MR MERCURY, VERSION 1 - MARX/LINEMAR - JAPAN

A Yonezawa robot made for Marx. Battery op remote control with lifting action. It is not clear whether the idea of a robot with lifting arm originated here or with the Dux Astroman patented in 1959. This was, however, an innovative and successful robot that ran for at least five years.

The first version appears only for the 1961 season. It featured in the 1961 Sears Catalog. Its distinctive features are its grey body, white plastic tubular lower arms, the illuminated chest panel and the light in the head. The plastic arms and head light later disappear. The box art depicts the blue body and the white arms. It carries the wording "WITH LIGHT" that identifies it as the rarer first version.

The head is distinctive, consisting of a control room with tiny plastic occupants. It was reused in the Talking Robot and Jupiter Robot. The design of the much rarer Jupiter Robot draws heavily on Mr Mercury components.