The rampant popularity of the cassette-playing Soundwave and Blaster carried on from the early Generation 1 into 1986. However, to that point, all the associated Mini-Cassettes had been Decepticons. Finally, the Autobots received their own Mini-Cassettes, such as Ramhorn, who lacks a humanoid mode, instead having a robotic Diceros bicornis (Hook-lipped rhinoceros) mode.

US Patent for G1 Ramhorn

Origins

Ramhorn was designed exclusively for Transformers by Takashi Matsuda. Unlike the previous cassettes, he had no roots in Takara’s Microchange. His design takes clear cues from that of Ravage, however. His US Patent, titled Reconfigurable toy cassette (aka Transformers G1 Ramhorn) was filed on March 15, 1985 (U.S. Patent No. USD295059 S).

Description

Ramhorn’s alternate mode is a maroon Olympus Type IV “Metal” MC60 Microcassette, in a real-life scale. The front of the cassette is detailed with stickers that fairly realistically depict the printing on a Microcassette, including the edges of the two tape reels as seen through a window, with a playback time gauge included below. Stickers were also used to represent the holes for the cassette player’s pins, but actual holes (complete with a molded-in “tooth” look) are present for the player’s drive spindles. The back of the cassette is only decorated with molded-in robot details. Ramhorn transforms by extending his well-articulated die-cast metal legs from the bottom of the cassette, rotating a tail down from the back, and rotating the head out from the side of the tape. In lion mode, he has gold-chromed eyes, as well as articulated hips, knees, and paws. He is armed with two large chrome guns with vertically prodtruding wings, that plug into the hole through his rear body.
Date stamp location: left and right edges of cassette front (1986-1987), none (1988)
Rubsign location: upper left corner of cassette back

Collector Notes

Despite his small size and fine detail, large pins connecting his hips and shoulders, as well as riveted die-cast metal legs make Ramhorn remarkably sturdy. However, his stickered cassette face is divided into very small segments to accommodate the moving parts, leaving the tiny stickers prone to wear and peeling.

Variants

Ramhorn was available in two primary variants: either including silver vacuum-metalized weapons, or gold vacuum-metalized weapons. The 1988 reissue removed the rubsign and its molded indent, as with many other figures reissued in that year.
Type 1: Hasbro 1986 ©Takara 1986 Japan, with rubsign, gold weapons (with T1 Eject)
Type 2: Hasbro 1986 ©Takara 1986 Japan, with rubsign, silver weapons (with T2 Eject) Type 3 Hasbro 1986 ©Takara 1986 Macau, with rubsign, silver weapons (with T3 Eject)
Type 4: Hasbro 1986 ©Takara 1986 Macau, without rubsign (indent filled in), silver weapons (with T4 Eject)

Availability

Ramhorn was only available in Hasbro’s territories packed with Eject (whose weapon variant always matched that of Ramhorn). The Ramhorn & Rewind 2-pack was available again in 1987 and 1988. In Japan, Ramhorn was available in 1986 and 1987 single-packed with silver weapons. He was reissued in Japan in Encore in 2009, as part of The Great Cassette Operation vol. 2 with Ratbat, Steeljaw, and Slugfest. This version included silver weapons, and had tampographed tape details instead of stickers. Ramhorn was reissued in the US with the San Diego Comic-Con Universe 2 Blaster. This version had tampographed details and silver weapons. Eject and Ramhorn was available in 1986. Eject and Ramhorn was available again in 1987 and 1988.
Case Assortments (Item#/Asst#): 1986: Mini Cassettes Assortment 2 (G5935/5733), 8 per 24; 1987: Mini Cassettes Assortment 3 (G5935/5734), 6 per 24; Mini Cassettes Assortment 4 (G5935/5734), 2 per 24; 1988: Mini Cassettes Assortment 3 (G5935/5734), 6 per 24; Mini Cassettes Assortment 4 (G5935/5724), 2 per 24
MSRP: $5.99
Packaging: Blister card with instructions and Tech Spec on back
Robot Points: 1 Autobot
Paperwork included:"Inside… A Transformer not Sold in Any Store!"

Redecos & Retools

Ramhorn was redecoed in blue to represent his evil Shattered Glass counterpart for the eHOBBY-exclusive SG Soundwave vs SG Blaster set.

Character Bio

FUNCTION: WARRIOR
“Flee before me or else you'll fall before me.”
Don't touch him if you value your life, 'cause he'll smash you. Extremely territorial, nasty hair-trigger temper. Best way to deal with him is from a distance. His charge is virtually unstoppable -- can knock a train off its tracks or upend an 18-wheeler with one blow. Has two batteries of three laser-guided heat-seeking missiles that can lock in and hit a target up to twelve miles away. As cassette, can vibrate and destroy any equipment into which he is inserted.

STRENGTH INTELLIGENCE SPEED ENDURANCE RANK COURAGE FIREPOWER SKILL
8 4 3 9 5 9 3 4