BACKobots toy robots

THE LIST

The Robot Reference Index by Joe Knedlhans

(While you're here, don't miss Joe's ROBOT MUSEUM)

Over the past 25 years numerous magazine articles have been published regarding toy robots and space toys.  Here, for the first time, is a unified list of those publications.  The magazines are arranged in alphabetical order by title; the articles themselves, in chronological order.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you peruse THE LIST. At this point in time, it is by no means complete.  But, you can help make it so.  Here's how.  If you know of a magazine title or a particular article not listed, send it in.  E-mail a review to: roboter@clara.net.  Please try to follow the established review sequence:  Magazine Title, Date (including Volume and Number, if applicable), Article Title, Author, brief content description.

In regards to the Antique Toy World listing, a nearly complete collection  was available for review.  Those missing issues are designated by: "???".  If a particular copy is not listed at all, it means that upon review it was found to contain no relevant articles or significant advertisements.  Beginning in the early 1980's, each and every issue of ATW contains at least one or more photos of robots or space toys for sale.  Sometimes, they can provide invaluable reference information.  So, in that sense, they all should be included in this list.  However, it was decided that only atypical ads would merit inclusion, i.e., multiple photos per ad, a unique toy and/or box, a full page, full-color ad of special interest, etc. Finally, keep in mind that some of the very early articles written by the Ralston's and F.W.Griffith consisted of little more than a photo and a description of the toy.  Back then, factual names obtained from original boxes were sometimes hard to come by.  In those articles where the robot was "unknown", its actual name has been researched and included in the review.

THE LIST is an ever evolving entity.  New articles appear every month, even in non-traditional toy/collector  publications.  If you know of such an article, send it in.  THE LIST was put together by humans, not robots.  You may find an error or an omission.  If you do, send it in.  Together, we can make THE LIST complete.

#1 ROBOT ARTICLES

AMERICANA

 
April 1990(Vol.18,#1)-"In The Marketplace: The Robot's Return" by Frank Donegan.


ANTIQUES & COLLECTING HOBBIES

 
November 1988(Vol.93,#9)-"Toy Robots" by Rick Brophy


ANTIQUE TOY WORLD (SEE BELOW)

BABY BOOMER COLLECTIBLES (The Pop Culture Collectibles Magazine)
 

October 1995(Vol.3,#1)-"Invaders From Elsewhere" by Bruce Lanier Wright (ten page, color and black & white article on all aspects of UFO's and
their occupants - two column side bar story about Masudaya, Cragstan and Yoshiya flying saucers with color photo), "Warning! Warning! Lost In Space Collectibles are Heavenly, But Prices are Out of This World!" by Nick Portantiere (seven page, black & white article with photos)


COLLECTIBLE TOYS & VALUES
 

November 1992(Vol.1,#13)-"The Nuts And Bolts Of The Toy Robot" by Robert Reed (two page, black & white article with photos), "Golden Age Robots" (six page, black & white price guide with thirty-three photos), "Robots, Androids & Cyborgs" (ten page, black & white price guide with photos), "Of Zeroids, S.T.A.R. Teams And Copyrights: A Brief History of Ideal's Science Fiction Toys" by John McGonagle (three page, black & white article with two photos of Zeroids).

July 1993(Vol.1,#32)-"Transforming Toys" by Thomas Wheeler, "Transformers (value) Listing", "Thr Robotech Assault" by Mario Salcido, "Made In Japan: 8th Man" by Brendan Faulkner, "Golden Age Robots (value) Listing", "Shogun Warriors" by Jay Hamilton,IV, "Robots and Cyborgs (value) Listing", "Japanimation" by Jim Korkis.


COLLECTING TOYS
 

February 1993(Vol.1,#1)-"T-N's Robby Space Patrol" by (no author credit given)

February 1995(Vol.3,#1)-"The Robot That Rebuilt A Nation" by Nobuo Kumagai, translated by Eric De Groot (eight page, full-color article detailing everything you ever wanted to know about Tetsujin 28/Gigantor), "Atlantique City" by Tom Hammel (four page, full-color article with three photos of 'bots and space toys), "The Micro Frontier" by John Michlig (two page, full-color article on Galoob's Darth Vader and R2-D2 playsets).

April 1995(Vol.3,#2)-"Nomura's Robby Space Vehicles" by Catherine Saunders-Watson (four page, full-color article detailing Robby Space Patrol, Moon Space Ship and Moon Patrol Car).

February 1996(Vol.4,#1)-"KO's Space Zoo" by Catherine Saunders-Watson (four page, full-color article detailing Yoshiya's Friction Motor Space Dog, Sparkling Space Dog, Wind-Up Space Dog, B/O Magic Space Dog, Space Whale Ship and Space Elephant).


COLLECT IT

COLLECTORS' SHOWCASE
 

September/October 1982(Vol.2,#1)-"Robots" by Bob Canning. (Five page, full-color article on Steve Sansweet's collection)

March/April 1985(Vol.4,#4)-"Robots" by Donna Kaonis. (Four page, full color article on H.I.Gosses' collection)

July/August 1989(Vol.9,#5)-"The Golden Age Of The Robot" by Donna C. Kaonis. (Six page, full-color article on Robert Lesser's collection)

August 1991(Vol.11,#8)-"Robot Vehicles" by Randy Krehbiel (four page, full-color article highlighting sixteen out-of-this-world transportation
vehicles)

CONTINENTAL PROFILES (This is the in-flight magazine published by Continental Airlines)
 
October 1990(Vol.3,#10)-"View The Right Thing" by Linda Lehrer (seven page, cover story article on Michael Freeman and Leonard Schaier. Michael Freeman is the creator and voice of  both the Mego and Tiger Electronics versions of  2-XL).


(The) FRANKLIN MINT ALMANAC
 

Fall 1990(Vol.22,#2-Special Holiday Issue)-"Spaced Out" by Mark Mussari (five and a half page, full-color article on classic tin robots)
 

Special Spring Issue(Vol.23,#1)-"Trekkie Treasures" by Mark Mussari (six page, full-color article), "Television Toys" by Mark Mussari (five and a half page, full-color article on Ira Gallen's collection)


GIANT ROBOT

HOBBIES - The Magazine For Collectors

HOME COMPANION (Mary Engelbreit's)
 

February & March 2000(Vol.4,#2)-"Finders Keepers-My Favorite Robots" by Ellen Gardner. (Four page, full-color article on Bill Hibdon's collection)


(The) INSIDE COLLECTOR
 

December 1994(Vol.5,#2)-"Early Toy Robots and Their Boxes" by Alan Jaffe (five page, full-color article on the Will Larson collection).


METROPOLITAN HOME
 

September 1989(Vol.21,#9)-"A State-of-the-Heart Art Collection" by Victoria Lautman (eight page, full-color article on Sherry and Alan Koppel's home and collections including toy robots. Full page, full-color photo depicting twenty-six 'bots, eight of which have been "cropped").


MODEL AND TOY COLLECTOR
 

#17 Winter 1991-"The Nuts & Bolts Of Collecting Robots" by David E. Dennis (Parts 1 & 2-five page, black & white article)


POPULAR ELECTRONICS
 

December 1958(Vol.9,#6)-The, now famous, Radicon Robot Christmas cover. "There Are Robots Among Us" by William Tenn, "Sparky, The Robot Pup" by Gaylord Welker.


TIME - The Weekly Newsmagazine
 

December 12, 1955(Vol.66,#24)-"The Little King" by (no author credit given) - Five page cover story on toymaker Louis Marx. Color cover features Marx, Santa and toys, including Electric Robot. Black & white story photo of boy playing with Electric Robot and Son ($5.98). Text describes Marx's "knock-off" of Ideal's Robert the Robot.


TOY COLLECTOR Magazine
 

March/April 1993(Vol.4,#2)-"Playing Favorites-A Top 10 List of Feature Toys" by Tom Frey (Cover story article, four page, full-color including Big Loo, King Zor, Robot Commando, Mr. Machine, The Great Garloo and
five others)

June 1993(Vol.4,#3)-"Retro, Repro, Roboto" by Russell Letson (four page, full-color article on Billiken, Osaka and MTH repro-bots)


TOY SHOP

TOY TRADER

#2 ANTIQUE TOY WORLD ARTICLES
1978-1992

Dale Kelley-Publisher and Editor

Date	Article
March 1978(Vol.8,#3)	Full page, black & white ad for Butterfield & Butterfield's April 7, 1978 Marx Toy Collection auction depicting two space toys.
September 1978(Vol.8,#8)	Full page, brown & beige ad for I ROBOT 2, Bill Shelley's forthcoming space toy movie ad depicting five 'bots.
December 1978(Vol.8,#12)	Quarter page, black & white ad by Gallery 802 depicting 'Engine Robot with Electric Room' and box-$35.00.
April 1979(Vol.9,#4)	"Are Japanese Toys Collectible?" by Earl Douglas.  (The word "robot" never appears in the copy, but the two black & white Lewis Galoob Company catalog reprints that accompany the text are chock full of robots and space toys, along with their original suggested retail prices: #7524 B/O Space TV Robot (Tulip Head) $5.98, #6059 Mr. Hustler Robot $4.98, #7501 B/O Mini-Robot Tank $1.98, etc.)
June 1979(Vol.9,#6)	"Space Toy Exhibit Held In Chicago" (Two page, black & white centerfold article depicting six 'bots and space toys. Same cover story depicting Robert the Robot).
August 1979(Vol.9,#8)	Half page , black & white ad by Jacky Broutin featuring space toys, robots, astronauts, super heros.
September 1979(Vol.9,#9)	Full page, black & white ad by Lloyd W. Ralston depicting nine 'bots and space toys, Full page, black & white ad by Brian Moran depicting six 'bots and space toys.
January 1980(Vol.10,#1)	Black & white ad by Larry Eisenstein for Jupiter Robot-$40.00 or 3 for $100.00, Second Childhood ad for High Wheel Robot-$35.00, Planet Robot-$30.00, "G" Force-$25.00, Ad for OLD TOYS Magazine depicting black & white cover photos of Mr Sandman The Robot and Daiya Astronaut Robot.
February 1980(Vol.10,#2)	"The Robot Report and Astronaut Account" by Glenn & Lloyd Ralston - Daiya Astronaut and Cragstan Astronaut (First in a series of articles that would continue for over the next four years).
March 1980(Vol.10,#3)	"The Robot Report and Astronaut Account"( TRR&AA) by Glenn & Lloyd Ralston - Marx Electric Robot, Marx Electric Robot & Son, Irwin Two Gun Space Man.
April 1980(Vol.10,#4)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - R35 Robot
May 1980(Vol.10,#5)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Mr. Chief, Robert The Robot, Chief Robot Man - Cover photo of Chief Robot Man and Rosko Astronaut.
June 1980(Vol.10,#6) Astronaut.	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - T.N Space Man, Daiya Moon
July 1980(Vol.10,#7)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Remco Lost In Space Robot, A.H.I. Lost In Space Robot.
August 1980(Vol.10,#8)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Man In Space astronaut, Answer Game Robot Machine.
September 1980(Vol.10,#9)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston -" Radar Robot and His Two Clones, The Blue Robots" (Zoomers)
October 1980(Vol.10,#10)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - T.N Astronaut, Linemar Spaceman.
November 1980(Vol.10,#11)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Dino Robot, Space Robot (X-70 TulipHead).
December 1980(Vol.10,#12)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Chime Trooper Astronaut, Unknown Robot (it is Wind-Up Tremendous Mike The Robot)
I'm missing January, February, March,  April, May and June 1981	???
July/August 1981(Vol.11,#7)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Wheel-A-Gear Robot, Non-Stop Robot
Missing Vol.11,#8, Vol.11,#9, Vol.11,#10	???
November/December 1981(Vol.11,#11)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Mechanical Roby Robot Sparkling, Conehead Robot, Robby Robot with Sparking Action.
December/January 1981(Vol.11,#12)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - The Three Mr.Mercurys. "The Sky's The Limit In This Fabulous French Collection!" by Jack Tempest (The Armand Hui Bon Hoa collection
Missing January 1982(Vol.12,#1)	???
February/March1982(Vol.12,#2)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Hi-Bouncer Moon Scout, Colonel Hap Hazard.
Missing Vol.12,#3	???
April 1982(Vol.12,#4)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Planet Robots (two remote control versions, four wind-up versions)
May 1982(Vol.12,#5)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Mechanized Robot, Space Robot Trooper, Robby with no name(it is the Piston Action  obot with controller)
June 1982(Vol.12,#6)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Alps Rocket Man, Alps Moon Explorer.
Missing July, August and September 1982	???
October 1982(Vol.12,#10)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - T.N Earthman, Moon Creature, Insect "7", Chompy The Beetle.  "Writing 'Space Toys'" by Crystal and Leland Payton.
Missing November and December 1982	???
January 1983(Vol.13,#1)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Dux Astroman, Alps Door Robot.  "Close Encounters Of A Playful Kind" (Robots & Space Toys from the Lloyd Ralston Collection)".
Missing February 1983	???
March 1983(Vol.13,#3)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Sparkling Mike Robot, Flashy Jim(R7), Interplanetary Explorer.
April 1983(Vol.13,#4)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Atomic Robot Man, Mechanical Walking Sparking Robot, Remote Control Piston Action Robot.
May 1983(Vol.13,#5)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Space Man.
June 1983(Vol.13,#6)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Cragstan Astronauts (two different face variations), Atom Robot.
July 1983(Vol.13,#7)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Mechanical Wind-Up  Atomic Robot, Moon Explorer Robot, NASA Man.
Missing August 1983	???
September 1983(Vol.13,#9)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Mr. Robot, Space Robot RX 008, Sparky Robot (three variations).
Missing October and  November 1983	???
December 1983(Vol.13,#12)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Robotank-Z, Robotank-Z R1, Mechanical Sparking Robot, Mechanical Robot.
January 1984(Vol.14,#1)	???
February 1984(Vol.14,#2)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Moon Patrol, Moon Space Ship, Moon Car., "Armand's Robot Collection Is Almost Complete!" by Jack Tempest (Cover story-two page, black & white article on Armand Hui Bon Hoa's collection), Full page, black & white ad from Hake's Americana depicting eight 'bots and space toys.
March 1984(Vol.14,#3)	-"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Space Patrol Car "VW", Space Patrol Car "Robby Driver Version", Mars Explorer, "Prototypes-The Artist, Then The Toy" by Gene Scala (three and a half page, black & white article depicting "probably the earliest robot in existence"?).
April 1984(Vol.14,#4)	???
May 1984(Vol.14,#5)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Photo Essay (twelve 'bots and astronauts depicted), Full page, full-color front inside cover ad for the Ditto Ceramic Robot Reproductions, "Japanese Robots-'Made In Britain'" by Jack Tempest (full page, black & white ad for the Ditto Ceramic Reproductions - R-35 Robot depicted)
June 1984(Vol.14,#6)	Full page, black & white ad for Brian Moran's book Collecting Battery Toys and Gallery 802 'Super Space Stuff' Catalog.
July 1984(Vol.14,#7)	???
August 1984(Vol.14,#8)	???
September 1984(Vol.14,#9)	"The Force Will Be With You, Alway$" [no typo] by Tom Frey (four page, black & white article describing the Star Wars toys).
Missing January, February,  March, and April 1984	???
May 1984(Vol.14,#5)	"TRR&AA" by G&L Ralston - Photo Essay.   "Japanese Robots-'Made In Britain' Limited Edition Replicas in  Ceramics" by Jack Tempest.
Missing June, July, August and  September 1984	???
October 1984(Vol.14,#10)	"Robots Are Here 1985 Calendar Peeks Into The Future"
November 1984(Vol.14,#11)	"Classic PlasticToys" (CPT) by Tom Frey - The Great Garloo, Big Loo, The Great Son of Garloo (two variations).
December 1984(Vol.14,#12)	"CPT" by T. Frey - Robot Commando, Odd Ogg
January 1985(Vol.15,#1)	"CPT" by T. Frey - King Zor, Yakkity Yob.
February 1985(Vol.15,#2)	"CPT" by T. Frey - Robert the Robot (two versions), Robert the Robot Bulldozer, Rock'em Sock'em Robots
March 1985(Vol.15,#3)-	"The Robots Are Back" by Tom Frey - Maxx Steele, Tomy's Omnibot/Verbot/Dingbot, Magic Mike, Robotron RT-2, Transformers, Go-Bots.
April 1985(Vol.15,#4)	"CPT" by T. Frey - Sir Galaxy, Terron-The Beast from Beyond.
May 1985(Vol.15,#5)	"CPT" by T. Frey - Mr. Machine, Mr. Machine Game,  big Max and his Electronic Conveyor.-"CPT" by T. Frey - Electroman, Zogg the Terrible, Sir Galaxy
July 1985 - No relevant articles.
August 1985(Vol.15,#8)	"Focus On Europe-May 1985: The Paris and London Toy Shows" (Great photo of Jacky Broutin & Armand Hui Bon Hoa with 'bots), "Rare Moon Robot On Auction Block"
September 1985	No relevant articles.
October 1985(Vol.15;#10)	"Robotic Monsters:The Current Rage" by Tom Frey; "Wonderland; Tokyo Toy Show" by JackyBroutin (Great photo of Teru Kitahara with 'bots)
November 1985	No relevant articles.
December 1985	No relevant articles.
January 1986(Vol.16.#1)	"CPT" by T. Frey -Electronic Countdown; Project Yankee Doodle; Mystery Space Ship; FireballXL5
February 1986	No relevant articles.
March 1986	No relevant articles.
April 1986	???
May 1986(Vol.16;#5)	"Robots and Mo'bots" byTom Frey - Compurobot; Talkabot; Hootbot; Spotbot; Monster Robot; Omega Supreme.
June 1986(Vol.16;#6)	"Godzilla Vs. Robby TheRobot - Happy 30th Anniversary!" by Tom Frey.
July 1986	???
August 1986	No relevant articles.
September 1986	No relevant articles.
October 1986	No relevant articles.
November 1986(Vol.16;#11)	"The Debut Of RobbyThe Robot" by Craig Ullery
December 1986	No relevant articles.

Date	Article
January 1987(Vol.17,#1)	???
February 1987	No relevant articles.
March and April 1987.	???
May 1987(Vol.17,#5)	No articles per se but a nifty full-color, full-page advertisement for "Robby", the first in a series of  limited edition serigraphs of classic toy robots by Joe Petro III.(No others were ever released).
June 1987(Vol.17,#6)	Again, no articles but a black & white ad for the "Robby" serigraph, and Gary Moran's "Robby Broken?" black & white ad. July 1987 - No relevant articles.
August 1987	???
September 1987	No relevant articles.
October 1987	No relevant articles.
November and December 1987	???
January and February 1988	???
March 1988	No relevant articles.
April 1988	No relevant articles.
May through November 1988	???
December 1988(Vol.18,#12)	"Phillip's, New York, to Highlight both Lead Soldiers and Rare Tinplate Robots at their December Toy  Auction".
January 1989	No relevant articles.
February through December 1989.	???
January 1990(Vol.20,#1)	"These Toys Are Out Of This World" by Jack Herbert (four page, black & white article depicting ten space toys).
February 1990	No relevant articles.
March through June 1990.	???
July 1990(Vol.20,#7)	"Adventures In Toy Collecting" by Carol Turpen (how she found Mechanized Robot at flea market), An early black & white, full-page ad depicting  eight 'bots, An Art 'N' Things ad depicting four robby robots.
August through November 1990.	???
December 1990(Vol.20,#12)	No articles but three 'bot-filled ads by Carl Lobel, Smith House ToyAuctions and Just Kids Nostalgia.
At this point my collection becomes consecutive and complete to date.  Only those issues with relevant articles or outstanding ads are listed.
March 1991(Vol.21,#3)	A full-page, black & white ad depicting the Cragstan Space Trooper Robot box and the three related 'bot variations.
May 1991(Vol.21,#5)	Astronautical Toys" by Carol Turpen (six page, color and Black & white article depicting eighteen space toys), Robot & Son ad depicting fifteen 'bots and space toys, ad depicting Cragstan's Radical Robot and box.
June 1991(Vol.21,#6)	"And Now a Word from Our Sponsor" by Tom Frey (Cover story article on Ira Gallen, his collection of TV commercials and their toy counterparts), A two page, black & white Robot & Son ad depicting twenty 'bots and space toys.
July 1991(Vol.21,#7)	A full-page, black & white Mark Bergin ad depicting rocketships and astronauts.
November 1991(Vol.21,#11)	A full-page, black & white Mark Bergin ad depicting twelve 'bots and space toys, a full-page, full-color ad for Glerum Auctioneers depicting fourteen 'bots and their boxes.
December 1991(Vol.21, #12)	A full-page, full-color Ray Rohr ad depicting two illustrations by David M. Davis, A full-page, black & white Christie's South Kensington auction ad depicting nineteen tin robots, A full-page, black & white Robot & Son ad depicting twelve 'bots and space toys.
February 1992(Vol.22,#2)	Book Review: "Zap! Ray Gun Classics" by Leslie Singer, A full-page, black & white ad from New England Auction Gallery depicting fifteen 'bots and space toys and boxes.
March 1992(Vol.22,#3)	-Full-page, black & white ads by Carl Lobel and The Toy Department, A full-page, full-color ad by Smith House Toy Auctions depicting 'bots and space toys: of special interest is the photo of Moon Man 001, wind-up, plastic. Toy and box are depicted.
May 1992(Vol.22,#5)	"Collecting Catalogs" by Anthony Annese.(Eight page, black & white article; two full-page Cragstan catalog  reprints depicting Mr. Atomic, Power Friction Giant Astronaut, Mystery Robot, Battery Walking Astronaut with Gun, TV Spaceman, Power Friction Astronaut, and eight other space toys, all with their original suggested retail prices), A full-page, black & white ad by Carl Lobel, A full-page, full-color Mark Bergin ad depicting five 'bots/astronauts.
June 1992(Vol.22,#6)	"Space and Science Fiction Subject of Exhibition Opening May 9" (The Strong Museum's exhibit entitled "Robots, Rockets, and Realities: Frankenstein to the Final Frontier")
	July 1992(Vol.22,#7)-"Collecting Catalogs" by Anthony Annese (Follow up article depicting the 1959 Cragstan catalog).
	August 1922(Vol.22,#8)-A full-page, black & white Carl Lobel ad depicting twenty 'bots and space toys with boxes, A full-page, full-color ad depicting "Thunder Robot and Other Alien Visitors".
September 1992(Vol.22,#9)	A Mark Bergin full-page, full-color ad depicting Smoking Spaceman.
October 1992(Vol.22,#10)	"Toy Books-Part I" by Jack Herbert (Yesterday's Toys Vol.1/Kitahara; Battery Toys/Moran; Wonderland Of Toys/Kitahara and twenty-nine other reference publications depicted and described), A full-page, black & white ad by We Are Fun, A full-page, full-color Mark Bergin ad depicting "The Machine Age of Robots-Japan 1950's".
November 1992(Vol.22,#11)	"Toy Books-Part II" by Jack Herbert (Yesterday's Toys Vol.3/Kitahara; Robot/Boogaerts; Space Toys/Payton and twenty-six other reference publications depicted and described. A full-page, full-color Mark Bergin ad depicting "Sample of Toys for Sale-List #8" (twenty-eight 'bots, space toys and boxes). This ad marks the beginning of Bergin's permanent "inside rear-cover" ad placement that continue to this day. Subscribe to ATW just for these advertisements alone.
December 1992(Vol.22,#12)	"Will the First Robby the Robot Please Stand Up?" by Catherine Saunders-Watson, "Robby Makes Art History" by Catherine Saunders-Watson (Five page, full-color coverage of Robby), Ads by Carl Lobel, We Are Fun, Toy-A-Day Auction and Mark Bergin.

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