MR ROBOT THE MECHANICAL BRAIN - ALPS - JAPAN

An early silver painted tinplate robot that combines a wind up mechanism with a battery operated light function. A battery fits inside the head and the lid is held closed by a coiled spring antenna. The hands are lightbulbs, one red and one green, that flash as the robot walks. A backpack holds a long wire antenna. The backpack also houses the triangular on-off switch. Contacts at the top of the legs complete the circuits for the flashing lights. The robot has a chest band that includes a space for a spark window. The production version has this window blanked out, but the color version has an open window.

The robot has a strong resemblance to the Strenco ST-1 robot, with a cylindrical hear and short arms emerging from the body and it is believed that this robot is based on the 1954 Strenco design.

The red and yellow color variation shown below may be a prototype. It is suggested that the box art shows the intended coloring of the robot, but only a silver version was ever released.

The first sighting of this robot is currently in a 1956-7 Western Smallware catalog