Robot ST1 - Strenco or Kohler Robot
Maker: Strenco


 
 

Strenco - German Sparky

Research has pushed the date on this robot back to 1955, possibly earlier. That makes it a very early robot

 

Here's the latest information on ST-1
(Thanks to Dirk Gadomski)

The history about the ST 1 began in the year 1954, when Ludwig Streng bought the German toy company Hoerndlein.Before this time Streng & Co had produced only things like spectable cases, vacuum cleaners, umbrella handles a.s.o. With this deal the company changed its name into: Streng&Co./Patent-und Modellspiezeug (...modeltoys). At first Streng didn't built up many toys himself - he resells toys that he bought from other toymakers - he modifies some other toys or he sells the old stuff from Hoerndlein.

First time he appears with this big selection of toys at the Nuernberger Spielzeugmesse(The big german toy fair) in Spring 1955 This is the definite date I could give you - but ... ...but, as many other toys he sold, this robot was not created by Streng this robot was produced by another German toymaker: Köhler. So many German collectors called the St 1 Köhler robot.

The first toy on Strenco's list in spring 1955 was this robot - therefore the name ST 1 (Strenco number 1).I think the St1 should have been ready in the end of 1954 - but I have no evidence for this. The company Köhler did not exist anymore and there are no closer investigastions about it. The ST 1 with the cart appears one year later (1956) with the number 1 + 1. The same cart ( with driver before) was an old toy from Hörndlein 1954. A prototype ST 1 - with a mechanical remote control - came up in 1956 too, but was never produced. Many thanks to Mr. Rothenberger and Mr. Gärtner for some detailed informations. Great their book about Gescha&Strenco

In an old news magazine dated 23.march 1957 I find an report about the Nürnberger Spielzeugmesse in spring 1957. Among some other toys is the ST 1 with the cart also to be seen.


 
 

And from Jack Tempest

I have just found some more info re the 'Strenco' robot which you may not know. I have a book called "German Tin Toys after 1945". It's an interesting book printed in German & English. Here's what it says about 'Strenco': - "STRENCO - L. Streng & Co., Nuremberg 1954-1965. Successor to the Horndlein Company, this firm produced tin utility vehicles - a dump truck, rocket transporters, and a transport cart. Aluminium clockwork robots were also part of the collection. The company merged with Schmid Brothers around 1965."

There is no reference elsewhere in the book to the other two companies mentioned. Amongst the photos is a picture of what looks like the truck
pushed by the robot, but this one has a turning standing driver and is referred to as 'Express 502'. There is no picture of the robot! Turning to
the section on 'Georg Kohler' there we have a picture of 'Robot ST1'! Kohler was an extensive producer of tin-plate animal and bird figures, existing in Nuremberg from 1932 to 1996. The text by the robot photo reads: -
 

"Robot ST1, 7.28 ins high. Start of production 1954, marked Germany.
Colourful printed box. Clockwork. Sparkling with rattling noise; developed
in co-operation with companies Kohler and L. Streng & Co."
A suggested value is printed as 1200 DM to $665 (mint & boxed example). No
mention of the truck it was designed to push along. I had the truck, which
was plain, and also (which I may have, but probably not!) the exact model,
but lithographed in colour and displaying 'Made in Japan'.

The hands have attracted comment: some argue that the globular shape is the equivalent of the light bulbs on the Japanese robots and ST-1 is "aping" this design feature in metal. Others point out that this robot was intended to push along a specially designed cart, and these hands are designed to fit into sockets.

Strenco's box is a relatively fragile, undistinguished affair in a limited palette of colours. The cart comes in a separate box with no significant artwork.