great robots & toys
from the space age




Robot Collecting



 The Gang's All Here!


Charlie took this 2003 picture of the robot gang. Except for three tin models dating from the '60s, all of the robots shown here came out after the Lost in Space movie in 1998, leading to a new millenium of great robots.




From the past to the future.

Robot collecting is a hobby for every budget, with robots available from the price of a haircut to the cost of a car.

Above left: Robot Lilliput, a wind-up robot from Japan, circa 1939, is believed to have been the first toy robot. Mint with box, it went for $2,000 in 1999. The above shown green variation released through Schilling was available in 2008 for less than $20. Repros were also made in the original orange. With Lilliput is a mini Robosapien from Radio Shack, symbolizing the future of robotics a half century later. Robosapien, invented by Mark Tilden for Wow Wee Toys, used his BEAM technology  (Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics), and was arguably one of the first affordable robots to cross the line from a toy to a fully interactive robot.

Above right: Yonezawa Smoking Spaceman, an all- time classic robot  from 1960 could fetch $3500 with a mint box in 1969. But HaHa Toys created affordable repros in 2007 that sold for under $100. 





Above left: Chief Robotman was one of a variety of battery operated 'skirted' robots that included Masudaya's Gang of Five. Yoshiya's 1959 creation was the perfect robot, with a turning head, spinning antennae, lit top light and mysterious "bump and go" action. Mint in box in 1999, it went for $2500. Design variations included Cragstan's Radical Robot, Chief Smokey, Mighty Robot, and Mystery Moon Man. Color variations were also introduced in 1960. The robot shown is a repro of Chief Robot Man made in 2007 by Ha Ha Toys. The first 2007 version was silver, followed by this blue variant.

On his left and right are two bonafide robots from the 'fifties. On the left, Hook Robot by Waco, in the rare silver/ blue variation. A small hook stuck out of the back of his head (not shown). He was friction, and when pushed, his head moved from side to side.  On the right is Atom Robot by Yoshiya. He had a crank in the bank, and once revved up would move rapidly with "bump and go" "mystery" action. 


Above right:
The box for Ha Ha Toys' Chief Robot Man duplicates the feel of the Yoshiya original. Unlike the box picture, the eyes don't actually light up, although the top lamp does. This well- made, battery -operated, metal robot is otherwise an exact replica and sold retail in 2008 for around $70 at Robot Island (see links).





Above left.  Real battery-operated tin robots had been unknown for thirty years when Rocket USA introduced R-1 for the new millenium. At over a foot tall, this skirted, colorfully-lithographed giant's eyes and ears flashed while it made mechanical sounds and sped around the floor with bump-and-go action--all kinds of classic robot stuff, and still about $40 retail. R-1 came in blue or gray versions, with a red model available through the Red Toy Company, a yellow "rescue" version, and in a limited edition bare-metal Millenium model.

Above right. While lacking the detailing of its predecessors, R-1 nevertheless is an impressive robot, its eyes and ears blazing from an internal lamp, as shown here. Many were made and sold, and this popular robot is still affordable and available.





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