Posted 4 years ago
dav2no1
(839 items)
Rock' Em Sock Em Robots Art
I have been packing these robots around since the 70s. I am the youngest, so they may be older than me? Not sure what happened to the ring? But I've always had this project in the back of my head. I was cleaning the garage for a remodel project and found these packed up.
Just finished yesterday...I cut and drilled the wood to fit in a display case, then decided to elevate the platform for more interest and possible lighting. I found some aluminum pieces in the workshop, so I cut and drilled those for ring posts. I needed a cap for the posts. I went simple...I used pieces of champagne cork(have some from previous projects), cut down and stuffed into the top...and capped them with metal thumbtacks. It fit perfectly and looks good.
I spray glued some red velvet left over from my "Vampire killing kit" I posted awhile back. I was going to add a Rock' Em Socks Em Robots logo, but they are so iconic, I decided it didn't need it.
I had an idea this morning...I may display some of my small oilers in the display.
Rock' Em Sock Em Robots
"The Rock'em Sock'em Robots, created by the Marx Toy Co. in 1964, features two towering figures, one red and one blue, set up inside a boxing ring. Players operate joysticks to make them punch each other until the head of one of the robots pops up, signaling the end of the round."
"The toy was inspired by boxing games that appeared in arcades in the early 1960s, using mannequins made of metal that would fall over if a player managed to hit the button on the chin of the opposing player's dummy. "
WHY ROBOTS?
"After some development, Glass decided to cancel the project in 1963 after the death of boxer Davey Moore in the ring. Burt Meyer felt that the toy was too good to go to waste, and suggested that they "de-humanize" the characters, making them robots that fall apart, rather than humanoid figures that fall over."
These are awesome! I always wanted a set of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots from Santa every year, but was never gifted with a set. I remember being so jealous of my cousins who had a set of these. You did a fantastic job of mounting these!!
Nice ,these have me rocking and rolling in my socks
Thanks jscott & V33. Wasn't a super complicated project, but it was a fun one.
One more idea out of my head! It's nice to have a workshop in the basement. I don't have to go out to the garage to work on stuff.
These robots were my brothers' fave things, they look fabulous great work
omg! i was in the first grade when i got this as a christmas present! i think my dad thought it might toughen me up a bit [didn't work].
Thanks Newfld, I like how it came out. Pete..you remember something from 1st grade? That's a heck of a memory! I was born in 1970..I remember playing this with my brothers, but vaguely.
*New Photo* added some of my small oiler collection for more interest.
i was born in 1963, so yes i do remember it well. although it might have been 2nd grade. i can remember playing w/ it in front of the Christmas tree. I know exactly what the tree smelled like too.
Thanks Pete! Glad it brought back memories..that tells me my art was good!
very nice Raving Bonkers , and in pristine condition, i got a 1 Vintage Toy "Lited Piston Action Tractor instead for my birthday, hahaha i just saw they are precious , gave it away decades ago
Thank you Waki. I enjoyed making this art piece. I had the idea for a long time and finally completed it.
Nicely Done!
Thanks Falcon..it was a fun project and one that was stuck in my head for a long time.
I remember these guys well, a neighbourhood boy had them. I asked for them one Christmas but I got a creepy walking doll instead. Makes a great Art piece and cool way to display your Oil cans. I'm thinking just like the Tin man, robots are always going to need a squirt of oil to keep going.