Alton Rubber Giant Frankenstein Jiggler

[Haunted hearse]

I'm not going to stand here and let you bad mouth one of the finest robot toys of all time.

We'll I guess a case could be made for Mr. Machine being cooler then Robby the Robot, by the same folks who could argue why "Plan Nine from Outer Space" was a more developed and sophisticated work of Science Fiction" then "2001, A Space Odyssey".  If you think about it, how much cooler would "Lost in Space"  would have been, if instead of using the robot they used on that show, Irwin Allen had built a seven foot version of "Mr. Machine" and used that instead?

[Monster Bob]

As a kid, I found Robby the robot (and most "mechanical man" type movie robots) as scary as most movie monsters. One of the scariest things I ever saw was the robot grandma on The Twilight Zone's I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC episode. Gave me the willies, it did.

Reflecting on Bobby's excellent post, which I totally agree with, I can still be won over by a modern Monster toy that shows some crudeness. Such is the case of the grave walkers, I think they are great in their inaccuracy. Not so much the Dracula I guess, but the other three exhibit a hokeyness that I admire (without being silly), and especially if they were repainted a little. Some day I may get to that.

And like Bobby said, I have very little Sideshow product, as realistic and accurate as it was. I too am a crude dude. I just picked up a Sideshow "premium" Phantom (missing the box) for $25, and it is my first big figure. The only reason I bought it was the price, plus I liked the Phantom and the Frankenstein Monster figures the best anyway, from what I could see. I had the Bride but returned it because to me, it didn't look nearly as good as the prototype pics. I was really disappointed with Sideshow, and kind of blew the company off after that.

[Toy Ranch]

Something that is very strange about this figure is how good the head and face are sculpted, compared to the rest of the figure; the head (as pointed out earlier) is just great. Now how can that be?

Pretty simple...  the same way a lot of things happen.  Someone took an existing head and scuplted a body for it.  If you find the source for the head, it might help date the piece. If the head is from a recent garage kit or something, it's a newer piece.  If the head is old, it might be newer or might be older.   Maybe the model kit guys know what it is.

[Monster Bob]

That's what I was hoping here in this thread, Bobby.

The head on this figure (to me) is more accurate than any garage kit Strange I recall seeing, though I don't collect them, really. Usually Strange's head is sculpted too tall and thin, while the Alton Frank looks pretty on the money.

[Toy Ranch]

As far as Mr Machine goes..

The 1950's Mego Man robot is the design origin.



Marvin Glass "invented" Mr Machine in the 60's.  At first he was a toy that came apart and went back together.



Later, he had a clear plastic case and didn't come apart any longer.



But Mr Machine was designed as a toy.  Robby the Robot was designed as a movie character.  Totally different thing.  Mr Machine is a cool toy, especially the older version that came apart and went back together.  Mego Man robot is freaky weird and very cool. If you want to talk about the coolest looking toy robots, Thunder Robot gets my vote.



If you want to talk about coolest looking movie/TV/serial robots..

The Mechanical Man was pretty cool.
The Mechanical Man (1921) Early Sci-Fi

There were lots of great robots. Maria of course, and so many others...  I love Robby too.

[Haunted hearse]

I actually like the early Mr. Machines, because I remember how much fun the one my brother had was.  But that's what nostalgia is about. I'm not sure I would honestly give that toy a second look, if it hadn't been part of my life.  On the other hand, it doesn't repulse me the way Jar jar Binks does my daughter.  When she was a toddler, she loved the character, now she get's annoyed when ever she see's anything to do with that character.

[darkmonkeygod]

I'm not going to stand here and let you bad mouth one of the finest robot toys of all time.

And I'm gonna second that! 

As far as Mr Machine goes..

The 1950's Mego Man robot is the design origin.

Marvin Glass "invented" Mr Machine in the 60's.

As much of a fan of Marvin Glass and Mego as I am, I'd never heard of this "borrowing" before today. Thanks Bobby!

[Monsters For Sale]

As far as Mr Machine goes..

Marvin Glass "invented" Mr Machine in the 60's.  At first he was a toy that came apart and went back together.



Later, he had a clear plastic case and didn't come apart any longer.

Aw, that would just ruin the toy for me. 

The robot was not all that great a design.  The whole point of the fun in having one would be the idea that you had a functioning wind-up toy that you could dis-assemble & put back together - and still have a working toy!

I don't know how many old clocks I took apart trying to figure out how they worked.  I would have LOVED to have had one of these to take apart and put back together over and over.

Of course, I was a kid during the time you could still get all metal Erector Sets, and Chemistry Sets.

Kids today want everything to run itself.  I remember the time I gave a plush toy to a small child for Christmas.  He turned it over and looked at all sides.  Then he looked up at me and asked, "What does it DO?"

My heart sank.

[Monster Bob]

As far as Mr Machine goes..

The 1950's Mego Man robot is the design origin.

I believe there's also a version of this guy in a "swing", too...same era.

[jimm]

If you can't post it here, where can you ? Bring it on TR !!

[jimm]

If you want to talk about the coolest looking toy robots, Thunder Robot gets my vote.

Agreed, that's a great 'bot. Will get a re-pop eventually.

I'd really like to find my childhood robot, at least the one I KNOW I had (got pics even)

[Mord]

Wow, Toy Ranch, I really have to respond to your accusation of me not "getting" the charm of vintage toys. During Christmas, I forked out $1,400 for a MIB Marx Frankenstein. I grew up in the sixties and had (and cherished) the same vintage toys discussed on this site (Aurora kits, Renzi car, Marx figures, Don Post masks, flicker rings etc.). That doesn't mean that everything old is gold any more than everything new comes from Satan. It seems to me that a lot of people figure that ANYTHING old is better than ANYTHING new. Some of the old school toymakers took a lot of pride in the product they were releasing ( the aforementioned Marx, Aurora etc.), but there were at least as many who cynically put out whatever crap kids were willing to accept without regard to quality. I don't even think the rubber Frankenstein in question is authentic (if you listen to some of the compelling evidence some people have presented). Also, the constant attacks on Sideshow are completely unfair and undeserved. The original Sideshow crew were hardcore Universal fans (like us) that cared about about getting out well-crafted pieces. I don't understand why talent, artistry and dedication is a liability. I don't see why well-made modern toys can't receive the same respect as well-made vintage toys. Some of you guys must hate the work of talented people like Jeff Yagher and Ray Santoleri, but I really can't see why.

[poseablemonster]

There was a time that you could share  your cool old monster toys at the UMA and get support and kudos from fellow monster fans and collectors. Seems like it's more common these days for you to share something and have other UMA members piss all over it.  Lately, when I think about sharing something I'm excited about, I might start to post it at the UMA, and then remember that I'll probably be disappointed with the result of that.  I've picked up what I feel are some really cool monster toys lately, but not gonna post them here.   If I did, in no time they would be common, and worthless.  It might come off like I'm picking on Mord here, but it's not just Mord, it's others as well.  One of the coolest things about the UMA for me, was seeing all the great stuff others found for their collections, and sharing my own.  That is about over.

I agree, and that is really a shame.

[horror1o1]

I agree, and that is really a shame.

Really? I've gotten almost nothing but positive love in this place. now I've seen people have opinions but they were pretty polite. I think part of having a forum is to be able to discuss the things we like. And in discussing not everyone will agree. But really I have to give this site props I have never experienced the the amount of positivity and kinds like I have here. Just my thoughts.

[Mord]

Well put, Horror 101, we all can't agree on everything. We just happen to be very passionate about our hobby and that can occasionally lead to disagreements.