Round 2, LLC is a major model/diecast/racing car toy company that has over the years acquired many toy companies then re-release products by them. They currently own: AMT, Polar Lights, and Auto World. They license Ertl from Tomy International.
History[]
AMT and Ertl[]
Ertl was established in 1945, while AMT was established in 1948. In 1983 AMT was purchased by Ertl and the company went by AMT-Ertl.
Johnny Lightning and (Aurora) Polar Lights / Playing Mantis[]
Aurora Plastics Corporation was founded in 1950. Topper Toys, which made the Johnny Lightning brand started in 1969. In 1994, Playing Mantis was started and had acquired the rights, trademarks and started producing reproductions of the Johnny Lightning original line cars. Playing Mantis was a company Tom Lowe In 1996, Playing Mantis was started the Polar Lights division which reissued some of Aurora’s most popular kits.
RC2 / (Takara) Tomy International / Round 2[]
In 1999, Ertl was purchased by Racing Champions. Racing Champions is later renamed RC2. In 2004, RC2 a division of Japan-based Takara Tomy founded in 1992, bought Playing Mantis (Johnny Lightning, Polar Lights).[1] 2007 saw bad press for RC2 from lead paint found on Thomas and Friends toys which was followed with recalls. [2] 2008 saw Round 2 take on manufacturing branded model kits under a licensing agreement with Learning Curve Brands (previously named RC2) for Polar Lights.
In March of 2011, Tomy announced merger with RC2.[3] As a result, in December of 2011 Round 2 acquired rights to brands AMT and Polar Lights from TOMY International.[4] Johnny Lightning during the merger stayed with Tomy, which made them from 2011 to 2013. 2016 saw Round 2 buy Johnny Lightning.[5]
List of Items[]
- AMT Ecto-1A Model Kit (Released in 1989, reissued in 2012)
- Johnny Lightning brand:
- Johnny Lightning Ecto-1a Toy Line (Released from 1996 through 2004, 2017 and ongoing)
- Johnny Lightning Ecto-1 (Introduced in 2019)
- Johnny Lightning Revised Tooling Ecto-1 (Introduced in 2019)
- Polar Lights Ecto-1 Easy Snap Together Model Kit (Released in 2002, reissued in 2013)
- Ecto-1 Diecast with Slimer (Joyride/Round 2) (Released in 2004, reissued in 2018)
- Auto World: Ghostbusters Slot Car Toy Line (Released in 2012, and 2015)
References[]
- ↑ Business Wire - "RC2 Acquiring The First Years and Playing Mantis; The First Years Solidifies RC2's Presence in the Infant Market; Playing Mantis Adds Depth to RC2's Collectibles Segment"
- ↑ NY Times - RC2's Train Wreck
- ↑ Business Wire - "Tomy Commences Tender Offer for Acquisition of RC2 Corporation"
- ↑ CultTVman - "ROUND 2 HAS OFFICIALLY AQUIRED POLAR LIGHTS, AMT, AND MPC"
- ↑ Die Cast X - "Lightning Strikes Twice! 10 Questions with Johnny Lightning’s Tom Lowe"