M-41 SPACE TANK - MASUDAYA - JAPAN

It is a green lithographed tinplate battery operated tank. Clear plastic dome at the front with a tin astronaut pilot. Large plastic dish antenna. Springs at rear with lights. Similar in design to the M-18. Bump and go action with rotating antenna and flashing lights.

Two versions shown: the more common one with spring and a red headed astronaut. Below is a presumably later simplified version with red and green plastic light covers and a yellow vinyl astronaut.

The M-41 dates at least to 1970 when it appears in the Masudaya catalog for that year. It is not listed as a new item, so may be a little earlier.

This was a very successful space toy, judging by the large number that have survived.