ZEROID ZEMO

 Here's another look at Zemo, considered by many to be the rarest of the Zeroid range.

It was originally produced in three colours - yellow, aqua, and red.

At first glance it's obvious that Ideal have simply mixed and matched parts from the first three Zeroids using Zintar's head, Zerak's torso and Zobor's lower section and tracks.

However, there are subtle variations that give  Zemo some of it's own originality.

 I find Zemo and its history quite fascinating, raising one or two questions. I’ve read that Zemo was only produced by Ideal for its overseas market and wasn’t intended for sales in America.  If that was the case it might help answer another question about a total lack of advertising for the robot in the States or anywhere else come to that.  There’s another question about why only some of the toys carry the name ‘Zemo’ on its waist while others don’t, and apart from the word Zeroid no other name appears on the header card.

This header card omits robot, Zobor's name, but shows the Cosmobile. My Zemo came with it's own Cosmobile. Judging by the rear of the header card, Zemo also might have been packaged with Zintar's Lunar Slad.

This example, presumably for the Japanese market shows Zemo packaged with a Solar Cycle.

So what are the subtle differences? 

As can be seen in the photo showing Zintar and Zemo, although it’s Zintar’s head alright, the radar on top is from Zobor, and the plastic detail under the clear dome on Zemo is all silver, rather than silver and blue.

Zemo’s torso detail, although the same layout as Zerak uses a different colour scheme, with red, yellow and black behind the clear plastic strip on Zemo, while Zerak has just a light green.

However, it’s the lower section that carries the most subtle differences. On Zobor the grills on each side of the track covers and the front valance are moulded into the plastic, while on Zemo these are separate casts. But the most noticeable difference is the clock face. On Zobor it’s five past six, and on Zemo it’s five to six!

As an addition, I've been contacted by fellow Zeroid collector, Dave Dryden, who owns a fine Zeroid collection including a rare turquoise Zemo  complete with it's name on the  middle section.

Dave kindly supplied some photos of his Zemo, and his collection. Enjoy!