Author: tintoyrobots.com

Yonezawa’s 1967 Space Explorer is a unique and ingenious toy robot that transforms from an unassuming TV console into a 12-inch robot with special effects. With the flick of a switch, its head emerges from the box with blinking lights, revealing a novel 3-D scene of an astronaut in command as it waddles forward.

What sets it apart is not just its visual spectacle, but the complexity of its mechanism housed within the seemingly ordinary box – in some respects it can be considered a direct predecessor to transforming robots that rose to popularity more than a decade later. Available in two colors, black and red, Space Explorer remains a prized and unique collectible today.

Originally released in 1966, Yonezawa’s 8 Man boasts a distinctive large build, sharing certain features with its robotic contemporaries. Along with forward strides and swinging arms, what truly sets it apart is the illuminated ring adorning the neck, featuring kaleidoscopic colors.

While the Yonezawa’s 8 Man pays homage to its tin toy origins, its legacy extends beyond to popular culture; inspired by the manga and superhero anime created in 1963 by Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata, this robotic figure is one of Japan’s earliest cyborg superheroes. It was also was expertly reproduced in limited quantities in 2015 and distributed by Robot Island.

Yonezawa’s skirted Talking Robot was a unique feat of engineering for its time. Unlike traditional battery-operated robots of its era, where the battery powers the movement, this robot battery’s sole purpose was to activate its voice functionality: with a press of a button on its chest, the robot delivers one of its four phrases in a clear and resonant voice.  Inside its body was a miniature record player, which played the dialogue, including declarations of invincibility and aspirations for cosmic exploration.

Marketed in the west by Cragstan, Talking Robot became a cherished addition to many toy collections. In an era of technological advancements, it remains a remarkable and unique artifact.

Haji’s Space Trooper astronaut-style tin robot made its debut in 1955. Standing at a modest 6 inches and characterized by its striking yellow and blue colors, it is propelled by its built-in mainspring wind-up mechanism. Its distinctive features include a space gun and a fixed wind-key. Haji was not so much known for robots and space toys, but better recognized for their vehicle and animal toys. Although they evidently ceased toy production at some point during the 1960s, the legacy of the Space Trooper endures as a nostalgic reminder of their work.

Yoneya’s Space Man robot may seem simple by today’s standards, but it stands out as an enduring icon of early mid-20th-century tin toys. At 8.5 inches tall, it’s operated by a built-in key and on/off switch, and walks forward while moving its arms. While replicas of the Space Man have been reproduced over the years, originals are scarce, and acquiring them with original packaging is coveted among enthusiasts. Its appeal lies not just in its functionality but also in its classic and easily recognizable design.

Horikawa’s Super Space Giant stands out (literally!) as a remarkable piece of vintage toy engineering, standing an impressive 17 inches tall, making it the tallest in Horikawa’s lineup and among the tallest in the industry overall. Available in silver, dark brown, red, and gold , this battery-operated robot shares many similarities in style and functionality with Horikawa’s popular Super Astronaut robot, albeit on a much bigger scale.

Super Space Giant featured Rotate-o-Matic and stop-and-go action, with its chest door swinging open to reveal a blinking, shooting gun accompanied by realistic shooting noises as its upper torso revolved. Even decades after its initial release, its legacy lives on through modern iterations produced by Metal House, for a new generation of collectors and fans.

In the realm of vintage space toys, you expect things like robots, rockets, lasers and perhaps even spacefaring dogs. However, among the lesser-known treasures of this era lies a peculiar creation: Yoshiya’s Space Elephant. Crafted in the early 1960s by KO Yoshiya in Japan, and powered by a clockwork mechanism, it moves with sparkling eyes to flapping ears, and a trunk that gracefully sways up and down.  Unlike its more widely recognized counterpart, the Space Dog, Space Elephant remains a rare find, seldom seen in open markets . At nine inches from trunk to tail, it stands out as unique and whimsical reflection of its time.

Crafted during the zenith of the Space Race in 1968, Horikawa’s battery operated Space Capsule is a testament to humanity’s collective fascination with the cosmos. At 9 inches and produced in a range of colors, with metallic silver-blue prevailing, it’s loaded with intricate design and innovative features, including mystery bump-n-go action, lights, and sound.

Adorned with beautiful detailed lithography and featuring a green astronaut seated with a panel of meters, levers, and flashing lights and a lighted TV screen, the capsule embodies the essence of adventure and discovery that captivated the sentiment of its time. Other colors included blue and an elusive green variant.