PISTON ROBOT - VARIATIONS SJM & HORIKAWA

Battery op tin and plastic robot with visible piston engine in chest.

1. SJM (Taiwan), 11" tall, mostly gold litho/covered rear pistons, black metal legs, red metal feet, "circular" ears.
2. SJM (Taiwan), 11" tall, mostly gold litho/covered rear pistons, black plastic legs, red metal feet, "circular" ears.
3. Horikawa (Japan), 10.5" tall, mostly gold litho/covered rear pistons, brown plastic legs & feet, "circular" ears.
4. Horikawa (Japan), 10.5" tall, mostly gold litho/covered rear pistons, brown plastic legs & feet, "finned" ears.
5. Horikawa (Japan), 10.5" tall, mostly brown litho/exposed rear pistons, brown plastic legs & feet, "circular" ears.
phase pistol - Your post would indicate a sixth variation:
6. Horikawa (Japan), 11" tall, mostly brown litho/exposed rear pistons, black metal legs, red metal feet, "circular" ears.
To the best of my knowledge, all the boxes are the same: same size, same artwork, same color scheme. It depicts variation #5 as described above which makes it really difficult to put them in chronological order. The "extra-tall" box size would mean the red feet version (either metal or plastic legs) came first, but the artwork shows the one-piece, shorter, plastic leg variation. Puzzling, wouldn't you say, F.J.W.? The only difference on the boxes is the logo in the lower left hand corner: either S.H or S.J.M."

Version 5 is new in 1977 SH catalog (piston in front and seen also from behind art 5030 10 ½ inch same picture in 1980 catalog) clearly it’s the first one.

In 1981 the SH catalog picture changes and show version 3 always 5030 reference

The finned ears change also appears on the New Astronaut version 2 and New Silver Astronaut , so it’s probably later in the 80’s. So the correct production order is 5, 3 and 4

The SJM Taiwan Piston 1 and 2 are probably after 1985 or end of 80’s