Red Baron - the robot

Another interesting robot design is this one... Red Baron. Not a cartoon, rather a "man in a suit" kind of show - it was quite popular in Japan at the time.

Red Baron, ASC, Japan,
1960's

ASC was one of the big tin-toy makers,
but had to switch to plastic later on...

A record cover of the show...

Baby bot, baby Thunder...

The original Commando Robot was an Ideal toy that was sold in the USA in 1961... (see the original add here: Toy Advertising) Strangely, this little bot reappeared in a smaller verion - this time as a "build-it yourself" kit in Japan by IMAI (a company well known for all sortsof super hero and sci-fy kits).

Baby Thunder Robot Commando, IMAI,
Japan, 1970's

Happy V-Day

Spread the love !

Robocon, Bandai, Japan,
1970's

Heart on the chest...

This is the voice of the Mysterons...

"Take a bath and don't forget the bubbles !"
"FAB, otherwise I won't let you in my SPV !"

Captain Scarlet Bubble bath container,
Euromark PLC, England, 1993

Coming out of the darkness...

don't use me with a very strong bulb...
or I will melt !

Batman lamp, Underwriters Laboratories,
USA, 1970's

It is nice to have a caped cruzader watch over you in your room ! In the seventies - this was a must have for any crime-fighting kid in the neighbourhood ! Not very safe (the plastic tends to become very hot and even melt !) - and the satin cape did nothing to lessen the fire hazard.

More knock-offs !

Robot, ?, China, 2000's

Robot (Gundam type), China, 2000´s

Do you need tweezers to steer this thing ?

Gentlemen, start your engines !

Race car, JPLA (Marinha Grande), Portugal, 1960's

Lots of races were won or lost on the beaches over here, from Algarve to Viana do Castelo... and having big white tires was quite helpful in the sand.

A ridiculous steering wheel...

... for such big whitewalls...

...but even so, it's number one !

Don't forget your rubber !

Capitaine(s) Albator, Delacoste, France,
1978

French company Delacoste made these 2 squeak toys (in French : Pouet-Pouet). The large one is about 20cm - the small one 11cm high.

Zoomeray (s)

 Sometimes, a piece of paper and a piece of plastic come together in a very futuristic kind of design... I present to you the Zoomeray space guns...

Je veux un nouveau Youp-Youp !"

Mais ou est donc passé mon Youp-Youp ?

When I was a kid, we had these rolls on a stick !

... but this is much nicer !

... and comes in a choice of colors !

And even a version to buy defense bonds...

Zoomeray, Tigrett Enterprises, USA, 1960's

Hong Kong Saucers

Saucer, "T" in a circle, Hong Kong, 1970's

They are round and full of lights ! Call them UFO's or OVNI's - they roam the skies (at least the floor over here in my room...). Please check here for more info on "T" in a circle toys... http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.pt/

Saucer, "OK", Hong Kong, 1970's

POP ART ? Robots can do that, too !

Chest panel and buttons...

I'll be back !

Terminator 2 figurines, Kenner, China, 1994

T-800 (Arnie) vs T-1000... Who's going for Judgement Day ?

Batman's new set o'wheels !

OK, it is from the latest game... But it is a nice design and changes a little from the Tumbler !

Batmobile Arkham Asylum, Hotwheels, Malyasia, 2012

Tezuka's Wonder Boy !

Astroboy, Billiken, Japan, 1990's
(1977 copy)

When you have all the power in the world, you'd better be nice to other human beings... Astoboy was just that... only he was not human, or maybe more so than many of us...

Yamato's IQ-9

Can't fly a spaceship without him...

IQ-9 (windup), Popy, Japan, 1970's

Ulysse in need of a haircut ?

He's back, ready to confront Zeus and all the mythological figures that stand between him and his home...

Ulysse 31 - High Dream, China, 2003

Indians and Cowboys - what happened ?

Musical Horn, ?, Portugal ?, 1960's ?

When I was a kid, I did not grew up only with robots and spacetoys... nope. We had Davy Crocket, Zorro, Rintintin, Bonanza and a lot of other Western-based TV shows. So much so that everytime I found a pigeon's feather on the streets it would end up in my hair somehow.

Nowadays, the genre is dying....

E.T. for you, E.T. for me !

E.T. keyanger, ?, HK ?, 1982

This little fellow is definitely one of the most bootlegged toys I have in my collection. With Lucas making millions, I never quite understood why Spielberg did not follow his lead regarding royalties on copyrighted items... The number of E.T. toys made in the 80ies is quite astonishing...

E.T., ?, HK ?, 1982

E.T. with teeth, ?, HK ?, 1982

E.T. with lighting eyes, ?, HK ?, 1982

More from the China store...

Robots, ?, China, 2000's

Robot, ?, China, 2000's

Robot, ?, China, 2000's

Optimus knock-off, ?, China, 2000's

Harlock now a designer toy ?

Oh no ! They dared...

Ersatz ? Fake ? or just design statement ?

Albatore, Arty Toys, France, 2012