'Kardsmen' (MacKenzie)

Trade mark of, and branding for the products of John MacKenzie Models Ltd., see M;

https://smallscaleworld-m.blogspot.com/2026/01/mackenzie-john-mackenzie-models-ltd.html 

Kamley Industrial Company Limited - Kositoy - KS - Kwong Shing Plastic Manufactory

Kwong Shing Plastic Manufactory
11 Sun Hing Street (ground floor)
Cheung Chau
Hong Kong (-/+ 1986)

Kamley Industrial Company Ltd.

Room 1400 Yu Sung Boon Building

107-111 Des Voeux Road

Central

Hong Kong (1990/2000's)

As 'KS' - 1970's

As Kositoy - Early 1980's

As Kamley - 20th October 1987-19th September 2003
Parent for all - Kwong Shing

Tel: 5-9810011

CR No. : 0201258

Private company limited by shares

Wound-up

Not to be confused with the brand new (2017) Kosi Toys who manufacture small hobbyists drones.

Marks:

- A red-outline lion standing on Kositoy moniker within a while tablet frame, the lion resembling Parsley from the British children's TV series of the 1970's.

- A white-outline Pegasus flying, stretched-out in an orange-red, rayed-disc or sun-graphic.

History

Err . . . there isn't any!

Originally known to this author for their card inserts to small trucks from pocket-money, header-carded, bagged, rack-toys, printed with a driver and co-driver in military uniform, which were sometimes (but not always) marked with the Kositoy logo. Over the years as more and more sets went through eBay and other online auction-houses a pattern emerged of the same sets appearing as both generics and branded to Kositoy, most carrying the KS stock/product coding.

Eventually a late (1990's?) set came through with a sticker carrying the company's full contact details and address, confirming the relationship between cards, artworks, codes and contents was more than simple contract-manufactured coincidence.

Early sets date from the mid-1970's and several generations of mouldings were got through along with some - probably bought-in - other items, including the later, larger-scale figures. KS-codes are phased-out at about the same time as the origin changes from 'Hong Kong' to 'China' on all packaging.

The company appears to have ceased trading in 2003; late sets having post-1985 MBT's and post 1997 CHINA marking and I've yet to encounter any packaging with the CE mark which ties-in with an early century demise.

A later discovery (2019) of a 1986 catalogue revealed the parent plant to be Kwong Shing hence the KS mark associated with Kamley/Kositoy in previous discoveries.

Listings

Loose Armour - AFV's - Vehicles

Trucks (two wheel types; early: domed/hub-cap and late 6- wheel-nuts/grease-hub, colours vary, some late version military ambulances in white plastic, navy/air force in blue, UN in pale blue, all taking various body types)

- Truck Rounded Cab (around 1:100, generic Ford/GMC design, early: card insert,)

- Truck Rounded Cab (late: no insert)

- Truck Squared Cab I (generic Volvo design, roof lights, early: card insert)

- Truck Squared Cab I (late: no insert, sub-piracies exist)

- Truck Squared Cab II (generic Mercedes design, no roof lights, no insert, sub-piracies exist)

Body Types

- Twin-AA Guns

- Single Gun

- Radar

- Searchlight

- Rocket Launcher

- Twin Rocket Launcher

- Sonic Range-finder with 3 Bowls

- Crane (civil only)

- Bulk-mineral (civil only)

- Bulk-mineral/Tipper (civil only)

- Compacting Refuse (civil only)

- Tanker (civil only as Shell)

- Tented-tilt Troop-cover/Ambulance (civil as Pepsi)

- Slatted-tilt Troop-cover/Ambulance

- Ridged Troop-cover/Ambulance (civil as Coca-Cola)

- 3-hoop Tilt Troop-cover/Ambulance

- 4-hoop Tilt Troop-cover/Ambulance

- Slatted Office-body/Radio-shack

- Round-roofed Office-body/Radio-shack

- Pitched-roof Office-body/Radio-shack

- Rocket-launching Trailer (for all above, early domed wheels (?))

- Rocket-launching Trailer (for all above, later studded wheels)

Others

- AMX 30 (around 1:120, with Saracen style 6-wheel arrangement)

- M1 Abrams/Challenger clone (1:48)

- Chieftain Mk5 (1:48)

- Twin-rotor Helicopter (mini scale, early, 6 windows, domed/hub-cap wheels, closed cockpit windows)

- Twin-rotor Helicopter (intermediate, 6 windows, domed/hub-cap wheels, open cockpit windows)

- Twin-rotor Helicopter (late, 5 windows, wheel-nut/grease-hub wheels, open cockpit windows)

- Field Gun (early, domed/hub-cap wheels, sometimes with astronaut crew)

- Field Gun (late, wheel-nut/grease-hub wheels, sometimes with GI crew)

- Large Truck (around 1:65)

- Jeep (around 1:65)

- Jeep (around 1:48)

- DUKW (silver plastic only?)

- Inflatable Boat (red plastic only?)

- Micro Jeep (civil - 1:76th-72nd)

- Micro Cars (civil - Beach-Buggy, Corvette Stingray, Porsche 911, Volkswagen Beetle, Toosietoy copies?)

- Mustang Fighter (1:72)

- Spitfire (green, RAF roundels)

- Spitfire (grey, German crosses!)

Scenics

- Fuel Pumps (Shell Petrol)

- Play-mat (river-crossing)

- Flag & Stand

- Sandbag Sanger/Corner (Airfix copy)

- Barbed-wire (six-hooped top-strand)

- Bailey-bridge (single moulding, similar to Airfix pontoon bridge section)

- Traffic Cones

- Marquee Tent (arched doorway)

- Modern Road Signs (8 different plus directional-instruction barriers)

Known Sets

Legend

* = Kositoy only seen

** = Kositoy and generic versions known

# = Kamley sticker known

« = Generic only seen

Њ = header-carded bag)

Б = blister card

Military

Small Scale

KS 2-3001 - Combat Troops (2nd version Airfix 8th Army, green - on tree-runners) « Њ

KS 2-3001 - Combat Troops (2nd version Airfix 8th Army, sand - on tree-runners) « Њ

KS 36-3010 - Cowboys ‘n’ Indians * Њ

Large Scale (Britains 'khaki infantry' clones + Swoppet kneeling mortar man unless otherwise stated, artillery crew are small scale and can be astronaut-like (early) or GI-like (late), they are often absent in larger scale figure sets, but not always)

KS 13-2003 - Free Wheeling (field gun+ 2 figures) « Њ

KS 13-2003 - Free Wheeling (jeep) « Њ

KS 15-3005 - Attack Force Emergency (field gun + 2 figures) ** Њ

KS 15-3005 - Attack Force Emergency (4 figures) ** Њ

KS 15-3005 - Attack Force Emergency (12 figures) ** Њ

KS 15-3005 - Attack Force Emergency (large set multiple contents, Airfix 1:32 8th Army clones) * Њ

KS 16-2005 - Combat Set (field gun + 2 figures) « Њ

KS 16-2005 - Combat Set (4 figures) « Њ

? - Attack Combat Set (M1 Abrams, Airfix 1:32 paratroop/commando clones with new helmets) * Њ

? - Attack Combat Set (6 trucks, 2 jeeps, Airfix 1:32 paratroop/commando clones with new helmets) * Њ

? - Attack Combat Set (Chieftain, 2 small jeeps, 2 field guns) * Њ
? - Chieftain Mk 5 Combat set (Chieftain, 2 small jeeps, 2 field guns, spitfie, figure, Tamiya artwork) * Њ

? - Combat Set (large jeep, 2 AMX, 2 fireld guns, 4 kneeling firers) * Б

? - Combat Set (large blister set - new graphics) * # Б

Wild West

- Wild West Cowboys and Indians Play Set (Airfix 1:32 clones) * Њ

Civil

? - Free Wheelers (4 lorries, micro-vehicles, fuel-pumps) * Њ

? - The Truck Pack (10 lorries, 5-deck window-box with hanger, Blue Box rip-off) *

? - Truck Fleet (8 lorries, 2 small army jeeps, road-sign set, 3-deck window-box with hanger) «

? - Truck Set (small, 8 lorries) « Њ

? - Truck Set (medium, 8 lorries) * Б

? - Truck Set (large, 8 lorries, fuel pumps) « Б

There will be more.

Thanks to

Bill B - Published Catalogue

Brian Berke, New York - photos

Paul Morehead, UK, editor; Plastic Warrior magazine - Catalogue pages

Links

Kamley on Home Blog

Kamley on Hong Kong Blog

 

Kosi Toys

Head Office

Concordia Plaza

1 Science Museum Road

Tsimshatsui

Kowloon

HongKong

Factory

Lianshang Town

Chenghai Dist

Shantou City

Guangdong

China

US Arm

Alameda Street

Los Angeles

California

USA

Website: http://www.kositoys.com/

eMail: info@kositoys.com (head office)

eMail: sales@kositoys.com (US office)

Recently formed (2017) company making/marketing small hobby-sized/recreational drone-flyers.

Links

You Tube Channel

Kosi Toys / Kositoy - Disambiguation

Could be/should be either one of and see;

Kosi Toys - Digital electronic toy maker/marketer

Kositoy - Brand of and see Kamley Industrial Company Limited

JARU - Jaru - JA RU - Ja-Ru Inc. - JA-RU Inc., The Rack Toy Co.

JARU - Jaru - JA RU - Ja-Ru Inc. - JA-RU Inc., The Rack Toy Co.

4030 Phillips Highway,
Jacksonville, FL 32207,
Florida,
USA

11F, Intercontinental Plaza,
94 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui [TST] East
Kowloon East
Hong Kong
China

USA (via Hong Kong/China)

1961 - Present

Phone: 904 733 9311 (USA)

Phone: 011 852 3602 7000 (HK)

Fax: 904 730 0113 (USA)
Fax: 011 852 3602 7001 (HK)
eMail: jarutoys@jaru.com
Website: http://www.jaru.com/

Privately held company, incorporated in 1967 in Florida.

Bernard Selevan - Founder and 1st CEO, Jack Selevan - President/Treasurer and Russel Selevan - Vice President (sons), Esmond Y P Lo - Director (Ja-Ru (HK) Limited) , Marc and Andrew Selevan (Jack's sons), Bruce Connor and Arnold Prodber - Directors

History

A US Toy 'Jobber' (importer), or more likely; given the date of inception (and definitely now) a FoB importer/facilitator, named after the founder's sons; Jack and Russell, sourcing/supplying imports from Hong Kong (now China) including many figures, animals and dinosaurs of interest to collectors along with other toys in various scales/sizes.

Some products were (1990's) similar to (or better than) those carried by Hing-Fat (and there may have been a direct connection - Hing Fat copying as fast as Ja-Ru commissioned!), Fishel (2000's), PMS (2010's) &etc. Products include (and have from the outset) all the common cheapie-toys; 'impulse' (rack toys), 'spring & summer' outdoor toys (water guns, beach / sand toy sets), hobby goods and supplies, 'classic' toys and novelties and other playthings.

In the 1980's they climbed on the D&D bandwagon, being responsible for handling Marty Toy (M-Toy) copies, Hercules themed figures and other sci-fantasy tie-ins. A tactic which must have paid-off; they purchased a new site in 1984, moving-in in 1985 (the Philips Highway headquarters/warehouse).

Also owning a warehouse in Powers Avenue (since 1972) and leasing another in Haines Street, the company bought 22+ acres of land at the Flagler Center in South Jacksonville (12 miles south of Philips Highway) in the spring of 2013, the plan being to close the other three facilities and run Flagler as a combined office/warehouse/distribution centre.

As at 2015 the Hong Kong arm (office and product showroom) was reported to be in the 26-50 employees bracket of SME's, having been formed by the US parent in 1998 to facilitate the smoother running of the Asian end of the FoB'ing business.

Spring 2016 finds the US parent still in the three old premises with no word on a/the move?

Now also a major wholesaler in their own right selling-on to what can be forth parties, they are also available branded as Ja-Ru in the UK's Asda supermarket chain, through their respective Walmart relationships. Overall the company reportedly employs in excess of 100 people in the US and another 50+ world-wide, while exporting to the whole of the 'States and another 35 countries.

They also run joint-enterprise lines with an outfit called Toy Industry Association Inc. from [the autonomous Chinese region of] Hong Kong, Greenbrier International Inc. (USA, an pre-existing - and known to the author - jobber) and DTSC Imports in Canada, presumably to spread any financial risk (between order and delivery) a little wider/thinner.

Known Product Listing

Dinosaurs
100 Million Years Ago Dinosaur (2003, assortment number: 1720; large vinyl models, sold individually, tagged)
- Spinosaurus
- Stegosaurus
- Styracosaurus
- Triceratops
Explore Planet Earth: Prehistoric Dinosaurs (2010's, standard size, ethylene models, mostly Marx copies, bagged)
- Allosaurus
- Ankylosaurus
- Brontosaurus (Apatosaurus)
- Dimetrodon
- Macrauchenia
- Stegosaurus
- Styracosaurus
- Trachodon
- Triceratops (design 1)
- Triceratops (design 2)
- Tyrannosaurus
- Uintatherium
Mini Dinosaurs (bagged, synthetic rubber, as issued by PMS/99p Stores in 2015/6 in the UK)
- Allosaurus (or Tyrannosaur? Meat-eater - design 1)
- Brontosaurus (Apatosaurus)
- Iguanodon
- Ornitholestes (?)
- Pachycephalosaurus
- Polacanthus
- Spinosaurus
- Styracosaurus
- Triceratops
- Tyrannosaurus (or Allosaur? Meat-eater - design 2)
- Velociraptor
- Pterosaur (winged dinosaur)
Other Dinosaurs
No.1734? - 100 Million Years Ago Dinosaur Miniatures (contents as per Mini Dinosaurs set but spray-painted polyethylene
# 1655 - Explore Planet Earth - Play Dinos (large ethylene - or blow-moulds? With accessories.

# 1678 - Explore Planet Earth - Play Dinos (smaller ethylene - may be set listed (by animal) above)

Other Items
Military
#1073 - Invasion Force (small scale Airfix and Roco piracies, issued in other graphics as generics)
#2306 -  Radical Sky Parachute Diver (60-80mm parachute-toy figure, 2016)
#425PDQ - Battle Force Paratrooper (2010's)
#81664 Battle Force Army Soldiers (2012, also marked 180351 on bases of figures, crude GI's, 45mm)
- M*A*S*H Checkup Set (1981, 54mm Marx stretcher team copies, small truck, flag, stand and picture card)
- Modern US GI’s (with ‘Fritz’ helmet)
- Wild West Frontier Set

Fantasy Sets (1980's/90's)

No. 527 - Demons & Wizards, Warriors, (bagged copies of Marty Toys, 18 figures plus accessories)
3709 - Hercules Hero of Strength, Dragon Warrior (1996, carded, 4 different with sub-scale dragon)

Emergency Sets

No. 3910 - 911 Fire & Rescue (red, white and blue figures, 50mm, each numbered, may previously have been issued by the same outfit as factory-painted soft vinyl figures)
Figures from above set 3910
1 - Cop kneeling firing AR15/M16 (blue)
2 - Cop pointing, holding telephone (blue)
3 - Cop writing in notebook (blue)
4 - Cop striding forward with night-stick [truncheon/baton] drawn (blue)
5 - Cop firing very small pistol (blue)
6 - Cop kneeling drawing pistol (blue)
1 - Rescue worker leaning over with chainsaw (red or white)
2 - Rescue worker carrying casualty (red or white)
3 - Rescue worker raising fire-axe (red or white)
4 - Rescue worker running with rope (red or white)
5 - Rescue worker kneeling with water hose (red or white)
6 - Rescue worker in fire-protective gear with foam-hose (red or white)
No.597 - Fire Rescue (different figures to 3910)
- Emergency Rescue Police Big Bag (different figures to 3910)

Other Toys/Novelties (alphabetical)

- Dino World
#80664 - Cyber Shot Sliding Disc Loader
#1528 - Fun Bubbles
No. 1492 - Ninja Eraser (carded, 4 different)
- Pocket Travel
#2304 A - Radical Sky 3 Sky Divers (one figure over two blister)
#2304 B - Radical Sky 3 Sky Divers (two figures over one blister)
24710 - Rocket Balloons (with Greenbrier and DTSC)
- Splash Fun, Explore Planet Earth
- That's Gross!
- Toss 'Em Water Bomb
No. 1820 - Tub Fun 4 Play Boats (2000, marked JARU, seem to be from old 'Pee-wee Boats' moulds)
- Baseball Playset (with plastic play mat)

Joint Contract / In Association with Toy Industry Association Inc. of Hong Kong

#1658 - Army Command Soldiers (as 81664 above, new card 2016)

- Explore Planet Earth - Creepy Animals

- Explore Planet Earth - Dogs

- Explore Planet Earth - Dinosaurs (see above)

28233 - Explore Planet Earth - Zoo Animals

28213 - Explore Planet Earth - Horse County

28403 - Explore Planet Earth - Horse County

# 1670 - Explore Planet Earth - Horse County

- Explore Planet Earth - Farm Animals

- Explore Planet Earth - Frogs Snakes & Lizards

- Explore Planet Earth - Jungle Animals

- Explore Planet Earth - Play Dino's (see above)

- Explore Planet Earth - Sea Animals

- Explore Planet Earth - Zoo Animals

549065 - XBotz Snap-a-Bot (3 colour-ways and 3 designs, give 9 to collect)

Links

Company History
Ja-Ru Facebook Page Shean's Blog
Dinosaur Page
200 Fifth Avenue Showroom Architects
Amazon Listings
STS Animal Wiki Page
Ja-Ru Posts on the Home Blog

What They Say

"It is rare to go into any [toy] retailer anywhere in the world and not find a JA-RU toy" (company website)

What This Entry Needs

- Early History
- Better Listings

Thanks To / Contributors:

Brian Berke - New York (samples and images)