{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O175935"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O175935/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BP5535/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BP5535/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BP5535","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BP5534","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BP5520","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O175935","accessionNumber":"B.53:1 to 3-2005","objectType":"Spaceship","titles":[{"title":"Astro 8","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"A boxed flying saucer.  The flying saucer is made of tin and plastic, the main body is red with white and black line details, there is a fin at the back which is blue with white lines and a yellow lightening bolt on it.  Around the circumference of the flying saucer are plastic windows where when active lights will shine through.  It the centre is a plastic dome and inside is a printed details of a dashboard and a astound  The toy is friction powered and has wheels underneath.  The box has a plain card bottom and a printed top.  The image on the box is of the flying saucer in action over a lunar landscape  The text on the box reads Flying Saucer Astro 8.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Marubishi","id":"A23899"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"tin","id":"AAT133748"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Tin and card","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"}],"styles":[{"text":"space age","id":"x43335"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2007BP5535","2007BP5534","2007BP5520"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR013","id":"THES341142"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR013","id":"THES341142"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR013","id":"THES341142"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"mechanical toy","id":""}],[{"text":"space toy","id":""}],[{"text":"box lid","id":""}],[{"text":"box base","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1965","earliest":"1960-01-01","latest":"1969-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"17.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This object was acquired for the V&A Museum of Childhood's exhibition Space Age: Exploration, Design and Popular Culture, which opened on 22nd November 2007. It was bought at Christie's in November 2005 as part of a collection of robots and space toys. The collector, Paul Lips, ran an antique toy shop in Milan from the early 1990s, where he became particularly interested in space toys. The collection covered what he believed to be their golden age: 1955 to 1965. \r\n\r\n\r\nAfter the Second World War, Japan became the pre-eminent manufacturer of tin toys through direct financial support from the United States for its toy industry, and through preferential access to US toy markets. Importantly, Japanese manufacturers were able to perfect small battery-powered motors, which gave Japanese toys a superior range of movements. One of the most celebrated subjects expressed in tin toys is space and space travel. Many highly imaginative toys were produced in the era of the Space Age (1957-1972), inspired by the widespread optimism of the times, and by a fresh public appetite for all things space. \r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Boxed friction powered flying saucer, 'Astro 8' made by Yamazaki in Japan ca. 1965","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.53:1-2005","B.53:2-2005","B.53:3-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"53","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","mechanical toy","box lid","box base"],"assets":["2020MP0314"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-27","availableToBook":false}}