The 1950’s television version of ‘the future’ and automation is quite funny. Both Rosie the robot in the Jetsons, and Robby the robot in Forbidden Plant had simple, wholesome roles written for their US viewers. I grew up watching the menacing Dalek’s in Dr. Who, and then HAL 9000 in 2001 A Space Odyssey. C-3PO (Cyborg 3 Protocol) and R2D2 are both quite the pair of iconic robots as well, loyal and helpful.

I have always loved the detail of tin toy robots – they seem to be gritting their teeth in perhaps an attempt to smile back at us. This set of images are photos of the reproduction robots, wind-ups, aliens and monsters that I have collected over the years.