Smoking Spaceman Robot in blue metal in original box, Yonezawa Japan, ca 1960

Rare blue dinner jacket robot in superb condition.
The battery compartment is perfect, a little oxidation above the torso.
This blue version is very rare, you will notice that the smoke hole is offset from the centre (a detail he shares with the green version, on the greys the hole is in the centre).
Smoking spaceman is ‘THE' iconic Japanese ROBOT, in silver metal.
Designed by Rikizo Miyazawa, no less than the founder of Marumiya.
Smoking spaceman was the robot that arrived at the right time. 
His actions: he walks and swings his arms realistically, he stops, his eyes light up, he smokes (a glowing wire touches an oil-soaked sponge). Yonezawa's Smoking Space Man is undoubtedly the robot most copied by the Chinese, and available in many colours that didn't exist originally.
It was first published by Linemar. Between the time when Yonezawa took over production, the robots were not marked on the back.

This was a must for the 1960s. It existed in blue and green, which are rare versions.
All Sears, Wards and Western Auto department stores sold them under the Linemar or Yonezawa brand names.

Dinner jacket spaceman manufacturing history:
The first publication of a Tuxedo Spaceman dates from 1960 in Lipman's Christmas catalogue.

VERSION A)1960. The Original ‘Smoking Space Man', manufactured by Marumya (later Metal House), sold by Linemar.
Box (a) with normal lettering, signed Linemar (one of many Linemar toys on the side).
Box (b) with special riveted lettering, signed Linemar. in relief. Colours: grey (silver) and anthracite (brown), rivets in relief on the side, and back behind, black mouth, silver metal switch, three-piece dome front and back. Smoke hole in the centre of the mouth, large hole, small castors on the feet.

VERSION B) Early 60's (?) original “Smoking Robot”, made by Marumya.