When “Action Man” joined the Argylls

With the Barbie™ exhibition in Glasgow nearing, it got me thinking about our collection.

The museum prides itself on having something for everyone to enjoy learning about. Whilst fundamentally a regimental museum, the museum cares for a number of objects that have incredible stories, and topics you may not assume. From space, sports (and a Guiness World Book of Records holder!) and food, there’s plenty to discover. But we couldn’t have a figurine doll, right?

In 1966, Palitoy (later Hasbro) launched their Action Man branded toy figurines – the United Kingdom’s version of the American “movable fighting man”, G.I. Joe. Within it’s first year it had won awards for “Boys Toy of the Year” and “The Toy of the Year”. After an incredibly successful few years, the development team at Palitoy Ltd had to come up with a new idea. And this is when Action Man joined the Argylls.

Mr W Pugh, a manager from Palitoy already had the idea for a British Regiments range with a Scots solider doll to choose from when he selected The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment. After a trip to Scotland, he noted the number of cars that had “Save the Argylls” posters in the windows. And after a trip to the Highlands, he and his son returned to his car and found it covered in these posters too. It was after this Mr Pugh noted the support he could give the regiment if he selected the Argylls for his action figure range.

With the regiment selected, now there was the intricate task of ensuring this figurine’s uniform was as accurate as possible – and Colonel Slessor supported with this. One of the first problems they had was obtaining the correct tartan and getting this to scale. The next was dyeing the jacket fabric the correct colour. Whilst the accoutrements on the figure were on a small scale, Mr Pugh noted: “… we were very proud of the buckle on the belt because with a magnifying glass, you could see the very fine engraving of the regimental badge”. Collectors today recognise how accurate the uniforms were on this range.

However, parts like the glengarry, the spats and the cap badge took many attempts and hundreds of pounds in trialling. The cap badge design and manufacture alone took a month before the team were happy with the standard. Due to the detail, the engraver struggled with the shapes and was asked to try again.

But as we can see, they managed to overcome these hurdles. The only part they could not do accurately, was the eight buttons down the spats. Mr Pugh wrote an article in the Thin Red Line Regimental Magazine in June 1970, both as an advertisement for the Action Man figurine and a report detailing why the Argylls had been selected and the process of making this.

The range was launched as ‘Famous British Regiments’ in 1970, renamed the next year to ‘Famous British Uniforms’ and colloquially known as the ‘The Ceremonial Range’. Other regiments and branches of the Armed Forces included were the Grenadier Guard and later included the Royal Marines [No.3 Dress], Life Guards, Royal Horse Guard (Blues) and 17th & 21st Lancers. There was also a separate Horse available without, or with full dress saddle.

Mr Pugh signed off his article with: “We hope that it may be of some assistance in the fight to keep the Argylls.” The Argyll figure was a popular choice across all of Britain, and certainly helped to raise awareness of the regiment.

The Action Man figurine the museum has in its collection was kindly donated by museum volunteer and Argyll veteran, Bill Anderson in 2003 – after it had been originally it had been purchased as a gift to his nephew.

It is currently on display in our “Spirit of the Argylls” gallery – so see if you can spot it when you next visit the museum.

Written by Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer