TELEVISION SPACEMAN - ALPS - JAPAN

Judging by the number that survive this is one of the best selling battery op robots. This is a tin battery op robot with walking action, rotating googly eyes, color lights and a scrolling space scene in a chest TV screen.

There are three versions (or stages in its development). The first version (metal, square antenna, metal feet, "small" screen and "U" shaped hands) can be seen in both the 1961 Montgomery Ward and Sears Christmas catalogs.

The second stage sees the appearance of plastic components such as the battery box cover.

The third version, appearing in the 1966's Montgomery Ward Catalog, has a large, round red plastic antenna. A larger TV screen has been added and the hands have changed from "U" to "C" shape. Most significantly the legs have become made of a soft plastic.

Left to right:
Version 1 - tin feet and legs, small TV screen, sqare metal antenna, U-shaped hands
Version 2 - plastic feet and tin legs, small TV, round plastic antenna (can vary), U-shaped hands
Version 3 - plastic feet and plastic legs, larger TV screen, round plastic antenna, O-shaped hands

The box art appears to be unchanged throughout its run.