Maker record
Remco
Remco was an American toy maker whose products included walkie-talkies, toy vehicles, play sets and licensed figures. Its early walkie-talkies used surplus earphones fitted into tin boxes and connected by wire. By the mid-1950s, the range included Frogman, a toy drive-in theater with a filmstrip, and a helicopter with moving rotors and a working cable and hook. Remco also sold Beatles dolls and advertised directly to children on television. The name came from “remote control,” reflecting the company's early focus on electronic toys.
- Founded
- 1949
- Countries
- United States
- Locations
- Newark, New Jersey
- Founders
- Isaac Heller · Saul Robbins
The story of Remco
Isaac Heller began making toy walkie-talkies from surplus materials, fitting earphones into tin boxes and connecting them with wire. By 1948, he had brought his cousin Saul Robbins into the business as a partner. The company took its name from “remote control,” and its early products drew on electronic and military-surplus components.
By the mid-1950s, Remco had broadened its range to include Frogman, a US Navy commando toy, a drive-in theater play set with a filmstrip, and a helicopter with moving rotors and a cable-operated hook. The company marketed directly to children through television advertising. After the Beatles arrived in New York, Heller traveled to London to arrange a license for Beatles dolls, which sold in large numbers. Remco products reflected contemporary interests in electronics, television and popular music.