep & robot mode it can roll or walk forwards or backwards. In the full robot mode, it does not have any motorised gimmicks. In Japan it was originally released as "Daijim Robot". For accessories, it comes with a front bumber, x2 chromed fists, x2 leg covers, x1 bazooka and 4 missiles.
Click here for more details on Betatron.
Alphatron is one of the most versatile of the Convertors because not only is he a fearsome warrior robot but also a complete force of 14 micro space-fighters. This great skill means that Alphatron can surround and entrap an enemy all on his own and then switch back to a robot to destroy them.
Original Price: £11.99
Product Code: 1908-0
Licensed by Takara, Alphatron is also known as Gats-Blocker from the Diaclone line, also Multiforce and Multi-Force 14 from Takaras North American Kronoform and Diakron toyline (not to mention, Dai-Gats from GiGs Diaclone line and Multi-Force 14 from Joustra Diaclone). Alphatron did not come with the 5 Diaclone drivers which came with the original Diaclone version; but as well as the 14 vehicles and launching pad, it came with 3 yellow missiles and 6 black pegs which plug into the combination ports of some of the vehicles so they can join with other vehicles.
Alphatron
Original Price: £11.99
Product Code: 1908-0
Licensed by Takara, Alphatron is also known as Gats-Blocker from the Diaclone line, also Multiforce and Multi-Force 14 from Takaras North American Kronoform and Diakron toyline (not to mention, Dai-Gats from GiGs Diaclone line and Multi-Force 14 from Joustra Diaclone). Alphatron did not come with the 5 Diaclone drivers which came with the original Diaclone version; but as well as the 14 vehicles and launching pad, it came with 3 yellow missiles and 6 black pegs which plug into the combination ports of some of the vehicles so they can join with other vehicles.
Click here for more details on Alphatron.
The Deltarian fighting vehicles provide a deadly back-up force for Omegatron and his robot followers. Just like the robots, these vehicles are capable of adopting various different guises.
Chief vehicle in the Deltrian Force is the Deltarian Fighter, a motorised space fighter-plane with over 16 different formations, making it deadly not only in the air but on land and in the sea as well.
Original Price: £16.50
Product Code: 1905-1
Licensed from Takara, this is from the Microman line called the "Armored Machine Cosmic Fighter" and this was also released in the Kronoform toyline called "Invacepton". It is identical to Takaras release and as far as I know I don't think any accessories were dropped for the Convertors release. The Microman figure however was different from the original Takara release; just as the Kronoform release this came with a blue version of M011 Salam (instead of M008 Cleo). The stickers shown on the box art reference Microman but on the actual stickers this reference has been removed.
With thanks to the comment below by Jeff Jacobson, this mould was also used in Playmates 1995 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline called the "Mini Mutants Cyber-Jet Playset."
Deltarian Fighter
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| Source: eBay |
The Deltarian fighting vehicles provide a deadly back-up force for Omegatron and his robot followers. Just like the robots, these vehicles are capable of adopting various different guises.
Chief vehicle in the Deltrian Force is the Deltarian Fighter, a motorised space fighter-plane with over 16 different formations, making it deadly not only in the air but on land and in the sea as well.
Original Price: £16.50
Product Code: 1905-1
Licensed from Takara, this is from the Microman line called the "Armored Machine Cosmic Fighter" and this was also released in the Kronoform toyline called "Invacepton". It is identical to Takaras release and as far as I know I don't think any accessories were dropped for the Convertors release. The Microman figure however was different from the original Takara release; just as the Kronoform release this came with a blue version of M011 Salam (instead of M008 Cleo). The stickers shown on the box art reference Microman but on the actual stickers this reference has been removed.
With thanks to the comment below by Jeff Jacobson, this mould was also used in Playmates 1995 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline called the "Mini Mutants Cyber-Jet Playset."
Deltarian Tracker
Original Price: £12
Product Code: 1907-7Licensed from Takara, this is from the Diaclone line called "Cosmo Roller". It has also seen releases through GiGs and Joustra Diaclone series called "Cosmo Car" as well as Kronoforms line called "Modulator". The mould was last used (albeit in different colours and accessories) in Playmates 1995 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline called the "Mini Mutants Cyber-Rover Playset."
Deltarian Shuttle
Original Price: £9.84
Product Code: 1906-4
Licensed from Takara, this is from the Diaclone line called "Dai-Train" and it was called "Protectron" in the Kronoform line. Transforms into a futuristic train and shuttle.
Click here for more details on Deltarian Shuttle.
Siclonoid is one of the few Convertors whose everyday form is hideous and frightening. Because of this he has to be an expert in concealment to avoid being spotted by earthlings. He's so evil, Siclonoid must be approached with complete caution. He is one of the deadliest robot Convertors, capable of converting into a robotic tarantula, mosquito, or spider at a moment's notice.
Original Price: £18.99
Product Code: 1903-5
Licensed from Takara, this is from the Diaclone line called "Warudaros" and Kronoforms "Wargon". Three insect robots combine into one larger robot. Hard to come across on the secondary market.
Siclonoid
Original Price: £18.99
Product Code: 1903-5
Licensed from Takara, this is from the Diaclone line called "Warudaros" and Kronoforms "Wargon". Three insect robots combine into one larger robot. Hard to come across on the secondary market.
Click here for more details on Siclonoid.
The Silorg Warrior is a soldier of fortune who joined the Convertors simply for money. Originally an android from a distant galaxy, he was invested by Omegatron with the special power to convert into a winged warrior or a bird-like fighter plane.
Original Price: £11.49
Product Code: 1909-3
Licensed from Takara, this is from the 1979 Magnemo series "Machine Saurer" called "Death Cross". It was also released in GiGs Micronauts series and was called "Red Falcon". The figure is held together magnetically and can be reassembled in various forms. Very hard to come across on the secondary market and commands a high price.
Silorg Warrior
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| Source: eBay |
The Silorg Warrior is a soldier of fortune who joined the Convertors simply for money. Originally an android from a distant galaxy, he was invested by Omegatron with the special power to convert into a winged warrior or a bird-like fighter plane.
Original Price: £11.49
Product Code: 1909-3
Licensed from Takara, this is from the 1979 Magnemo series "Machine Saurer" called "Death Cross". It was also released in GiGs Micronauts series and was called "Red Falcon". The figure is held together magnetically and can be reassembled in various forms. Very hard to come across on the secondary market and commands a high price.
Click here for more details on Silorg Warrior.
Zetanoid is a typical Convertor - nasty and capable of adopting a host of different forms. One minute he can be an awesome warrior robot and the next a futuristic fighter-plane with many variations.
He is always kitted out in immaculate battle-dress and is extremely arrogant, ready to take on any challenge.
Original Price: £14.69
Product Code: 1902-2
Licensed from Takara, from the Diaclone line and was called "Dai-Attacker" and in the Kronoform line it was called "Attakon". Transforms from robot mode to various jet configurations. Another very hard to find figure with a high price tag.
Zetanoid
He is always kitted out in immaculate battle-dress and is extremely arrogant, ready to take on any challenge.
Original Price: £14.69
Product Code: 1902-2
Licensed from Takara, from the Diaclone line and was called "Dai-Attacker" and in the Kronoform line it was called "Attakon". Transforms from robot mode to various jet configurations. Another very hard to find figure with a high price tag.
Click here for more details on Zetanoid.
That's it for the Grandstand Convertors for now, thanks for looking.
That's it for the Grandstand Convertors for now, thanks for looking.
It looks like there was another TMNT toy based on an earlier Takara one.
ReplyDeleteMini-Mutants Cyber-Jet Playset
http://www.tmnttoys.com/95others/cyberjet/index.html
(I was unaware of either of these until I saw the "Cyber-Rover" on this page. It's cool to discover new connections between toylines like this.)
Great find, thank you! I had no idea about that one. I'll make an addition to the article
DeleteLook up 'retro ads compilation (7)' in YouTube from videotapeftw and you'll see a converters ad.
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic, thank you so much!
DeleteThis article is legit. I saw the ad from YouTube and laughed and thought wow that looks like some shitty toy co licensed a bunch of rando jap toys to cash in on Transformers-mania, search out of boredom and voila! your excellent article came up which succinctly summed up, with superlative photos no less, this sad and deservedly short-lived money grab and concurrently verifiedy initial suspicions. Well done sir!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting article. However I have just picked up a copy Deltarian Shuttle, which has a copywrite of 1980 on the box. I'm also fairly sure I was given Omegatron pre transformers, though I can't locate the box at this time. I suspect the line was released to cash in on the likes of Star Wars, Battlestar, Battle of the Planets and other similar brands of the time, rather than TF. That's not to say they wouldn't have pushed the sales when TF came along, but not the reason for their creation.
ReplyDeleteThe Deltarian Shuttle has the copyright 1980 from when it was applied for by Takara in 1980. The actual toy, "Dai-Train" was released the following year in 1981 in Japan. The date is not referencing the release date of the actual toy from Grandstand. Three adverts were made in 1985 when the line was first introduced (https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/566784fa88726). The toy line also only appeared in Argos catalogues from the Autumn/Winter 1985 catalogue. The promotional poster (https://retromash.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/GrandstandConvertors2.jpg) is also dated 1985.
DeleteAll the boxes I own have different copyright dates on them, the earliest being Silorg Warrior (1979). Hope this helps.
Thank you I had found some of this information already. Though I'm not sure this is proof of their first release. For example Zoids were first released in the UK in 1983, but did not appear in the argos catalogue until 1985, which is when an advert was submitted to BFI for the same line. I suspect both these things could be linked with the popularity of TF, and various toylines trying to jump on that bandwagon.
Delete