Just the sort of crazy thing that makes obscure toy hunting fun.

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

Super Robot Car

Y'know, I'd thought I'd seen all the Carnival Machinders there were. Or, at least I had an idea of what the ones I hadn't seen would be like. Speculation was that maybe there was an 18" Super Dragun out there somewhere. Or maybe another color variation of the Cosmos 2000. I was even prepared for some that represented monsters and/or dragons, since some collectors remembered that sort of thing from their childhood. But Super Robot driving a race car?!?!? Nope, this was totally out of the blue.

Still, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise. All these cheap prize toys were based off of classic Japanese robots and it was not uncommon in the 70s for those robots to be depicted in toy form driving cars, buses, planes and even, perhaps most famously, tricycles. Still, I just wasn't prepared for this.

The car is made of the same cheap polyethylene as other Carnival Machinders, except that the "fans" on the back are hard plastic. Unfortunately, mine is missing two of the interior parts, but on the remaining one, it is clear that it spins when you roll the car quickly. Very cool! The first Carnival Machinder with a gimmick!

One thing I'm really curious about is the back of the car. There is an indentation there and it looks like this speciman is missing yet another part. I'd love to know what goes there. Maybe a working parachute! Dare to dream.....

Each of the tires says "Goodyear 50x80" on the sides and there's some typical race car stickers for decoration on various points of the car. The head of Super Robot can be turned and there is actually a body and a steering wheel molded into the plastic. There are no markings to indicate any manufacturer on the toy, which measures approximately 16" long and 9" wide (from tire to tire).

Anybody who knows me or reads my reviews can probably guess that I absolutely love this thing. It's so insane and unexpected. It's just the sort of crazy thing that makes obscure toy hunting fun.

This toy is so ugly, I feel I should apologize for making you look at it!

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

UFO Robo Grendizer

Considering the IMMENSE popularity of Ufo Robo Grendizer throughout Europe, I'd always found it odd that of all the previously discovered Carnival Machinders, none were of this character. Well, one day I saw this thing on eBay. I wasn't even sure (and frankly, am still not 100% sure) that it even WAS a Carnival Machinder. All previous ones had stickers for details, while this one has paint only on the head. As poor a sculpt as it is, it's still probably more accurate to the anime than any others were. But upon holding it in my hands, it just seem too close in style and appearance to not be lumped into this category.

As you can probably tell, the body is all one solid piece of cheap red polyethylene with no sticker or paint details and no articulation. It actually does a pretty decent job of representing the character, but the head...Oh man, the head on this thing is FUGLY. It is a separate piece of blue poly with some silver and black paint for details. The head looks too big and until I received it, I was actually worried that it wasn't really supposed to be on this toy. But to see it in person, there is no doubt. Both the neck and the head slope in such a way that you know that are supposed to go together. The design of the head seems to combine elements of Grendizer with those of Groizer X.

Well, about the only thing else that I can say with any certainty is that this toy originated in Italy, and was probably referred to as Goldrake as such. I know an Italian collector who has this with a missing head, but the body on his is blue. It stands approximately 13" tall to the tip of the horns. If anyone out there has further info, I'd love to hear it.

Oh, did I mention that it's FUGLY?

At 20" tall, Cosmos 2000 is the largest known Carnival Machinder.

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

Cosmos 2000

At 20" tall, Cosmos 2000 is the largest known Carnival Machinder. Because of this, it is also the most sought after since it approaches actual Jumbo Machinder size. However, it is a most elusive toy, with only 4 total specimens that can be accounted for today.

Among these specimens are two different colored versions. The first and most common features a blue body with a red head and limbs. 3 of the 4 Cosmos 2000s have this color.

The other version has inverted colors, with the body being red and the head/limbs blue.

Cosmos 2000 differs from the previously reviewed Carnival Machinders in that it is made of a MUCH sturdier plastic. Other than it being hollow and light, it feels just like a regular Jumbo Machinder.

If you were to put a gun to my head and ask me what super robot he is supposed to look like, I'd have to say Gaiking. He has two horns on his head and if you use your imagination a bit, his torso might suggest a face with the silver and black stickers representing eyes.

Cosmos 2000, or C2K as he's sometimes referred to, is adorned with simple stickers like all the other Carnival Machinders. His name is on his stomach, Grendizer-like flares on his arms, the chest "eyes" and a silly looking sticker for a face.

When I first received this toy, I was very surprised at how small the box it came in was. Upong opening it, I learned why. The toy was taken apart and sent in 6 pieces! I had never known that it could be disassembled. This was just a minor fact until I got the second one, when it occurred to me that I could swap parts and make two toys that were all the same color!

When I received the second, red body/blue limbs version, it was missing it's stomach, chest and face stickers, but I managed to make passable reproductions. Of course, I can only assume that this version is also called Cosmos 2000 and not something else (in the same way that I didn't know that some Mini Robots were actually Maxi Robots)

I think I may be more proud of having both versions of Cosmos 2000 than just about anything else in my collection. When I first heard of Carnival Machinders, I longed to get one. Having two feels extra nice!

Small, cheaply made, ugly and with no articulation at all, these guys are strictly for the Carnival Machinder completist.

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

8" Mini And Maxi Robots

Mini Robot and Maxi Robot are interesting Carnival Machinders because although they both share nearly the same sculpt, each has it's own sticker design. All known color variations of other Carnival Machinders always had the same stickers.

These toys have no articulation at all and again vaguely suggest a design based on Getter 1, though this time even further removed from what that character actually looks like than either the 12 Inch Super Robot or 18 Inch Super Robot toys. The polythylene is very thin and they tend to fall over easily, especially since you cannot position the arms at all to help distribute the weight of the toy.

The sticker differences lie in the stomach and face stickers. Each robot has it's name on the waist sticker. The face of Mini Robot features eyes that are formed by black intersecting lines, like a "8" lying on it's side with a small red trapezoid for a mouth, while Maxi Robot has two simple black squares for eyes and a red diamond for a mouth. Mini Robot tends to look almost like a bandit while Maxi Robot has a feminine look to it.

Also, note that the placement of some of the stickers differs. Mini Robot has stickers on it's legs, while Maxi Robot has them on it's arms. Furthermore, Mini Robot's arms are pointed nearly straight down, while Maxi Robot's are out more to the side. I'm not quite sure what causes this as otherwise the toys seem completely identical.

So far, I've found 4 differently colored toys based on this sculpt. The first was a red Mini Robot.

The second was also a Mini Robot, this time colored blue.

Then I found one that had a blue/grey, almost metallic looking color to it. At this point, I had only been aware of the Mini Robot, but when I received this one, it said Maxi Robot on the stomach, and the face sticker was missing. I carefully removed the sticker from one of the other Mini Robots and applied a copy to this one, not knowing at the time that the Maxi Robot had a different sticker. Hence, the incorrect face in the picture below.

Finally, I was able to track down a Maxi Robot, complete with all the proper stickers, this time molded in an orange color. One of these days I'll copy that face sticker and replace the incorrect one on the specimen above.

As with some of the 12" Super Robots, some specimens of the Mini/Maxi Robot toy can still be found with a string or elastic on the head used for storage at carnival game booths.

Small, cheaply made, ugly and with no articulation at all, these guys are strictly for the Carnival Machinder completist.

The 18 Inch Super Robot is the second largest Carnival Machinder known to exist.

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

18 Inch Super Robot

A very significant entry into the line of carnival machinders is the 18" Super Robot toy. Like the 12" version, it is meant to represent Getter 1, although it is a different sculpt. The plastic on this one is thicker, but other than that it is of the same poor quality. Only three points of articulation again, at the shoulders and neck. The details on the face and elsewhere are again simply crude sticker designs.

With the poly on the feet being thicker, this is sturdier than the 12" Super Robot and isn't likely to bend and fall over. Again, there is a sticker on the left arm that depicts Machinder missiles.

It's interesting to see that though Getter 1 is the character being mimicked, there is a "V" sticker on the chest, much like Great Mazinger. I've so far managed to aquire two different specimens of this toy and one is missing that sticker. I bought the second one to upgrade to one with the complete stickers, but when it arrived I was surprised to see that it was cast in a darker blue than the first. I couldn't see this in the auction I won, but was overjoyed to discover it in person. Especially since I had actually lost the auction for the toy, but the person who won it never paid and it was then offered to me. Had I realised it was different than my existing specimen, I would have bid much higher in the first place!

Though this is again a very cheap and ugly toy, it's size may make it more appealing to fans of large sized robots. At 18" tall, it is the second largest Carnival Machinder, trailing only the 20" Cosmos 2000.

A very ugly toy, but it has a certain pathetic charm I just can't resist.

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

12 Inch Super Dragun

Previously, I reviewed the 12" Carnival Machinder called Super Robot. Now I'd like to take a look at another 12" Carnival Machinder. This one has no name on it's stomach like the last, but while Super Robot was clearly intended to represent the character of Getter 1, this one seems to at least casually mimic Getter Dragun, as evidenced by the five spikes on the head. As a result, this toy has come to be known as "Super Dragun".

This may be the ugliest of the carnival machinders. The head sculpt is so poorly done as to almost be laughable. No, wait. It is laughable. It's just extrememly silly looking. Further silliness is on the hands, which are not hands at all. The are a sort of "grill", like one would cook waffles on. It's a really odd thing to have for hands.

So far, I've been able to track down 4 different color variations of Super Dragun.

The first and most common has a blue body and legs, with red arms and head. Even though it's the most common, it's still quite rare. I think I've seen it maybe 3-4 times at most.

This second version I've seen three times. It has an orange body and legs with yellow arms and head.

This third version I've seen has a green body and legs with red arms and head. I've seen it twice.

The last I've only seen one time. This one has a blue body and legs with yellow arms and head.

Each version has a gold foil sticker with black decorations on the legs, arms, body and face. There are no markings of any kind indicating either name, manufacturer or year of release anywhere on the toy.

Once again, it's a very ugly toy, but it has a certain pathetic charm I just can't resist. It is my hope that since there are at least 5 different variations of the Super Robot toy, that there may be another variation of this one as well to make a matching set. And since there is an 18" version of Super Robot, I can't help but fantasize about there perhaps being an 18" Super Dragun as well. If there ever was, it is thus far undiscovered.

These toys are probably not going to be very popular with most collectors. They are very cheap and ugly. But I love them for those very reasons!

Carnival Machinder Overview

Back in the 1970s when super robots were at the peak of their popularity in Japan, many of the programs were exported to other countries around the globe. They really took root in Europe and many toys were made there. Some of the most simple yet interesting ones were never sold in stores, but were instead given away as game prizes at traveling carnivals. These toys were of very poor quality and only barely resembled the robots they were based on. There is no official name for these toys but since they are most closely related to the Jumbo Machinder family of toys, they have become known as "Carnival Machinders". In fact, many of these toys have a sticker on them that seems to resemble the missiles from classic Popy Jumbo Machinders.

12 Inch Super Robot

The most common of these was a toy robot that is obviously based on the character of Getter 1, from the Getter Robo anime. It stands 12" tall with only 3 points of articulation, at the neck and shoulders. The face is depicted in it's entirety by a simple foil sticker. Two stickers also decorate the chest and arms (with the left arm showing the aforementioned missiles), and a final one on the stomach says simply "Super Robot". On some specimens of the toy, there may still be a string attached to the top of the head, which was used to store the toy on a wire, ready for easy removal should some lucky game player win.

To date, I've been able to find 5 different color variations for this toy. The first features a blue body, with a red head and arms. This is easily the most attainable color variation. I've seen it for sale many times.

The second version of this toy has the color scheme inverted, with a red body and blue head and arms.

The third version also has a blue head and arms, but the body is this time a lighter red. It almost looks orange, in fact. This version is most notable for being the only carnival machinder to feature what might be a company logo. The words "conformite a la norme garanti par ECO" are molded into the back of the leg. It seems "ECO" might be the manufacturer, but I'm not sure.

The fourth version of this toy has the red/orange colored body, but this time the arms are the same color. Since in all other specimens the arms and body are different colors, I'm inclined to believe that at some point in time, a child who owned it probably swapped arms with another specimen and that this version is likely supposed to have blue arms like the one above. But if I'm right, then that would suggest that there is a blue body/orange arms version out there somewhere that I need to find.

Furthermore, when I found this toy, it was wearing a bizarre mask! Again, I suspect that a child just put it on there for fun and it stayed there until I got it, but I think it's worth documenting, just in case.

The fifth and last version I've seen of this toy is the most interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it has yellow arms and head, a color not seen on any other version. The body is blue. Secondly, this toy came in a bag with a header card! This is the only carnival machinder I've ever seen to feature any kind of packaging. It's interesting to note that even though the toy came in a bag, it still features the string on the head to hang it by. The header card is very generic. It doesn't have any art or words at all.

Each toy is molded in very thin, poor quality polyethylene. They could not possibly stand up to the same level of abuse that a real Machinder could and they are as light as a feather. It is common to see the feet bent, causing the toy to be difficult to stand.

The reason I specify this as the "12 Inch Super Robot" is because there also exists a larger version. It stands 18" tall and also depicts Getter 1, but is a different design. I'll cover that toy in a later review.

These toys are probably not going to be very popular with most collectors. They are very cheap and ugly. But I love them for those very reasons! I've also always loved going to the carnivals and the very idea that you could get a robot toy there really appeals to me. Plus they are so mysterious and hard to find, that I really enjoy the hunt and the possibility of discovering new ones that haven't been seen before.