Magic Robot
J. & L. Randall Ltd
Category
Sports equipment, games and pastimes
Date
circa 1953
Materials
Cardboard, paper and plastic.
Measurements
Box - 390 mm (length); 354 mm (width); 39 mm (height), Robot - 75 mm (height); 35 mm (diameter)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662375
Summary
A Magic Robot toy in its original box (circa 1953). The cardboard box consists of a base and a lid, both covered in glossy paper. The base (only covered around the sides) is red and the lid is colour-printed with an image of two boys and a girl playing with the toy, and the words 'The Amazing Magic Robot' in gold-coloured letters and 'Always gives the Right answer' in white. Printed in black on the inside of the lid are instructions for the use of the toy. Affixed to this is a brown postage stamp bearing an image of Queen Elizabeth II and the price, twopence (pre-decimal). There is a cardboard inner piece inside the base of the box which has, on one side, a silver-coloured, plastic 'cup' in which to stand the robot when it is being asked a question. On the other side is a small square mirror. In the centre of the lower edge is a robot-shaped cut-out piece in which to store the robot when not in use. There are four sheets of paper, colour-printed on both sides with sets of questions and answers, on subjects such as history and geography. Each of the sheets has a robot-shaped hole at the lower edge and a circular hole at each side to accommodate the silver-coloured cup and the mirror. One small piece of one of the sheets is detached. Other sheets are slightly torn. The robot is made from green 'metallic' plastic and stands on a base of green 'metallic' and silver-coloured plastic. His left arm is raised and his right arm is by his side. His right hand, holding a silver-coloured metal rod as a pointer, is detached. Total number of items is 9.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs Christine Brumbill in September 2006.
Makers and roles
J. & L. Randall Ltd , maker