Inside the Collection: Meet Zespy

Zespy is nuts and bolts about robots! Take a look!

Jul. 14, 2024

Zespy owns and operates Logan Arcade, a bar-and-games emporium that is also home to his oddball collection of the quirkiest robots ever assembled.

He owns toys, animatronics and other robots that range from tiny to life-sized and fully functional. His collection runs the gamut of irresistible weirdness. So, let's get weird! 

Zespy's love for robots began in childhood, which is where he learned to love the weirder side of them. He's even rescued and repaired a few!

With thousands of unique items in his collection, here are just a few that he holds close to his heart. Take a look! Or, in robot terms: "beep boop!"

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1. Chuck E. Cheese Band

Drum roll, please! 

You may recognize this iconic animatronic band of beagles from your childhood days at Chuck E. Cheese! For some, animatronics are scary, but for Zespy, they propelled his interest in collecting.

This animatronic band was a sidestage attraction at Chuck E. Cheese and was a Beatles cover band named The Beagles.

He acquired this piece about six years ago and spent his time fixing it up so that it could bark again.

Our expert valued The Beagles at about $50,000. Now, that's a doggone good price!

Zespy's band of beagles still sounds great, thanks to his hard work, but they've also had many years of practice.

2. RoboForce Set

These RoboForce toys and figures aren't the most sought-after robots around, but Zespy is proud of them.

They were originally released around the same time as Transformers, which overshadowed these robots because of the popularity of the brand.

Zespy bought all of the pieces over time at local toy shops for only $5 to $8. There are many different versions of these robots, and he has the complete collection, including multiples!

Our expert valued the whole set at $10,000, but for Zespy it's about the hunt to find each item and the memories that come along with it. 

3. Mechagodzilla Prototype

Lisa called this item "cute," but true Godzilla fans know just how formidable its power can really be! 

This is a prototype from the recently released Shogun Warrior Mechagodzilla line by Super7 Toys. 

Although Zespy isn't usually a collector of monsters, this prototype represents his love for robots and quirky, hard-to-get items. 

According to our expert, prototypes and pre-releases are among the most coveted items for any toy collector, which adds to the overall value.

This Mechagodzilla prototype is worth around $9,000 because of its rarity.

4. Compoboy Technorobo

This Compoboy Technorobo combines two things Zespy loves: robots and audio. 

This unique robot is made up of stereo components. Each of the components can be taken out and interacted with, including a tiny working record player! 

Zespy has tracked down three of the four versions of this item. The Technorobot did not sell in the United States, but his love for the hunt led him to it. 

However, he's still searching for the blue-colored robot, so if anyone has seen it, please call this collector! He's one away from completing the collection.

These robots were cheap at the time, but were hard to track down. Because of the rarity, our expert valued this item at $2,450.

5. Telecoma Set

This is the Telecoma set from Takara. They may look like little Happy Meal toys, but they are much more valuable than that. 

These robots were made in the same era as Transformers and were made by the same company.

They take food fights to a whole new level! These food-robot combinations battle it out and can go up against each other. They are as weird and silly as Zespy likes them to be. 

He owns about 30 of these toys and currently owns the entire collection. 

Our expert valued this set at $12,000. That's one expensive meal! 

6. Trade Show Robot

This is an R2-D2 trade show robot! According to Zespy, when Star Wars first came out everyone wanted to design an R2-D2 of their own. This item is a result of that.

This specific robot used to shoot out business cards at conventions and trade shows and was used to promote a business. 

He thought it was so silly, he had to purchase it! It also has an unusual tie to Mr. Rogers, who he loved and used a role model growing up.

Today this fully functioning R2-D2 is worth around $5,000

7. The total value of Zespy's robot collection:

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9 Comments

Moverfan 2 months ago
Okay, I give...what is the Trade Show Robot's connection to Mr. Rogers? You can't just mention that and not explain!
RobertK 4 months ago
I had a Mr. Machine robot when I was a kid and it's still in its original box in my basement!
Ivan 4 months ago
Thank you it looks amazing, I have just bought two from the internet.I do appreciate the offer and thank you anyway
stevenmcflyjr 4 months ago
(PS) this is robots, this IS childhood at it's finest edutainment.
stevenmcflyjr 4 months ago
Pft. You aint got squat if you don't have these rarities!
IwatchingME 4 months ago
i saw a dr who daleck in the background too. More surprised he didn't have other media robots: Gort, Robbie, and the others.
i like the show a lot. Just wish they could say how anyone could afford to collect as much as they do. i wish i could do that too.
Ivan 4 months ago
As a child in England one robot toy blew me away and that was called a Zeroid. I would love to have one again. There was I think 4 of these robot in the range. The hours of joy it gave me was fabulous. I think it was either in the late 50’s or 60’s when it came out. Imagination is a child’s greatest friend with a little help from a great toy.
stevenmcflyjr Ivan 4 months ago
Got 50$?
Runeshaper 4 months ago
Many of these items are fun, but the Chuck E. Cheese Band is the winner for me (-:
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