----- Original Message -----
From: "Freds Workshop"
To: "ME!!!"
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 11:01 AM
Subject: add to site: Jetfire vs Optimus
> Message: 18
> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 00:15:58 -0000
> From: "Curt"
> Subject: Jetfire vs. Optimus Prime in the Milton Bradley-mythology
>
> The below is a letter from a Dutch Transfan who wrote in to TFsource
> regarding Maz's article on MB Transformers. Read on, as it is a
> rather interesting story about Jetfire being the leader in MB toys.
>
> ================================================================
>
> Dear TFSource,
>
> I just finished reading your excellent article on the Milton Bradley-
> branded G1-TF's that were released in Europe in the early 80's. In
> the article, the writer ('Maz') appears 'baffled' why Jetfire is
> mentioned as leader of the Autobots instead of Optimus Prime. I
> believe I have the answer for you.
>
> In the early 80's, the name 'Optimus' was owned by a company that
> made toasters, grills and other kitchen utensils. MB apparently
> could not secure the copyrights to the name 'Optimus Prime' because
> of the company holding that name.
>
> In the first couple of issues of the dutch-translated version of the
> Marvel TF-comics, Optimus Prime was also called 'Jetfire' for this
> reason. Note that he was still the red-blue truck we know as Optimus
> Prime, just the name was changed. According to Ans Loos, back then
> editor of the Dutch translation of the Marvel TF-comics, the
> namechange was done because of the dispute between Optimus (the
> grill-company) and MB. This was mentioned in an answer she gave to a
> reader in one of the earlier issue's letterpages. The reader, by the
> way, wondered why Jetfire was called 'Optimus Prime' in the cartoon
> on foreign satellite TV :)
>
> It is suspected that for the same reason as the namechange in the
> comics, MB decided to hold off on introducing the Optimus Prime-toy
> and instead used Jetfire as the leader. This way, there would be no
> confusion with the names after the situation would be resolved. MB
> did infact release Optimus Prime sometime later. From then on, and
> without any further explanation within the comics bar a brief
> editor's note on the first page, the comic also referred to Prime
> as 'Optimus Prime' instead of 'Jetfire'.
>
> When reading the above, keep in mind that the cartoon
> was 'officially' not on air in Europe at the time. It could only be
> watched on British TV ('Sky Channel'), and there were no problems
> with the Optimus name in the UK as far as i can tell. Kids in
> mainland Europe -officially- only had the comic to go by.
>
> Hope to have been of help and kind regards,
>
> Email 2:
> ================================================================
>
> I've done some research on the internet, and apparently
> the 'Optimus'-company still exists today. However, i'm not sure if
> it's the same company that caused the trouble, as they seem to make
> stoves instead of grills. Have a look at http://www.optimus.se.
>
>
>
> The credit goes to a Dutch Transfan named Erwin.
>
> Discuss amongst yourselves and I'll give Maz the honor of updating
> his article when he gets a chance.
>
> So TFsource did unravel one outstanding Transformers unsolved
> mystery :-D
>
> Endemion
Message: 20
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 08:07:22 +0200
From: "argus"
Subject: RE: Jetfire vs. Optimus Prime in the Milton Bradley-mythology
> In the first couple of issues of the dutch-translated version of the
> Marvel TF-comics, Optimus Prime was also called 'Jetfire' for this
> reason. Note that he was still the red-blue truck we know as Optimus
> Prime, just the name was changed. According to Ans Loos, back then
> editor of the Dutch translation of the Marvel TF-comics, the
> namechange was done because of the dispute between Optimus (the
> grill-company) and MB. This was mentioned in an answer she gave to a
> reader in one of the earlier issue's letterpages. The reader, by the
> way, wondered why Jetfire was called 'Optimus Prime' in the cartoon
> on foreign satellite TV :)
Yup. I could probably whip up a scan of that if needed. The extremely
odd bit is that this only seemed to have been a problem in the
Netherlands. The same stoves were sold in the UK as well for example.
Our laws always have been complex and odd I guess ;)
> When reading the above, keep in mind that the cartoon
> was 'officially' not on air in Europe at the time. It could only be
> watched on British TV ('Sky Channel'), and there were no problems
> with the Optimus name in the UK as far as i can tell. Kids in
> mainland Europe -officially- only had the comic to go by.
Incorrect. The cartoon was airing in a number of countries. Just not the
Netherlands. We didn't get the cartoon till 87 I believe.
> So TFsource did unravel one outstanding Transformers unsolved
> mystery :-D
I was unaware of this being a mystery, but hey ;)
Argus.. nobody asked.. I'll contact Erwin about the bugs in his email ;)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Fighbird
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 4:40 AM
Subject: Web updates.
Also, on the subject of "Jetfire vs Optimus Prime as leader", the dutch
poster says, that:
> When reading the above, keep in mind that the cartoon
> was 'officially' not on air in Europe at the time. It could only be
> watched on British TV ('Sky Channel'), and there were no problems
> with the Optimus name in the UK as far as i can tell.
The UK did not have those problems, no, AFAIK.
Actually, UK *is* part of Europe, officially... and another UK based
satellite channel, Super Channel, did also show the the cartoon. MB toys
were sold in Denmark as well, but I never saw them on the shelves myself,
so I can't really say, if Prime was released later... I doubt it, though,
since most of what we got were US toys anyways. What is most likely, now
that I think of it, is that we got the MB toys when Hasbro started
cleaning out the TF stock in Europe around 1990/1991... along with all
those nifty Mexican toys. ;)
> Kids in mainland Europe -officially- only had the comic to go by.
Nope, we had the toys and the cartoons to go by (I don't know why this
fellow wants the UK broadcast cartoons to be "unofficial"? The danish
comic even ran adds for the cartoon broadcast on Super Channel...), and
only later on the comic book, since those weren't around untill 1987/1988
for Scandinavia's part.
>
>
>