Vintage Monster Toy Frauds?

[ascalia]

I'm starting to collect some vintage toys, and I was wondering if there were any popular frauds out there to be aware of.
For instance, I want to collect the classic Remco 3inch figures but there's at least three different versions (regular, glow in the dark and glow in the dark version 2). I know someone who bought a Creature when they were a kid but the proof of purchase on the back says "Frankenstein" when it is a figure Creature. Do people ever sell fakes of this stuff?

[Anton Phibes]

I'm starting to collect some vintage toys, and I was wondering if there were any popular frauds out there to be aware of.
For instance, I want to collect the classic Remco 3inch figures but there's at least three different versions (regular, glow in the dark and glow in the dark version 2). I know someone who bought a Creature when they were a kid but the proof of purchase on the back says "Frankenstein" when it is a figure Creature. Do people ever sell fakes of this stuff?

I have never heard of counterfeit Remcos.

[The Red Death 30]

Over the past year, I've started collecting Vintage, too, so you definitely have to educate yourself on what to look for when buying.  It's not so much "fraud" as knowing the difference between a repro and vintage because sellers on places like ebay sure won't mind lying about which is which (I guess that is fraud come to think of it).  This is especially true of the high dollar stuff.  There's a ton of good resource here, so read up as much as you can.

[Mike Scott]

Never heard of fake Remcos, either. There are reproduction boxes for the 9" figures, but I've never heard of anybody trying to pass one off as the real thing.

[darkmonkeygod]

I know someone who bought a Creature when they were a kid but the proof of purchase on the back says "Frankenstein" when it is a figure Creature. Do people ever sell fakes of this stuff?

That's the legitimate manufactured version, funny enough. TMK, all of the Remco first version glow in the dark action figures (which were released in 1982) have that same backing with the Frankenstein's Monster proof of purchase. They corrected their error the next year with the second release of the glow figures (these are the ones where the front of the cards have an "explosion" of color behind the figure).

Over the years I've seen sellers attempting to pass off re-sealed Remco action figures as never opened, which could easily be either a mistake or malicious intent. I've seen people selling figures "re-carded" on color-xeroxed backs (and advertised as such), but to my knowledge there has never been any large scale recasting or faking of any of the Remco 3&3/4 mini-monster action figures. They were produced in such quantity that I have a hard time thinking there would be much of a market in fakes - unlike Star Wars where the huge demand creates large rewards for the dishonest who are able to fool someone (and if you're interested in such things, google TOYTONI to read up on a massive SW scandal).

The Remco sculpts have also been a favorite of art toy creators for years, but those releases have all been mash-ups, such as the Creature and an army man, or Frankenstein's Monster and Boba Fett, and it's very clear that they are small batch, modern items.

There are a number of other monster items that have been "faked" or reproed - repopped as I tend to call it. The Multiple Toys Horrorscope is the main one I'd be very wary of, but mainly because I don't have one (yet!), know there are very well made fakes, don't know what the tells on the fakes are, and there are lots of pieces to it. Here's an auction from the main seller (and I think creator) of the "reproductions". He's honest about these things being reproductions, but not very direct:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-MPC-HORRORSCOPE-MONSTER-MOVIE-MINT-IN-BOX-FAMOUS-MONSTERS-CAPTAIN-COMPANY/231773295334

Actually, here's one of his auctions with all (or nearly all) of the the rare and high dollar stuff he's re-created. I've had first hand experience with people who thought they had an original Frankie Bike-Buddy, only to have it turn out to be one of these. Again, to be clear, I have never know the seller himself to abjectly misrepresent anything, but it happened somewhere down the line and a friend of mine was taken advantage of. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-FAMOUS-MONSTERS-CHRISTMAS-MORNING-FANTASY-OH-MY-GOD-I-CAN-NOT-STANDIT/231773316489

That "somewhere down the line" is actually the biggest problem when it comes to potential monster fakes, imo. When faked (or altered or restored) items are resold and perhaps even resold again, they easily end up in collections or for sale from people who honestly don't know the provenance and believe the items to be 100% legitimate/original. Add to that that we live in a world where it is increasingly possible to reproduce nearly any element of most things (and doing so is becoming cheaper and cheaper), and it's always good to triple check.

[ascalia]

Okay thanks! Yeah it looks like some figures just seem too good to be true. For instance, I'm looking to buy a Phantom (always wanted to, he's my favorite) but I came across this one that looks way too clean and almost seems like it must be a repro or something....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REMCO-UNIVERSAL-MONSTERS-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-FIGURE-MINT-ON-CARD-UNUSED-/371461982365?hash=item567cdc089d:g:9MkAAOSwu4BV0p8z

[ascalia]

That's the legitimate manufactured version, funny enough. TMK, all of the Remco first version glow in the dark action figures (which were released in 1982) have that same backing with the Frankenstein's Monster proof of purchase. They corrected their error the next year with the second release of the glow figures (these are the ones where the front of the cards have an "explosion" of color behind the figure).

Thanks for such a great answer, I understand what you mean. Nowadays, things can be faked much easier so I guess it's always better to make sure- just was wondering in case I was at a convention and had to make an on-the-spot decision. Now at least I'll know what is more frequently faked!

[Mike Scott]

. . but I came across this one that looks way too clean and almost seems like it must be a repro or something....

I wouldn't be afraid of buying that one, if I wanted it. You see these in excellent condition, like that, often enough. The price seems fair. Like Shannon said, there not enough money to be made from faking these.