At £ 120k... I am a robot sale record
A RARE toy robot has been sold for £ 120,000 by its owner... 60 years after he got it as a present when he was a child.
The battery- operated 14in Machine Man gadgets were made in the Fifties and Sixties by Japanese toy maker Masudaya as part of its Gang of Five robot series.
The company was a leading builder of mechanical and battery- operated toys after the Second World War.
The shiny red figure that netted the world record six- figure sum was described as in near mint condition.
It was also consigned in its original box by the vendor, making it even more appealing.
It had been tipped to make £ 60,000 but fetched double its estimate at Morphy Auctions in Pennsylvania.
A spokesman for the sale room said: “Machine Man is the most sought- after of Masudaya’s revered post- war robot quintet. Its bright red body features rivets and gears on its chest plate, and its eyes and ears illuminate through plastic.
“It’s very unusual to come across a toy this desirable that has remained with its original owner throughout its existence. It is a prized asset to any robot collection.”
It is thought a dozen of them exist today. Other Gang of Five members are Lavender Robot, Directional Robot, Giant Sonic Robot and Target Robot.