Saul Robbins
American toy manufacturer
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Saul Robbins (February 16, 1922 – June 13, 2010) was an American toy manufacturer, the co-founder of Remco, with his cousin Isaac Heller.
Saul Robbins | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 16, 1922 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 13, 2010 (aged 88) Verona, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Occupation | Toy manufacturer |
| Known for | Co-founder of Remco |
| Spouse | Ruth Fern |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Isaac Heller (cousin) Leonard Wilf (son-in-law) |
Personal life
Career
In 1949, he co-founded the toy company Remco in Newark, New Jersey, with his cousin Isaac Heller.[2][3] The name was a contraction of "REMote COntrol", and its first products were children's walkie-talkies.[3] Heller had been a U.S. Navy electronics technician, and they started by buying large amounts of military surplus and "transforming it into toys that could zoom, soar or otherwise move."[4]
Until the 1960s, they only made toys for boys, and they were the first toy company to use television advertising.[3] Their toys included the Whirlybird helicopter, the Barracuda atomic submarine, the Johnny Reb cannon, the Dick Tracy wrist radio, the Screaming Mee Mee-e rifle and Mr. Kelly's Automatic Car Wash.[4]
Robbins was president of the Toy Manufacturers Association of America, and of the YM-YWHA of Metrowest.[2]
Personal life
Robbins and his wife Ruth Fern had two children, Ralph Robbins and Dr Marcia Robbins-Wilf.[2][5] His daughter Marcia Robbins-Wilf was married to Leonard Wilf.[2]
Saul Robbins died at his home in Verona, New Jersey on June 13, 2010, aged 88.[2][1]
