Not currently on display at the V&A

Funny Robot

Robot
1970-1979 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Battery-powered toy robot with original box. The robot is made from injection-moulded yellow plastic, with red plastic hands and transparent red plastic eyes. When activated using a metal on/off switch on its base, the robot moves forwards and its arms slowly descend downwards. When the arms make contact with the ground, the robot is lifted upwards and back until it tips over backwards; the arms continue to rotate until the robot is righted again. The rubber wheels on the base are mounted in a random directional chassis, which means the robot will move off in a different direction once it has been righted. The eyes and chest also light up once activated. Two C-type batteries can be fitted in a compartment beneath the on/off switch.

With the toy is its colour-printed card box, which conveys operating instructions and the toy's features.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Robot
  • Box
TitleFunny Robot (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Injection-moulded plastic; printed card
Brief description
Robot, walking, Funny Robot; yellow and red plastic; Telsalda, Hong Kong, 1970-1979
Physical description
Battery-powered toy robot with original box. The robot is made from injection-moulded yellow plastic, with red plastic hands and transparent red plastic eyes. When activated using a metal on/off switch on its base, the robot moves forwards and its arms slowly descend downwards. When the arms make contact with the ground, the robot is lifted upwards and back until it tips over backwards; the arms continue to rotate until the robot is righted again. The rubber wheels on the base are mounted in a random directional chassis, which means the robot will move off in a different direction once it has been righted. The eyes and chest also light up once activated. Two C-type batteries can be fitted in a compartment beneath the on/off switch.

With the toy is its colour-printed card box, which conveys operating instructions and the toy's features.
Dimensions
  • Robot height: 14cm
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Part of the Edward Castle collection.
Production
This is a copy of the earlier Japanese 'Acrobat Robot', and another version made in Taiwan.
Subject depicted
Other number
7912 - Model number
Collection
Accession number
B.177:1 to 2-2016

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Record createdNovember 3, 2016
Record URL
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