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Ideal "Zerak Robot" Window Box Front |
Some time after the Zeroid run, probably in 1971, Zeroids started appearing in simplified packaging, either in a generic plain brown window box found at Kresge's "Big K" retail stores with "Battery Operated Robot" printed on it, or in this more colorful "Zerak Robot" box.
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Ideal "Zerak Robot" Window Box Back |
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Ideal "Zerak Robot" Window Box Side |
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Ideal "Zerak Robot" Window Box with Zintar |
In either case, one could find any of the Zeroid robots in this packaging. The "Zerak Box" has images of the various robots including item numbers:
- No. T3426 Zintar (right side)
- No. T3425 Zogg (back)
- No. T3424 Zobor (back)
- No. T3423 Zerak (left side)
- Zemo (reported) but not shown on the box
Note that this includes the very basic parts of the robot without the extra hands, missiles or reversing ramp.
Packaging:
The box is white with a large display window across the front and extending to both sides. "Zerak Robot" is at the front top with "Battery Operated Motor" at the bottom. Images of the individual robots with item numbers are across the sides and back. The top has "Zerak Robot with Forward and Reverse Movement" in red letters on a yellow background. "Made in Hong Kong" is printed along the bottom beneath the Zerak image.
Ideal Catalog Specifications:
N/A
Variations:
- Ideal 4771-2 Zerak the Blue Destroyer
- Ideal 4772-0 Zobor the Bronze Transporter
- Ideal 4773-8 Zintar the Silver Explorer
- Ideal 4763-9 Zogg w/Laser Beam (no Laser Beam accessory)
- Ideal Zemo Robot
Some have speculated that the "Zerak Robot" window box was created to market the Zeroids at retailers other than Kresge stores - they mostly appear in Europe and Asia so may have been an international solution.
I've seen one account of the Zeroids, and in particular Zerak, being offered in this box in a much brighter peacock blue, for the international market but since I haven't seen a direct comparison this may be an artifact of lighting and image adjustment.
John's Notes:
The first time I saw one of these "Zerak Robot" boxes it was labeled as a Kresge box, which may have been an updated box as the Kresge box is quite plain. I've also read accounts of this box being produced to market leftover Zeroids in the UK market including Zemo (which also appears to have been a much later effort). It's hard to say how these came about.
The images are from online sources and borrowed without permission.
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