Released by Remco in 1961, Frogman let kids stage their own underwater adventures. Designed to operate in bathtubs and backyard pools, the battery-powered diver could swim, dive, and surface, mirroring the excitement of deep-sea exploration.
In the water, Frogman was powered by a motor-driven propeller that operated on four D-batteries and was built into his adjustable ballast tanks. The depth and angle of a dive were controlled by adjusting the toy’s fins and managing the volume of water in the ballast tanks. Water could be removed from the tanks using the built-in ballast tank adjuster. On deep dives, a marker buoy could be attached to track Frogman’s progress.
On land, the toy doubled as a U.S. Navy Commando, scouting potential dive sites with his rifle, helmet, and walkie-talkie in tow. When called for underwater duty, kids could equip him with a new set of accessories, including a speargun, weight belt with shark knife, face mask, snorkel, and fins.
Frogman measured 30-inches long and was smartly styled using Remco’s vibrant red and blue colour palette.
The toy also came with a four-page instruction booklet, which featured a “History of Frogmen” section.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Frogman’s play pattern and short time on the market make it difficult to find a fully intact, working example today. Occasionally, a new old stock example surfaces at auction, often commanding several hundred dollars.
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