RUSHER ROBOT - HORIKAWA - JAPAN

Friction tin and plastic robot, wheels in chest. It has a black vinyl head molded as a single unit. The robot has a metallic blue tinplate chest with a pair of recessed wheels in addition to the wheels in the feet. The novelty feature of this robot is its ability to run on its chest - the positioning of the wheels in the feet has been adapted to help support the robot in its horizontal action.

Two box types exist: Japanese and English; the wording is the only difference. A translation of the Japanese box would be "Flying Robot". The chest litho differs from that shown on the box. However an example of the robot with the box art litho is known (bottom right).

The same design was used for a Kamen Rider Japanese superhero toy and other toys, such as a red legged rabbit. 16cm. Versions with red legs are known but may have been produced using the rabbit legs: it is a simple matter to switch the parts.

The Rusher robot first appears in the 1972 Horikawa catalog, where it is described as a new item.