COLONEL HAP HAZARD - MARX - JAPAN

Tin and vinyl battery op. Advances with walking motion and moving arms as his lighted blade spins. The date of manufacture, 1968, is marked on the back. Made in Japan for the US Marx company.

A prototype of the astronaut is known which carries a date 42-11-7. This is the Japanese emperor's date and means 7th November 1967 (1925 + 42). This is the same date as the silver Thunder Robot sample.

Given the date. Hap Hazard must have been created from the molds for the earlier grey/silver version Hi Bounce Moon Scout, dated to 1967. It is a considerably simpler toy with no remote control and no opening chest door. Judging by the number in circulation, proved very successful. Like the Hi-Bouncer this robot has a rotating antenna with working lights and the separate boots.

A newspaper ad dates this to December 1968 but it was widely on sale in December 1969.