Yoshiya Space Whale (1957)

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Despite their prodigious and varied space-toy line, Yoshiya will always be remembered for Space Whale. The 7-inch wind-up proceeds along the floor when its antenna is raised. As it moves, it slowly opens its gigantic maw, then snaps it shut. Googly eyes and wire whiskers are only out-weirded by the Peter Max-like starfield lithographic finish. The wild presentation is completed by images of passengers in the portholes and a blockheaded robot sitting in the co-pilot seat. Other Yoshiya classics include Space Elephant and Robot Dog.