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| Robot
collecting is a hobby for any budget. Robot
collectibles are available for any pocketbook, from the price of a
haircut to the cost of a car. While original toys from the ‘50s
and ‘60s command hundreds and thousands of dollars from collectors,
there are plenty of great, inexpensive new robots being made today.
Here are a few of the most popular: Machine Man The most-wanted of the ‘5Os robots, Machine Man went for a whopping $74,000 at a 1996 Sotheby’s auction. Only four originals are known to exist of this highly sought leader of the “Gang of Five,” which also includes Target Robot, Sonic Robot (also known as Train Robot), Non-Stop Robot (aka Lavender Robot) and Radicon Robot, an early radio-controlled model. Masudaya has released beautiful metal wind-ups of the Gang of Five at under $20 each (that’s 1/3700 the cost of Sotheby’s Machine Man. In 1998 a sixth member joined the wind-up gang, Giant Shooting Robot, a green, never-manufactured prototype resembling Target Robot. Robot artist George Eisner painted new box art for the American release of the robots, which are imported and distributed through Rocket USA. Robby the Robot
The most famous robot of all appeared in the 1956 MGM science fiction classic, Forbidden Planet. Bob Kinoshita, who also designed Lost in Space’s B-9 robot, created the gentle giant, which inspired Robby-styled toys ever since the film’s release. Masudaya’s popular and inexpensive wind-up Robby gained two collectible big brothers in 1997: 17” and 24” versions which light and talk. The now discontinued limited edition models sell for around $200 and $400, respectively. Fred Barton, alias “The Robotman,” also offers life size, limited edition Robby replicas for sale or rental. Towering over seven feet tall, the talking, motorized Robbys are sure to be the hit of any party. Gigantor Known in Japan as Tetsujin 28 (Iron Man No. 28), “Japan’s greatest hero” is also its most reproduced robot. Endless versions are available from the ‘50s through the ‘70s, as well as new models riding the wave of the current Gigantor revival. The Osaka Tin Toy Institute’s beautiful tin litho limited edition reproduction T-28 wind-up sells for around $400, with Billiken’s tin battery-operated version available at around $350. Recent collectibles include an 8” action figure of Gigantor with light-up eyes, along with his owner, Jimmy Sparks (known in Japan as “Shotaro”) at about $40. Lost in Space Robot B-9 Bob Kinoshita’s other masterpiece, the “Bubble-headed Booby” of the camp sci-fi series, made a spectacular comeback with the release of New Line Cinema’s film version of Lost in Space. While the classic B-9 robot did not appear in the film per se, the quality and accuracy of Trendmaster’s toy tie-ins by far exceeds that of the Remco and AHI toys of the ‘60s. Polar Lights/Playing Mantis also rereleased Aurora Plastic’s original robot kit along with the first model kit of the classic Jupiter Two spaceship. New Line Cinema granted Masudaya licensing rights for its popular B-9 knockoff, “Robot YM-3,” so the new boxes correctly identify the classic wind-up as B-9 from Lost in Space. At the high end, Icons Replicas announced the ultimate collectible, a seven foot tall working B-9 robot. Wired for sound and light, and produced in a limited edition of 250, the robot retailed for $12,500, or $11,500 through the Icons Collectors’ Society. Dr. Who Daleks Countless toys were made from the mid ‘60s on of the Daleks from the BBC’s Dr. Who, “Remembrance of the Daleks” series. The toys were made in friction and battery-operated versions, and some of the most popular now fetch several hundred dollars from collectors. Dapol’s reproductions of the ‘60s Marx Daleks were available in a variety of color schemes at 7 British pounds for the friction version and 22 pounds for the battery operated bump’n’go Dalek. For the new millenium This Planet Earth Ltd. is creating a life-size army of the Doctor’s robotic foes, priced (in British pounds) at 1545 for the five foot tall grey and black Renegade Dalek, with the black and silver Supreme Dalek at 1645 pounds. |
 Masudaya's
Machine Man
 Robby and
son
 Iron Man 28
aka Gigantor
 Benign
Companions
 Polar Lights/
Playing Mantis
 Millenium
Dalek no. 1
from Dapol
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