It was play day, but it was also pay day for those hoping to acquire rare robots and space guns at Morphys Toys and Collectibles Auction on Aug. 9 and 10. The sale took in $1.5 million, with big-ticket items that included a boxed Machine Man Robot, a whimsical Electroman Robot, and an Italian robot-man gumball machine that prompted ferocious bidding before landing at six times its high estimate. The toy market is very strong, and we saw that at this sale, especially with the robots, space guns, model kits and playsets, said Tommy Sage, head of Morphys toy division. Overseas bidders were competitive, as they always are, but in the end, it was American bidders who ended up with the top pieces. The win, place and show robots are all staying in the U.S. To no ones surprise, a boxed example of perhaps the most coveted of all robots, a Machine Man from Masudayas Gang of Five, ambled away with the sales blue ribbon. The big 15.5-inch tin space toy, bright red with blue, yellow and black accents and a gearbox visual on its chest, was made in Japan around 1960. It is one of very few known, and of those, even fewer retain their colorful original boxes. This particular robot was consigned by its original owner, who found it in their attic, commented Sage. It sat in a dry location, undisturbed, for over 60 years, waiting to be discovered. We sold it near the top of its estimate range, for $84,000. Another fresh-to-the-market find, an extremely rare SY (Japan) battery-operated Electroman Robot, came to Morphys directly from a European collection. An amusing character profusely lithographed with gears, wheels and pulleys, the always-smiling Electroman operates on two D-cell batteries and has wheels on both sides that drive its bump-and-go action. It sold for $78,000. Another desirable robot that finished in the top ten was a rare, boxed, ca. 1960s plastic Pinocchio Atomico. Designed by Dan Voivod and produced by Vietata (Italy), it has jointed limbs and a long, protruding nose, hence its Pinocchio name. Its other distinguishing features are a bubble helmet with a vertical antenna and eyes that illuminate when the button on the robots chest is pressed. It sold for $19,200. Immediately following Pinocchio was another Gang of Five member, an imposing 1957 Radicon Robot with its original box. Complete with its remote-control battery box, the 19-inch (inclusive of vertical antenna) space toy represented an unusual buying opportunity, as it is very difficult to find a Radicon in excellent, complete condition. Against a $6,000-$9,000 estimate, it rose to $15,600. There was intense interest in a scarce 1950s Italian gumball vending machine in the form of a 54-inch-tall full-figure robot. In excellent to near-mint condition, it displayed a large supply of encapsulated prizes through the glass window on its chest. With a coin mechanism in perfect working order and equipped with the original key for its lock, the gumball robot could not be improved upon. It was in tip-top shape and ready to join its new owner, whomever that might be. Following a nonstop volley of bids, the robot novelty sold for an astonishing $48,000 against an estimate of $4,000-$8,000. The result prompted Tommy Sage to remark, Machines like this one are almost impossible to find, and we knew there were would be many bidders chasing it, both robot collectors and vending machine collectors, but we were still very pleasantly surprised by the selling price. Space guns have always enjoyed their own niche following, and Morphys was pleased to include a number of productions within the space toys category of the sale. A very rare Madel crank-style plastic Desintgrador (Disintegrator) space rifle retained its colorful, original Spanish-language box with an image of a city identified as Mekonta, the capital city of the Treens (green-skinned Venusian humanoids) in the British Dan Dare sci-fi comic series. The gun sold for $9,600, nearly four times its high estimate. Capturing an even higher price, a Marx Flash Gordon Signal Pistol in its scarce, colorful box with a 1935 King Features Syndicate copyright achieved $10,200 against an estimate of $1,200-$1,500. Morphys is synonymous with high-end cast-iron mechanical banks, having sold many important collections, including the $7.7 million Stephen and Marilyn Steckbeck collection (Oct. 27, 2007). Several noteworthy banks stepped into the spotlight on day one of Morphys August event, including a ca. 1881 H.L. Judd Co., Seek Him Frisk. It presented in excellent working order and was described in the auction catalog as being one of the finest original examples known. It settled within estimate for $52,800. Another sought-after bank, a Kyser & Rex Roller Skating Rink, sold above estimate for $33,600. For more information, call Morphys toll-free at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All images provided by Morphy Auctions. Prices in this report are inclusive of a 20-percent buyers premium.