Lost in Space, Gang of Five and Recent Robots

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&Collectibles.......................

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Recent Robot Roster

1. Top left. Masudaya’s popular 5” YM-3 wind-up robot. The new, licensed box graphics correctly identify it as the B-9 Lost in Space Robot. Retailed under $20.

2. Top center. The B-9 robot toys made by Trendmaster in 1998 are far more accurate than the Lost in Space toys of the ‘60s. In the "room guard" mode, this model waved its arms, frantically sounding off, "warning, warning Will Robinson." Retailed under $30. Shown with Masudaya's YM-3/B-9 wind up and a key chain B-9 which said three phrases, retailing for $5.

3. Top right. Johnny Lightning’s space chariot was one of four 1998 Lost in Space-themed diecasts. They retailed at about $5. It's nearly scaled to the Polar Lights/ Playing Mantis Jupiter II model kit. The backdrop is an article on assembling the ship from Model Toy and Collector.

4. Bottom left. Real battery-operated tin robots had been unknown for thirty years when Rocket USA introduced R-1 for the new millenium. Ar 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, and in a limited edition bare-metal Millenium model.

5. Bottom center. Dapol brought back Dr. Who's nemesis in a big way, with repros of the Marx miniature Rollykin Daleks at around $5, and pull-back Millenium Daleks in a variety of models and colors at around $20 each. Shown is Millenium Dalek no. 1.

6. Bottom right. Robot artist George Eisner created new ‘50’s-themed box art for the “Gang of Five” wind-up robots, available through Rocket USA. Shown are three members of the gang: Sonic (Train) robot, Non-stop (Lavender) robot, and Target robot. At around $20, these brightly-lithographed wind ups are a robot bargain.