In the 90's and 00's I found the odd toy robot.
It was always a thrill finding a robot at a boot sale or in a junkbox.
I kept them for a while and then put them on my mail order lists I used to post to collectors.
So here are a few of the robots I found. Mine were all unboxed. These pics are from the net, image ownership rests with the various owners.
This yella fella is known as the Floating robot. I remember switching it on and chuckling at its action. It shudders around the surface via vibrating bristles on its base. Its a robot brush! The vibrations make the wheels and spanners spin round too. Found at Wakefield car boot sale.
This smiler was released by cosmetics queens Avon. I think it was a piggy bank. I never knew that the head came off to reveal another head! Another boot sale gem.
I came across the Talking robot in a model shop in Whitby. He was in a junk box and needed a new home. I don't think it had any missiles. I loved the unique multi-coloured buttons on this bot and his clunky ears.
I got the Saturn robot at Woolworths in Whitby whilst on holiday with the Missus and toddler daughter.
On a similar trip I bought Mighty Mike the smoking bot from Woolies in Pickering. On yet another Whitby stay I decided not to get the Trendmasters Lost in Space robot stocked in Boyes for some reason. I did that Saturn TV robot though.
and last but not least I had a Monster robot like this one, which revealed Godzilla's head. This one borrowed off the net has a eye window missing. I've seen this bot called Deceptor too. Great fun!
That's it bots!
Do you/ did you have any toy robots?
When I was a kid, I only had one, a small Japanese one you have featured. Now I have loads, all over the room!
ReplyDeleteWas yours the little red mini-bot Andy?
DeleteIf someone wanted to start a small collection of robots now, probably reproductions to start with, where’s a good place to start? I imagine there are books out about robot and space toy collectibles. In fact, I think Woodsy has featured a few on the blog.
DeleteGood question Zigg. My gut instinct with any collection is to start with what you can find cheaply locally and then maybe branch out to a toy fair and take it from there. When it gets more serious have a look at Ebay.
DeleteSadly, we have no good vintage or antique stores anywhere near here, so it would be all online purchases. There’s a couple of sites I’ve been stalking for years - Robot Island and Tin Toy Arcade - but even after all these years, I’ve never made the jump to purchase even one. Weird.
DeleteRobots are the coolest, but for some reason I never collected them. Maybe I didn’t know where to start?
ReplyDeleteI've a few books on robots. Its a specialised area and can be very expensive, hence my observation above. Stay cheap and local. Robots in the charity shops and outdoor sales first. This covers which ones to start with. Those that are available near you. Have fin ID'ing them at home.
DeleteI’m resigned to buying only reproductions. My budget would never allow some of the vintage stuff seen on Alphadrome!
DeleteYou're not alone with Shoppers Fair Zigg https://patch.com/connecticut/bridgeport/remembering-shoppersfair
ReplyDelete