At-a-glance information:

Robots always have been popular, whether in pop culture, fiction, reality or toys, and as toys, they are very collectable. We are all aware of the popular, and not inexpensive, Remco Lost-in-Space Robot, the extremely expensive Cragstan robots, the Marx Big Loo, etc. People love robots.

I have not been really into the whole robot thing. I loved robots as a kid, but in collecting toys, it seemed to be a little to far in the nerdy camp of foolishness. My only experience with robots was when I was 7 years old, my parents bought me THE Remco robot. After a few hours of playing, I got the 'this thing kind of sucks' like I did with another Remco item, the Kennedy Airport. Then the head wouldn't stay on, so my parents brought it back and got me something else. Further, I remember thinking the one piece, scissor action arms were just awful.

I know some day I will get the robot back. But for now, I find great enjoyment from the line of robots made by Topper called Ding-a-Lings. A terrible name that brings to mind thoughts of some whimsical, foolish toy, and does not connect well to the 60s Sci-Fi that these so interestingly reflect.

	Here it is, Topper's Super Return Space Skyway. I distantly remember this being setup at a May D&F store's toy department. However, I think someone had it rigged so that it would keep going back and forth with no manual intervention. I bought this a few years ago. The track is usable but very used. Oddly however, the robot, which is the one indicated on the box as the proper robot, was totally mint.
	The track and trestle design....
	are an amalgam of 60's Science Fiction, high tech, and the thickly applied veneer of all that is Topper.
	The track contains teeth that the drop-down gearing of the Robot meshes with, and allows propulsion on top or below the track. The robot can also pull up his gear and 'glide' in certain areas of the track, and when he is in that mode, his feet move back and forth! In the Return Space Skyway, you have this return, pictured. Robot can walk or glide around outside of return, and comes back to you from underneath the track.
	Here is my robot, named Claw, starting out on the first part of the track.
	A close-up shot shows the fine level of detail here. This robot's hands have spring loaded claws similar to that of the King Ding. Each robot had his name on a sticker on his front panel.
	Power came from a power pack that snapped very cleanly into the back of each robot.
	The pack is easily removed, and contains 2 AA batteries.
	There is an off of switch, above my fingers in this photo. The switch I am pushing down brings the gear that engages the track up, and allows the robot to go into glide mode, a shuffle that allows the robot to walk along a floor, or walk along the top part of the track.

	Above Left: Standing an impressive 14", The King Ding contains an internal elevator where Brain, Left, can ride into the head/dome of the robot. You can switch from elevator mode to walking mode. The big red feet, with knobby, geary rubber wheels, will slowly move forward by gliding his feet! The control panel is on the back of the robot, Above.
	Above Left, the big chest of the robot covers the 4 D batteries required. Left, Brain snaps into the lowered elevator, Lower Left, the elevator electrically raises, and Brain, Above, stops behind the plastic dome to "control" the big robot! Below, the wonderful box art!
	Left: There should be a piece of plastic surrounding this image wheel, and it is shaped like a TV monitor. The idea was to simulate the monitoring of Brain moving up and down into the control room!
	Left: Here is a size comparison of King Ding, with Brain inside, and Claw, a typical Ding-a-Ling robot.
	This panel and the following panel are the front and back of the instruction sheet.

Different Styles of Ding-a-Lings

The fun thing about collecting Ding-a-Lings is that there are tons of different models, with different fun themes. There is a Boxer, Fireman, the Claw (profiled above), Shoe Shine, Answer Man, Constructo, Flying Saucer, Gofer, Chef, Policeman, Spy, and Rocky. These are listed right on the box. There may be some additional, very rare models too. These are finely detailed and dependable robots.

End of the line for Topper

Sadly, these were some of the last toys made by Topper. Topper went under some time in 1971 when these were produced. Details vary widely as to what exactly happened. My understanding however, is that the Topper facility in NJ was, at one time, the largest toy factory in the world.

From a personal perspective, I really, really liked Topper. Sure, the Johnny Lightnings may have been an attempt to cash in on Mattel's Hot Wheels, but back then, there was room enough for all, and the company took their Lightnings into different directions than Hot Wheels. I liked the goofy plastic chrome on a lot of the early stuff, although the Ding-a-Lings and later produced toys showed a level of real refinement. I even loved (my wife had this and we picked one up cheap) the Baby Catch- a-Ball (upcoming profile). And of course, one of my all time favorites, Topper's Johnny Astro, which may be one of the best toys ever made, period!

Rarity, Scarcity

Ding-a-Lings are not all that common, but findable. There is always a robot or two on EBAY. That is good, because, when you do find sets, they are often missing the robot. Sets are more difficult to come by. Most popular seems to be the Super Return Space Skyway. There were other sets, including a Pyramid, Straight Skyway, plus things like the Bridge Pack accessory. However, I have not seen any pure add-on track sets yet, not sure if they exist.

Very rare is the Ding-a-Ling Mobile. This vehicle, driven by a robot's power pack, allows the robot to move about in this little car.

The King Ding is very expensive, especially with box. Expect to spend $250-$400+ for a nice working example.

Other Ding-a-Ling Sites

My fondness for these is shared by others. Please visit Andy Duplay's very detailed and interesting site, at http://www.kingding.homestead.com/. Also, take a look at Daniel Scott Angel's Ding-a-Ling site at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/4011/index.htm. You will find alot more additional information on sets and different robots at these sites.

Take me back home