TPS 1975 Missile Robot
So here is a little toy gem I was able to purchase for $25. The crappy economy has some perks because years ago, this pint size robot would have cost much more.
He’s about six inches tall and his torso is chrome plated tin, the rest plastic. When you wind him up he walks and his chest sparks. He also shoots two missiles…and they go really, really far so this guy has a wicked spring action built in!
A few reasons why this is a really nice robot toy, for me anyway. Aside from purchasing it cheap and the great box art which in most cases can be better than the toy itself, this particular robot is made from one of my favorite Japanese tin toy manufacturers, T.P.S., which stands for Tokyo Plaything Shokai also known as “Toplay” pronounced “toe-play”. TPS also manufactured a lot of tin toys for US importers such as Linemar, Cragstan and other American toy companiies in the 50s and 60s.
In my research I also discovered that TPS happens to stand for “The Toyota Production System” which was developed by Toyota in 1948. This was a manufacturing philosophy that focused on “lean manufacturing” and was embodied by a lot of Japanese companies. I think Toplay embraced the TPS manufacturing process and wanted that reflected in their logo, not only in the initals but also in the three fingers being held up. The whole Toyota Production System philosophy was initially based on eliminating three things; overburden (muri), inconsistency (mura) and waste (muda). Just my observation, I didn’t want to get sidetracked too much but I thought it was interesting enough info to share.
Anyway, TPS the toy company was a favorite of mine 15 years ago or so when I collected tin toys. They weren’t really known for making robots, this one in particular was probably made as the result of the success Horikawa was having at the time making their series of tin robots. TPS was better known for great tin lithography and making really clever, imaginative wind-up toys that involved funny animals skipping rope, golfing, playing billiards, bouncing balls and more. Below are a few examples of their more popular tin toys and my favorite wind-ups, “Comical Clara” and “Pop Eyed Pete.”
Shikaruna Koubo Giant Madalla figure
Click on the photo to see more images
This the Giant Madalla figure from Shikaruna Koubo, made in Japan. He’s larger than a standard size kaiju figure which is normally 8-9 inches…he’s almost 12 inches tall. This is a small edition, beautifully painted on glow vinyl, and I love the baroque pose! I’m not a fan of all the Shikaruna Koubo sculpts, but this one I really gravitated towards because it reminded me of “S’pell Sejin” (see below), the famous alien from the 1960s Ultraseven, episode 12, “From Another Planet With Love” in which Ultraseven, in order to ultimately defeat the alien villain, zings his helmet blade and cuts him in half! My son and I were floored! That scene was so crazy and outrageous!
The episode was also never shown again after it’s initial broadcast in Japan because many survivors of the Atomic bombings during WWII in Japan were offended by the portrayal of the alien villain. The alien race was poisoned by nuclear or “S’pellium bombs” on their own planet and in order to continue living, they needed to feed on the blood of human children, so they invade Earth. This negative depiction of radiation victims turning into alien vampires caused the uproar and Tsuburaya Productions pulled the episode. More detail on it at August Ragone’s excellent Japanese film, pop culture blog that’s also up for a “Rondo Hatton” award. Go vote (category 15)!
Spell Sejin
Ultraseven
The origin of manga: Storytelling Man
Here’s a wonderful article I found on Ping-Mag about the origins of manga and a lost art in Japan known as Kamishibai. Kamishibai was live storytelling on the streets of Japan for children and adults. Kamishibai included the showing of fantastic illustrations as the narrator sometimes performed his stories. Sometimes those illustrations were even original pieces of art. It’s one of these wonderful lost arts that has diminished due to our modern age of entertainment thru tvs, computers etc… wonderful article but at the same time somewhat sad…Of course I would be in quite a state of bliss to be able to hear him tell/show an Ogon Bat story…live.
Marusan Mini Red King Model
An inexpensive little model kit that put a huge smile on me and my son’s faces.
Based on the legendary, larger, plastic remote control Redking kit from the 60s, this little gem
was quick and easy to snap together. The figure itself has a dash of paint on him adding a little more of a nostalgic feel to him.
More info on the history of Marusan model kits here.
Box art is fantastic!
Even includes the battery operated remote control! Siiick!
Giant B-Club RedKing playing.
Mark Nagata Custom Gamerudon
I recently lucked out and scored one of Mark Nagata’s custom Gamerudons in his lottery last month.
Made by Target Earth (Marmit) and hand painted by Mark, this is not only one of my favorite
Japanese vinyl characters, this is now one of my favorite pieces in my entire collection!
Mark has really taken his toy painting skills to another level. I’ll let the pics do the talking.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE PICS
“BAT-TLE ROYALE”
“BAT-TLE ROYALE!”
( Batman vs Gojira )
Gouache on wood 14″ x 14″
Here are pics of the piece I did for Mark Nagata’s Toy Karma 2 show this weekend, Sept. 5th 2009
hosted by Kirby and Whitney @ Rotofugi in Chicago.
CLICK on the image for detailed photos.
Captain Max and Gameldon
Here’s a piece I did for my pal Mark Nagata’s Captain Max Toy and Target Earth’s Gameldon toy collaboration. My illustration was part of a packet of Japanese “Bromide Cards”, (sort of like big trading cards) depicting various artists interpertations of theses fantastic toys.
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