Demand is still there for Classic Androids
By Staff -- Playthings, 6/1/2005
Russian-American science fiction author Isaac Asimov stated that a robot may not harm a human being, a robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, and a robot must protect its own existence.
The Three Laws of Robotics still apply in robots today—in the toy business, that is. Robots are still popular among adults, whether high tech or vintage; whether the attraction is nostalgic, or just because they “look cool.” Robots haven't lost their magnetic appeal.
Robots are still appealing, says Jay Brotter, president, Robotisland.com, New York, a robot retailer, because they are much like humans. “Robots are designed based on human form,” Brotter tells Playthings. “Anybody who grew up in that time period ['50s, '60s] was exposed to all this fantasy, sci-fi stuff. I just think it's still strong after all these years.”
For retailers considering adding robots to their roster, a diverse mix of robots is key. Robots of different sizes, prices and designs will appeal to a first-time, casual buyer or the most zealous collector. Brotter, a robot collector for 15 years, says that whether you grew up in the 50s or the '90s, there's a robot out there for everyone.
“It just shows the human interest for a vintage robot, when people would spend tens of thousands of dollars on them, certainly for the collector,” he says. “Then you have the common consumer that will spend thousands, because it is a high-tech robot.”
The Lantern Robot and the Planet Robot, both manufactured by Papasan Toys, Japan, are two of the most popular robots. The Astro Space Robot, a 9-inch tin robot, the first robot designed by Brotter, has mechanical walking and sparking action and will be released for this holiday season.
