888 Gun (Unknown / 1950s / Japan / 2.5 x 3 inches)

While America and various European countries were producing a rainbow of plastic ray guns, Japan's toy companies focused on creating their weapons out of tin. Because the stamping process doesn't allow for complex cuts, rings, or swirls, most of these toys were more simply designed than their Western counterparts. However, the Japanese had perfected the art of lithography, and they chose to use the ray guns as mini canvases, literally covering them in rockets, space men, galaxies, and anything else the designers could think of. Often these were combined with embossing techniques that resulted in toys that, like the 888 gun, were nothing short of beautiful.

The 888, a simple cap gun, remains a particularly uncommon toy. I consider myself lucky to own one, and in fact, it stands today as one of my best pick ups. I found it at an antique gallery down in Pennsylvania, and when I checked the price tag, I was astonished to find the seller wanted about an eighth of what it's typically worth. I put on my best poker face and carried the toy to the cashier, which is when I got my second surprise: Due to an ongoing sale, the toy was marked down another 10 percent! I didn't ask any questions, just forced my face into an even greater study in nonchalance, paid the nice woman behind the counter, and then beat the hell out of there before I lost control and started skipping around the store. 

That same day, I also managed to pick up another fantastic ray gun -- which I'll discuss later -- and a number of rare, vintage paperbacks. Yeah, those are the kind of antique crawls that you remember... 

Television Spaceman (Alps / 1961 / Japan / 13 inches)

When I first became interested in vintage robots, one toy kept catching my eye: The Television Spaceman. With its purple-tinted visor, those weird, golden, bulging eyes, a myriad of flashing lights, and that fantastic TV in its chest, I could never figure out whether it was created by a drug addict, or just a run-of-the-mill lunatic. Regardless, whoever came up with the robot should get a medal (and maybe a month or two of free treatment) for even conceiving of such a fun and engaging toy, much less getting the company to actually produce the damn thing. 

This is one of my earliest pick-ups -- one of the first three, actually -- and set the bar high for what a robot should be able to do when you pop in a couple batteries and power it up. Besides walking, the Television Spaceman has a light-up, scrolling TV, spinning eyes, space sounds, and a color-wheel just underneath its face. It also makes a lot of noise, in case all the flashing and motion isn't enough to drive children over the edge.

The Television Spaceman underwent a few small tweaks over the years, starting in 1966. The most noticeable is Alps' switch from tin to plastic legs, feet, and battery door. They also replaced the antenna, going from a metal one shaped something like a cross to the "fry basket" style found on this example. On the plus side, the company increased the size of the robot's TV screen, which, as far as I'm concerned, outweighs any of the changes in material that might otherwise turn off some collectors. 

The Television Spaceman isn't a tough robot to find; the toy was popular enough that Alps made thousands of them during its production run. With so many floating around today, prices remain reasonable, making the robot an easy one for new collectors to add to their shelves. 

Top-Shelf Titans: The Andrew Klein Interview

Every Sunday, I sit down with other addicts collectors to take a look at their toys and discuss the hobby of toy collecting. This week: Andrew Klein is our Top-Shelf Titan!

Mixing the excitement of youth with the eye of a seasoned pro, Andrew Klein has leapt enthusiastically into the world of vintage space toys to create a collection impressive in both size and scope. He's a man who knows what he wants, tending to focus on robots and the occasional tank or tractor -- if they're driven by robots! And don't bother looking for any astronauts. As Andy says, "A robot toy, in my mind, could be 'real,' while a toy with a litho face clearly could not be a little man inside a wind-up body. In fact," he adds, "for some reason I can't explain, robots with faces kind of give me the creeps!"

DOC ATOMIC So what attracts you to these toys?

ANDREW KLEIN I suppose, as is the case with many other collectors, toy robots appeal to the kid in me. I’m 39 years old and have been interested in robots and science fiction related toys since the mid-Seventies. Star Wars really ignited my passion with R2-D2. I was fortunate that my mother enjoyed science fiction as well and, for birthdays, would give me Japanese imported die-cast robots as gifts. I still have a couple of them today. One of my favorites is Brain-3 from the UFO Commander series. Another aspect that both attracts me and keeps me interested in the hobby is the quality of design that went into these toys. They were built to stand on their own rather than to be sold in conjunction with a movie release or television show. They are unique to this day.

Some of Klein's collection. How many can you name? (All photos by Andrew Klein)

 

When did you start collecting?

I had been collecting on and off since I was a kid. This meant I would pick up a robot at a novelty shop if I though it was neat and I’d throw it on my shelf. I really started collecting in earnest somewhere around 1995. I received a copy of the Sotheby's Matt Wyse auction catalog and fell in love with robots I never knew existed. I was amazed because, prior to seeing that catalog, I thought I was an expert on toy robots. How little I knew! The truth is I’m still learning today and hope that I’ll never stop!

What's your approach to collecting? 

While my general collection rule is “collect what you like and what appeals to you," I do have a couple of guidelines I stick to (so far). First, I only collect robots. My second rule is that, with rare exceptions, I only collect toys that were designed and sold as toys. This means no statues, no models, and no art. I even have somewhat of an issue with the new robots on the market as they are not sold as toys and even come with the warning that “this is a collector’s item and not a toy. For adults only." If it wasn’t meant to be played with by a kid than I’m probably not interested in it. With that said, I do have an “Andybot” designed and built by a fellow Alphadrome (www.danefield.com/alpha) member named Andy Hill. That would be my "rare exception."

(bottom) Robby Space Patrol, a very rare "sled" style space vehicle. Also, one of more accurate toys to capitalize on the film Forbidden Planet.

Do you have a favorite toy, and is it in your collection?

I have a number of favorite pieces and, fortunately, most of them are in my collection. They would include my vintage Mr. Atomic (Cragstan, 1962), Non-Stop (a.k.a. Lavender) Robot (Masudaya, 1960), Ranger Robot (Cragstan, 1965) and Mr. Flash (Cragstan, 1960s). I also hope to own a Target Robot (Masudaya, 1965) someday. 

The wonderful Mr.Atomic was also available in a blue version. [editor's note: This is one of Doc's all-time favorite robots!]

Masudaya's Non-Stop Robot is part of the so-called Gang of Five, a group of large, skirted robots heavily desired by most collectors.  

Cragstan's Ranger Robot not only walked and made noises, but it also blew smoke. A light inside its transparent body helped show off all gears.

The Mr. Atomic and the Lavender robot were always "Holy Grail" robots that I dreamt of before I could afford the higher end toys. I had a copy of 1000 Tin Toys (by Teruhisha Kitahara, 1996) and the Sotheby's Matt Wyse auction catalog (1996) and would stare at these robots on a daily basis and fantasize about someday owning them. To this day, Mr. Atomic still has an impact on me and I’m amazed I have one sitting in my display. 

Also, the Mr. Flash is one of my favorites simply because of the design. I have both the red version and the more scarce silver version. Both are fantastic looking toys and never lose their appeal to me. 

Two versions of Mr. Flash. The silver one is rarest.

Is there any piece in your collection with a good story behind it?

I was cruising eBay when I came across a Missile Robot (Alps, Late 1960s) being sold by a guy in Argentina. It had a Buy-It-Now of $650 and looked to be in fair shape. I noticed also that this guy had re-listed the toy because of a non-paying bidder (so he says). Also, it was a bit fishy that even though the bidding on that first auction had gotten up to over $1400, he decided for a buy it now of $650. Finally, he also indicated he would only take Western Union -- no PayPal. 

Despite all that, I took the chance, thinking I made a great score on a very rare robot. We exchanged a few emails and I learned quickly that he spoke almost no English. He assured me that he would send the robot and to “trust him.” “Don’t worry,” he said. Can you smell the dramatic foreshadowing? 

Missile Man! A scarce toy.

I wired him the money plus $50 for shipping (“Is very heavy robot!” he said). A day later I received confirmation that he had picked the money up. Not long after, I got an email from him that said, “Not worry! I have not send yet! Will send tomorrow!” No problem. People get busy right? Things started to go sour after this. I sent him emails day after day with no response. After about 15 emails over the course of a month with no reply I decided to look up his phone number in Argentina through eBay. The woman who answered (who turned out to be his mother) spoke absolutely no English. I then called my brother-in-law, who speaks Spanish, and told him the story and asked for his help. 

He made several attempts and finally got through to the seller, who said, “Don’t worry. It takes up to three months to get to the United States,” and promised to email me. He never did. It became very clear to me he ripped me off. 

Well, at this point I was out over $750 in fees and payment for the robot. After feeling a bit helpless I decided I was pissed enough to take action. I Googled for an attorney in Buenos Aires that spoke English and contacted her. She agreed to take my case for a flat fee of around $200. I thought that was a great deal. Well, her involvement got this guy’s attention right away. All of a sudden I got an email asking me to take $400 back and to forget the whole thing. I told him to stuff it.  After a few weeks of back and forth my attorney managed to get my money back! She had it wired directly to my account. Turns out this guy had spent the money already and his girlfriend came in and ponied up the cash. I was amazed that I was able to resolve this.

So now at this point in the story I’m thinking I lost the robot but at least I got my money back. 

A few months later I’m on eBay and I see another Alps Missile Robot for auction! Wow! Here’s another chance for me! So I think and sweat and debate: Should I spend the money again? Well, as I keep going back to the auction to look at the picture I notice the robot looks really familiar -- same scratch marks on the tin. I go back to the old auction pictures and…can it be? Yes! It is the same robot the guy in Argentina was selling! 

I called the person holding the legit auction, which happened to be none other than [a long-time dealer named] Robert Johnson at Comet Toys. So we’re chatting about the robot and I tell him about the guy in Argentina. He says “Yeah, that’s where I got this robot!” A year and a half ago! It is now clear the Argentina guy sold it to Robert a long time ago and was using old pictures to rip me off. 

So I decide to bid. And… I lost the auction! Well, I figure this really was not meant to be. I tried to forget my frustration and disappointment at losing this robot again. A week later… It’s back on eBay! I guess Robert had a non-paying bidder. Well, this time I decided I was going to have it. I bid, and won! Now the robot sits in my display along side the other Alps robots (Moon Explorer, TV Spaceman, and Rocket Man).

Giants among robots. (clockwise from top left) Alps' Rocket Man, Moon Explorer, Missile Robot, and Television Spaceman

That's just an incredible story! Given your experiences, what advice would you pass on to a new collector?

Buy what you like. If you love it than it is worth the price. Also, never be ashamed of what you paid for a robot.  Just because it was inexpensive doesn’t mean it isn’t a great robot. The wind-up Radar Hunter is among my favorite robots and they can be had for $20 or so at any given time. If my Mr. Atomic became worthless tomorrow I wouldn’t love it any less and it would still give the same happy feeling that it does now. If another collector criticized your collection then you probably shouldn’t be listening to them any way. Always encourage other collectors and always be encouraged by other collectors. And always, always try to have fun!

Vintage Paperbacks: New Tales of Space and Time & The Explorers

Long before I began collecting vintage robots and ray guns, I was buying first-edition science-fiction paperbacks from the Forties, Fifties, and Sixties. I was attracted to the classic stories, of course, but also the wonderful cover art and the depictions of rockets, space men, aliens, and other worlds. With hundreds of books filling my shelves, I like to think that I've built the kind of library I'd have had were I born a few decades earlier. 

Now, since I happen to think that books are most fun when you share them with other people, I've decided to add them to the rotation of robots, ray guns, and other weirdness. Enjoy!

__________

New Tales of Space and Time, edited by Raymond J. Healy

Cover art by Charles Frank

Pocket Books No. 908. Printed: 1952, © 1951

FROM THE BACK COVER

"Here are ten amazing stories of space-travel, robots, cybernetics and the haunting possibilities of life in the future. Each is an exciting adventure into the stimulating world of Science Fiction -- where the 'unusual' is commonplace and the 'impossible' is probable. For a quick idea of what each masterful story is about, the reader can turn to the editor's short introduction preceding every tale." 

NOTES

This excellent anthology originally appeared in hardcover 1951, and features such authors as Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Anthony Boucher, P. Schuyler Miller, A. E. Van Vogt, and many more. The cover art was awarded first prize in a contest held by Pocket Books at the Art Students League in New York City. Painter Charles Frank beat out more than 200 other entries. 

The Explorers, by C. M. Kornbluth

Cover artist unknown

Ballantine Books No. 86. Printed & © 1954

FROM THE BACK COVER

C. M. Kornbluth has produced some of the most satisfying suspense and keenest satire to be found in science fiction. The Space Merchants, the novel of a huckster's utopia on which he collaborated with Frederik Pohl, was hailed by the New York Herald Tribune as "a book so rewarding that it should henceforth show up on all lists of science-fiction classics." 

His solo flights -- from the memorable Take-Off to his most recent novel, The Syndic -- have been no less successful and have firmly established the name of C. M. Kornbluth among the brightest lights in this field.

The present collection -- the first ever published of his shorter fiction -- includes both one of his earliest stories ("Thirteen O'Clock") anda brand-new novelette, "Gomez," which appears here in print for the first time. Told with excitement and power, these stories display the delightfully ironic imagination of a writer who is master of his craft."

NOTES

Nine short stories, plus an introduction by Frederik Pohl. 

We're Sorry We Missed You. Please Call Again.

The Attic of Astounding Artifacts will be closed on July 4th in honor of Neptune's famed Uprising Day. While we realize that many of our patrons might not be of Neptunian descent, nor, in fact, ever have even visited our 8th planet, the Attic's staff members have a long and glorious tradition of attending the festivities. For a full account of each year's celebrations, please consult Form 42-AA306: Neptunian Police Patrol Incident Log, vols. 1-74. As both our lawyers and the planet's chief prosecutor assure us, it makes for fascinating, often educational, though highly uncomfortable reading. 

Stay spacey! The Attic resumes normal operations on Sunday, July 5, with the latest Top-Shelf Titan interview! PLUS: We add whole new category of vintage, space-age ephemera!

Atom-Matic Water Rocket Gun (Playcraft / 1940s / U.S. / 4.5 x 7 inches)

The Atom-Matic is one of my all-time favorite toys. With it's trim and slim, weirdly minimalist aesthetics, its designers reduced the ray gun down to its most fundamental parts: a handle, a trigger, a barrel, and three genre-defining concentric rings. What we're left with is the very essence of a space toy; all killer, no filler.

Except by "killer" we mean "something that might get you mildly damp"; the only atoms fired by the Atom-Matic are hydrogen and oxygen, in a special 1:2 ratio. Yep, it's a water pistol. The Atom-Matic is also surprisingly hefty, on account of its metal handle, brass firing assembly, and brass tip, so in a pinch, you might be able to club your enemy into unconsciousness. 

This is one of the rarer space guns, which makes sense; it'd be hard to imagine the abstract design proving popular with kids, especially in the 1940s when the toy market had yet to completely shift over to science-fiction based products (despite the popularity of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon). That this gun even made it off the drawing board is sort of a miracle, and is testimony to the old-school toy manufacturer's willingness to recognize quality and creativity. 

Raydionic Resonator Beam Space Gun (Multum / 1950s / U.K. / 5 x 9 inches)

Here's another great ray gun from across the pond: The Raydionic Resonator. Say it with me: "Ray-Dee-Onik Rez-Oh-Nator." Kinda rolls off the tongue, right?

This spiffy little toy has a flashlight that changes colors via a small switch on top of the lens assembly. Flipping the switch to one side or the other moves either a green or red gel in front of the bulb. Simple and elegant, it's a system that -- with minor tweaks here and there -- pops up in many different ray guns. The Raydionic also makes a clicking noise when you pull the trigger.

This is definitely a rare toy, though another British company called Pifco will appropriate the body design a few years later for use in its Zeta Ray line of guns. More on those when I get around to them. For now, rejoice in the fact that I don't actually have much more to say about the Raydionic, and instead will leave you to admire the pictures. 

Jet-Zoom Gun (Tigrett / 1950-1951 / U.S. / 6.5 x 9 inches)

There are many reasons to love space guns, not least of which is their ability to save you when you're running, screaming, from an invading horde of methane-sucking Venusians. But since the treaty with Venus, space guns are freed from their more practical applications and can instead be admired for their fantastic, mid-century design elements. They're plucky little retro-futuristic sculptures that embrace a weird combination of whimsical innocence and playful violence.

I can't think of any space gun that embodies this spirit more than the Jet-Zoom Gun, by Tigrett. With its ribs and cut-outs, the toy's defined as much by negative space as positive. It's an impossible design for a weapon and hints at vast, inscrutable, futuristic technology. If you're packing a Jet-Zoom, your car definitely flies and all your household doors automatically slide open.

What's funny, though, is that this marvel from tomorrow is loaded with... a Chinese yo-yo. You know, those rolls of paper that, with a flip of the wrist, launch forward and snap back for literally minutes of non-holds-barred fun. However, in a nice upgrade on the technology, the gun uses a spring-loaded trigger mechanism to fire the paper roll. The Jet-Zoom has an effective range of about three feet, though I'm not sure what, exactly, those effects will be when you use it on an enemy. Maybe he'll giggle to death?

Interestingly, the Jet Zoom was used by artist Richard Powers as a model for the space gun being held by the woman on the cover for the first paperback edition of A. E. Van Vogt's classic science fiction novel, Slan. 

Dell appeared to release the book in 1951, which means Powers most likely painted the cover sometime around 1950 or early 1951. But the earliest catalog siting of the toy is 1952. So either (a) the ray gun was released prior to the 1952 catalog, (b) some early photos of the gun were floating around for Powers to find, or (c) Powers invented the gun and Tigrett, seeing the Van Vogt cover, rushed to copy it. 

I'm going to go with option (a) as the most likely, which is why I use the date of 1950-1951 in this article's subject heading.

This was one of those toys I never thought I'd own. Not because it's particularly rare or expensive -- it's not at all -- but because every time I tried to get one, something got in my way. The first time, I was simply outbid at the last moment. The next time, I was distracted by something and completely forgot to bid (if you can believe it). The third time I decided to smarten up and I used eSnipe to bid automatically for me. I also put in such a ridiculously high bid that there was no way I'd lose. Unless... I changed my eBay password and forgot to tell eSnipe! So I'd pretty much given up hope -- Fate didn't want me to have this one, and who was I to argue? Except that I finally managed to get my act together enough to place a successful bid. Not only did I win the gun, but I won the box, too. So all's well that ends well.