Retro Thing

Playskool Rockin' Robot - The Grinning Cassette Recorder

If there's a theme we encounter time and time again here on Retro Thing, it's the irrational emotional bond people form with retro tech... but this 80's (or 90's? This particular one is labeled 1991) tape recorder makes me a little uneasy. Is it just me, or is it almost like this kiddie cassette player is looking and grinning at us?

There have been lots of tape recorders (fewer these days, I suppose) made expressly for children. Usually these were just chunkier versions of regular adult tape recorders with giant colorful buttons. Playskool took kid-friendly design that extra step to create a funny faced recorder that my adult friends seem to take a shine to, even today.

As a budding junior audio engineer, I would have killed for a tape recorder with features like built-in AM/FM radio, and a hardwired mic for recording my own tapes as well as barking out my demands over the PA system. It's in this public address role that we saw the Rockin' Robot make an appearance in the first two Toy Story movies. Our lanky lead, Woody, used Mr. Mike (the recorder's stage name) to make speeches to the other characters.

Mr. Mike was even issued in non tape-recorder mini version as a Toy Story tie-in later in the 90's. The hard-to-find toy includes a voice-changer to turn you into any of several robots, which is very cool... but doesn't really explain the high prices either version of the toy seems to command on Ebay. I've seen this analog relic go for over a hundred dollars - which may be just enough to break my irrational emotional bond with this grimacing tape deck.

70's TV News And The Dangers of Dart Guns

This may look like a typical TV news clip from 1977 (from Chicago's WGN Channel 9 as it happens). It's a fairly standard TV news theme from around the holidays. First, spook viewers with the possible threats posed by popular toys, then pit the poor reporter against these perilous playthings.

In this clip, our hapless correspondent shows us the dangers of a suction cup dart that refuses to stick to its target. Many, many times. Okay, that's kind of funny... but stay tuned past the bloopers to see the outrageous 70's newsroom and the atomic yellow blazers on our three correspondents. If anything, Ron Burgundy went too subtle.

Don't touch that dial yet... Channel 9 used to show the local weather in lieu of closing credits. The footage underneath the weather text is test footage of the notorious Shogun Warrior toy. Watch one of the missiles aimed on purpose at the eyes of a goggle wearing kid. These vinyl robots were a massive 2 feet tall - and were massively popular back then. They were super-colorful with wild designs not typical of American robo toys... but the main feature was always the sheer number of projectiles the robot could deploy. The results of tests like the one featured here declared the toy too dangerous to children's eyes and respiratory systems. It's hard to disagree.

The Shogun Warrior is, sadly, a mostly forgotten toy of the 70's, the ban of the toy led to its rarity. I'd actually kind of like one now for my shelf as they are so outlandish and huge, but they command real money on Ebay. You may recall that we featured a Shogun styled Stormtrooper limited edition figure a while back. I've since seen it in person, and it's amazing. Hopefully more Shogun styled toys are in the pipeline. Now that we're adults maybe we can just play with our toys responsibly, and avoid ending up on the evening news.

[Sharp eared Retro Thing readers may recognize the unusual music from the closing credits. The bleeps and bloops are from the seminal electronic music album "The In Sound From Way Out", featuring synth pioneers Jean-Jaques Perry and Gershon Kingsley.]

Thanks to Fuzzy Memories, the amazing online museum for classic TV fans from Chicago and beyond.

related:
Collectible stormtrooper style Shogun toy
Memories of the Zanbots
Qonto: another forgotten late 70's Japanese toy robot

Celebrate 48 Years Of Being Exterminated By The Daleks

This last weekend marks the 48th anniversary of Doctor Who. Eventhe show was rested for a number of years after it's 26 year long run, the blockbuster six year success of the rebooted series shows us there's still life in the old beast yet.

Speaking of beasts, the good Doctor's main beast is just a few weeks from celebrating a birthday. The Daleks premiered in the show's second multi-part story on December 21st, 1963. To be fair, all we got that night was a POV glimpse of it's infamous sink plunger arm. It may sound like a cheap move, but it made for one of the most terrifying cliffhangers in the series' history. Our first proper look at a Dalek would have been December 28th in '63.

When fans first heard of the show's return in 2005, one of he first questions was whether the Daleks were coming back. Behind the scenes the production team was having diffuculty getting the rights to use the classic bad guy. Eventually resolved, the Dalek's comeback was shrouded in secrecy. Despite a leaked cellphone picture of the new prop, seeing the updated Dalek design on TV was no less exciting. At last it looked as badass as we had always imagined it to be.

In recent years, the prop has undergone a more radical design change. The "new paradigm" Daleks are much larger, and come in a whole range of candy colors (inspired perhaps by the gaudy 60's movies?) denoting rank. We still haven't really seen these new guys in action, so I'll reserve judgement for the new Lego look-alikes until we do.

Instead let's consider the little Dalek sculpture made of scrap metal at the start of this post. I always imagined Daleks to be heavy and metallic, and this guy is - even though he's only about 8" tall. I got him off of Ebay years ago from an artist who did a lot of similar sculptures of sci-fi gear and motorcycles. The price was right, but shipping was murder coming from halfway around the world. Still, I've had him guarding my front door for years now. He does make for a dangerous nemesis even at this reduced size. First, you're looking at pretty severe lacerations if it so much as falls on your foot. Second, the sculpture included a stern warning about washing your hands after every handling of it. The "real" Daleks would be proud.

related:
classic chrome remote control dalek
genuine dalek prop found in swamp
scrap metal robot for $20

Steampunk Robot On A Budget

The worldwide retailer Crate & Barrel got its start here in Chicago in the 60's. For many people it was their introduction to reasonably priced furniture and imported design sensibility & materials. The barrel has burst all over the world, even spawning a youth-oriented store called CB2... though they've mostly lost the "reasonably priced" aspect of the store's origin.

There are notable exceptions, like this scrap metal robot. He's a handsomly assembled melange of brassy castoffs and cute details, such as dainty metallic cuffs and a big gauge in his tummy. The robot is normally a thrifty $20, but right now is on sale for a nifty $14.95 - a price that clearly doees not compute. Heck... the scrap metal value may be more than that these days. You can find cheapo robo at your local CB2 or via their website.

One note. The website makes mention each being "unique". I thought that meant there were different robot styles, but they're referring to the natural differences in the finish of the metals they're using, as well as different markings on the gauges. So you completists don't need to be compelled to buy more than one.

Oh, and for you cynics out there... no, this post isn't buzz marketing for either store. The only benefit we get out of this post is knowing that our brother robots can find homes with Retro Thing readers.

link:

Get your $20 scrap metal robot for $14.95

A Bluetooth Enabled Omnibot... That Watches TV?!

Nothing says "Welcome home, Master" quite like your own robot butler offering up a half-gallon glass of cheap whiskey at the end of a long day.

That, apparently, is what Tomy's marketing department had in mind for the Omnibot in the mid 1980s. Sadly, it required a human slave to type the appropriate command sequences on the remote control, which were then recorded on futuristic tape cassettes.

Fast forward twenty five years, And DJ Sures bought a vintage Omnibot from eBay and spent a few days wondering how to modernize it.

He started by disassembling it and giving it a good wash in the dishwasher: "It had a lot of dirt from the previous owner. It was rather disgusting, actually. Once it was clean, I painted it white with plastic paint and primer.

Then I started hacking away at it; adding new features. I added servos for the arms, so they can move now. I also made the head rotate left to right with a servo. I then added a wireless camera between its eyes (looks like a nose lol). I put a wireless microphone in its chest. I used a dual HBridge to control the standard motor and gearset."

The hardware robot controller is an EZ-B, with a servo-swept ultrasonic distance detector that feeds an object and wall avoidance algorithm to keep from scuffing his spiffy new paint job. The robot can even detect if its wheels are stuck.

He continues, "I have enhanced my motion tracking code for better edge detection and increased speed. I have also added a few global variables to his AI which allows him to like and dislike certain colors and shapes. He takes pictures of things he likes and saves them to the drive.

This robot is now currently my autonomous household watchdog and pet. He's always on and his 6 volt 4 amp rechargable battery runs all day. He randomly does things on his own and wanders around my house. It scares some people, but real neat for others!"

One Seriously Hacked Tomy Omnibot

Original Energizer Bunny Up For Auction

Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas is selling one of the six original Energizer Bunnies. They claim, "This is an original Energizer Bunny created by Academy Award-nominated special effects artist Eric Allard and his company All Effects. Having appeared in more than 100 television commercials since his debut in 1989, the Energizer Bunny is an advertising icon that just keeps going and going and going... so much so that AdAge.com named it #5 on its list of the Top 10 Advertising Icons of the 20th Century. Included is a letter of authenticity from Allard."

The reserve price is $15,000, and they expect the furry little animatronic icon to fetch as much as $30K. At that price, your credit card payments will just keep going and going...

Original Animatronic Energizer Bunny [via Technabob]

Full-Sized Daleks - Practice Exterminating Your Friends And Loved Ones

You can now get full-size reproductions of Doctor Who's most famous mechanical nemesis - The Dalek. This Planet Earth was able to get their hands on some of the BBC's prized props and the result is a series of bang-on replicas. I didn't realize that Daleks are a lot like cars - they came in a seemingly endless array of colors with a dazzling assortment of lumpy colored accessories. The price? Around £2000. The manufacturer's FAQ helpfully explains how you can convince your spouse to let one of these mechanical monsters through the door:

"You can either tell them before you receive the Dalek or surprise them when it arrives.If you tell them before, explain that it is an investment. No-one else has made them before, and that it's not often that you treat yourself to something that you've waited twenty or more years for.If you decide on the surprise approach it may be preferable to show them the various parts making up the Dalek 'one at a time' over a period of a few days.The instant shock of seeing the full item in all it's glory may be too much for them."

Oh, they also have Cybermen and a full-sized Tardis (alas, I've already purchased the one containing Billie Piper).

Dalek, Tardis, Cyberman and K-9 replicas (via The Red Ferret Journal)

Shogun Warriors Are Back In Stormtrooper Style

In the late 70's, Mattel imported toys from the Japanese "Machinder" line. There were some lovely diecast spaceships and robots, but towering above them were the 2 foot tall Jumbo Machinders, sold here in the US as "Shogun Warriors". In addition to their impressive size, the large robots (and Godzilla!) were equipped with shooting fists and many, many firing missiles.

Super7 Magazine is devoted to Japanese figure collecting, and for years has offered their own line of limited edition collectible vinyl figures, but this is their most ambitious project yet. This officially licensed Star Wars Stormtrooper manufactured in the same style as the original Shogun Warriors, the first Jumbo Shogun type toy to be made in 25 years. There never was a Stormtrooper back then, but there certainly could have been. The Stormtrooper features an articulated head & neck, wheels on the feet, the signature "firing fist" as well as a highly detailed version of the BlasTech blaster from the movies. Super7 is even using the same blow molding process for the Stormtrooper as they did for the original toys, to have an authentic feel throughout.

This is our favorite type of project, when determined fans are able to create something new in the spirit of an older idea. However this isn't being marketed as a toy, but rather as a limited edition collectible. Super7 are taking preorders right now for their May 29th release date. Pre-orders will get free shipping as well as a special certificate. The trooper is $299, and will only be available as a limited issue. These are going to go fast because in this single product you have a collectible that's of interest to robot collectors, toy collectors, anime enthusiasts, and Star Wars fans. I predict that once these Stormtroopers are available in select stores, fists will be flying - literally!

link:

Preorder a Shogun Warrior Stormtrooper

related:

Behind the scenes home movies while making Star Wars
Star Wars: prehistoric computer graphics
Star Wars movie viewer

Mike Rivamonte's Robots

Allow me to introduce Benton. He's the brainchild of designer Mike Rivamonte. Unfortunately, Benton simply stands around looking distinguished -- he's a poseur, not a combat-hardened battlebot.

Rivamonte's obsession with technology started as a boy. He explains, "My work is greatly influenced by my family. As kids, my mom would take us to countless antique stores, curio shops and flea markets. During these 'field trips,' I marveled over dusty scientific instruments, phonographs and other obscure mechanical devices. I developed a deep appreciation and interest of inventions and history. I picked up the love of making things from my father and uncles. My dad built our first color television set, all kinds of radios and our first computer. He could and would build anything. We constructed many things together. My uncles, one a science teacher the other a carpenter, fueled my inquisitive, experimental nature and appreciation for the finer points of craftsmanship.

These sculptures reflect the imagination and influences of my childhood. They are my interpretation of robots and spacemen capable of flight and mischief. Rare and collectible objects from all over are transformed to create expressive unique characters. Each piece is constructed so that they appear as natural and lifelike as possible. I invite the viewer to enjoy their individual personalities and have as much fun observing the pieces as I do creating them."

Benton and his companions are created from all manner of vintage objects, ranging from old trolley fare boxes to vintage movie cameras and tube radios. You can rest assured that if I were Supreme Ruler of the world, I would squander billions to bring an army of benevolent Bentons to life... hunger and world peace be damned.

Mike Rivamonte's Robots [via Dinosaurs & Robots]
More Rivamonte robots on Flickr

R.I.P. Bob May - The Man Inside The Robot

We lost actor Bob May this weekend. He had worked for years as an actor and stuntman in Hollywood, but his most famous role was undoubtedly as the man inside the robot suit in the 60's sci-fi classic "Lost In Space". Studio legend has it that he got the job because he was on the Fox lot the day they were looking for someone who could fit the confines of the elaborate costume. He got the job, though he did not voice the robot. That job fell to Lost In Space series narrator Dick Tufeld.

His first "acting" job was at 2 years old in his grandfather Chic Johnson's infamous Bradway comedy revue; Hellzapoppin'. Of all the roles over a long career, he cited his tenure as the robot as his favorite.  He even referred to his cramped costume as "home away from home". Because the suit was so difficult to remove, he'd stay in it during breaks in filming. Co-stars often joked about the cigarette smoke they frequently spotted rising out of the robot.  May was 69.

Sultry Steambot Snaps

We first wrote about Strenco's gorgeous German steam robot in May 2006. However, Technabob recently posted some gorgeous photos of this stunning water-powered automaton that we just had to share. Only 300 limited edition Dampfroboters were manufactured, powered by specially adapted Wilesco steam engines. It'll cost you € 399 to own one of these 35 cm tall mechanical monsters. Just remember, steam is hot.

Follow the jump for more gratuitous steambot shots.

Atari 2600 Controls A Robot

After my Atari 2600 sent hordes of blocky robots after me in countless games, I shouldn't be so surprised that Atari was working on a real robot that could be the henchman of the humble brains of the VCS. The image above is a Polaroid of a mini Androman (later renamed Atariman) that would interact with a 2600 game. The moves you made in the game would control the actual Androman robot's course on a 3D map. You scored points for the fastest and most efficient programs.

You may recognize this robot as part of a series of robots developed by Nolan Bushnell's (Atari's founder) Androbot company. Androbots were designed as educational add-ons to Apple II computers, but eventually Atari computers could control them as well. I don't believe that this mini version ever existed as a retail product (the photo is from Atari's prototyping lab), but it sounds like it could have been a viable product considering the amazing feats the 2600 is still performing today.

It's been a long time since I've seen a robot programming kit packaged as fun and educational. The only thing I can think of outside of Lego's Mindstorms is the cheesy robot that came with the mid 80's Nintendo system. Am I alone in still wanting a home robot to be my best friend? I just don't see myself snuggling up to my Roomba.

Thanks to the Atari Museum for uncovering the photo.

related:
HE-RObot: the next generation of Heathkit HERO robots
Tomy Omnibot 2000 - your very own household assistant
Rob Fulop's Final Atari Game To Be Released 

Unimate Puma 500: Vintage Robotics

The Engineering EXPO has been a prestigious annual event held at Tampa, Florida’s University of South Florida since 1974. Sponsored by USF’s College of Engineering, the event is held during February’s National Engineering Week. In 1981, my father was chosen as part of one of only three student teams to present projects at the EXPO.

Robotics was considered an exciting wave of the future in those days, so Dad’s team created a robotics project. Using an Apple IIe, the team programmed a Unimate Puma 500 robot arm. With no real model to work from, Dad’s group brainstormed and developed the project from concept through implementation.

The robot arm had two claw attachments which were programmed to rotate on their own. The robot first inserted a bolt into an electric screwdriver attached to a table. It then retrieved two blocks of wood, one at a time, each containing a pre-drilled hole. It placed the wood blocks onto the bolt, and then placed a nut onto the end. Pressure on the nut activated the screwdriver for tightening. Finally, the robot picked up the entire assembly and placed it onto a conveyor belt.

Although the project was simple, it utilized highly advanced technology for the times. As a small child, I was flabbergasted by the ease with which the robot did the things my dad programmed it to do.

A year later, EPCOT Center opened at Walt Disney World. One of the attractions, World of Motion, featured a show at the end called “The Bird and the Robot.” In the show, an animatronic bird interacted with a robot arm. I couldn’t believe the robot that Disney selected was the Unimate Puma 500, the same type that Dad had programmed just a year before. It made me feel like my family was truly on the cutting edge of technology!

Incidentally, you can still buy a descendant of the Puma 500 today. Unimation was acquired by Swiss manufacturer Stäubli in 1988 and they produce robots capable of lifting from 1 to 100 kg with a variety of special-purpose attachments.

And - if you have deep pockets - you can pick up a Puma 500 on eBay.

R.A.D. Robots

The concept of robot as servant and protector seems perfectly represented by Toyshack's R.A.D. robot series. The original 1.0 version truly captured what people wanted robots to do in the '80s - shoot foam rockets and bring them Tab. By the mid '90s, subsequent versions R.A.D. 2.0 and R.A.D. 2.0 blue continued the tradition. Here is a great commercial for a R.A.D. 2.0.

The first R.A.D.s could bend at the waist, open their arms, and pick up items for you. If your sound mode was on, they would announce what they were doing. They could also carry the requisite robot tray just in case you needed two cans of root beer and some Doritos. R.A.D.s were controlled by either voice or remote and they did have decent mobility.

They could also function as mini-security systems, demanding a password from intruders and shooting foam rockets at any loud noises or lingering threats. Perhaps their most disturbing feature was the "spy" mode, which meant you could use your R.A.D. to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. I can only imagine the fascinating conversations the early '90s R.A.D.s overheard my friends and I participating in - we were probably discussing whether or not one of the New Kids on the Block was going to be marry me.

Further incarnations emerged as the R.A.D. 3.0 and 4.0, showing much more rounded styling. If I remember correctly, they sadly eliminated that bend-at-the-waist feature that allowed the robot to pick up your laundry. They did however add some new features like more sophisticated voice-recognition and an increased vocabulary.

In any case, what I find most interesting about the R.A.D.s, especially the earlier versions, is that they are so tempting to use as a base for hack projects. I included links below of people doing their own R.A.D. hacks in case you want to check them out. Now that I'm older, I am kind of hoping someone will program one to mix cocktails.

Special thanks to The Old Robot's Web Site

related:
Stephen's R.A.D. Hack, Project Roland's R.A.D. Hack, Guy Robotic's R.A.D. Hack, Atomic Fireball's R.A.D. Hack, and a stack of R.A.D. Manuals

Steampunk'd!

It wasn't too long ago that I might have seen images like this and taken them to be historically accurate.

Behold the Automatic Man!

I mean, it looks authentic right? Especially when it appears on a website detailing the complicated history of The Automatic Man's creation. If you visit The Gallery of Victorian Robots you can read all about how this glorious automaton dragged carriages through the streets with his impressive strength in 1900. I personally think his most impressive strength is his ability to look exactly like Daniel Day Lewis's character in There Will Be Blood.

In any case, one might believe this invention to be real, so real in fact, that they might actually post it on a blog as truth. Which, I'll be honest, was what I did! I got Steampunk'd! I actually believed that this thing existed! Thank goodness a kind reader pointed out my mistake before too many people saw my blunder. It was a surreal experience frought at first with mortification, followed by fascination. I mean, yes, it's horrifying to find out that you have believed a completely made-up invention to be real, but at the same time, I was impressed. Who are these people that create "alternate histories" and merge the modern day world with that of Jules Verne and Victrolas? I don't think it's all about tricking people into believing fake machines existed. It seems to be an entire artistic endeavor. To get a sense of what I'm talking about, here are some amazing Steampunk creations...