Does anyone know how many different factories there were producing vintage Star Wars figures over the run from '77 to '85? That is, total factories rather than just Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macau, etc but how many factories in Hong Kong, etc. Is there anywhere that shows which factories produced which figures?

Hit the link and have fun reading

http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t6815-cardback-factory-codes?highlight=factory

Thank you very much!

So much fantastic research. And I keep finding that for every answer, there are even more questions.
Difficult for someone like me who likes definitive information.

Lots of things lead to other things, there are many rabbit holes sometimes. In perspective though, collecting star wars is a relatively young hobby when compared to say coins or comics or other things that have been around much longer than star wars toys. So some research is still ongoing. Just last year or the year before we got the pbp book to show that line, so things are still being worked on. Wasnt to long ago that Gus Lopez found some proto stuff that nothing was known about, so even new discoveries are being found that reveal some answers. In other words, don't get discouraged because all the answers aren't laid out yet. Part of the fun is learning and contributing.

You're absolutely right. My impatience gets the best of my mind sometimes. I'm at this point trying to find a point to try and pick up on where things have been left, and how.

Bryan - you are the sage of TIG.  

Folks, not sure if the big bad wolf (wBobafett) is on TIG any more to update his thread but one addition to his summary in his original thread is that he hasn't noted what factory "HN" is.

HN (Hong Kong) = "Smile" of Hong Kong/Macau

wbobafett wrote:

Summarize on what was found out already:

FACTORY CODES ON CARDBACKS:

1. Prior to 41 Backs:
No Factory Codes present.

2. 41 - 48 Backs:
Factory Codes present next to the pop:
K ("Kader" of Hong Kong)
U ("Unitoys" of Hong Kong)
S ("Smile" of Hong Kong/Macau)

3. 48 - 79 Backs:

TJ (Taiwan)
TW (Taiwan,only on vehicles???)
TC (Taiwan,only on vehicles???)

HN (Hong Kong)
HT (Hong Kong, Unitoys)
HG (Hong Kong, Kader)

ME (Macau)
MC (Macau, only on vehicles???)

So the first letter describes the location in the ROTJ area: T=Taiwan, M=Macau and H=Hong Kong, that is for sure.
The second is the factory code.

Craig T wrote:

Bryan - you are the sage of TIG.  

Folks, not sure if the big bad wolf (wBobafett) is on TIG any more to update his thread but one addition to his summary in his original thread is that he hasn't noted what factory "HN" is.

Thanks.......wait.......does sage mean crazy old star wars collector?

I don't know that Wolff is around much anywhere these days. He for sure isn't here, had a falling out with someone and best to let that story stay gone. He was on rs for a bit but he just had a baby also. He is probably hip deep in dirty diapers and baby bottles with red baggy eyes from lack of being able to sleep.

maybe we should now call you obi-Bryan, to go with your sage like presence... I was going to propose a yodarish name for you, but I still can't get buffy out of my head from question of the week.

Indeed. Doubt you see this wolf, Good luck to you! My little guy is coming up to 17mths now, 5am wake up still wrecks me, but things are a much easier these days.

That's a lot of great info!