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HISTORY
PART 2
Alternations to the Original Robby the Robot Costume

Robby the Robot underwent three substantive alterations prior to its use on Lost in Space in 1966. These were: a new dome, new arms, a new chest box. Additionally, he received a temporary and superficial alteration in the form of a few dashes of yellow paint for the episode "Condemned of Space" (1967). Certainly, falls onto hard sound stage floors could easily have resulted in cracks, fractures, and dents in the clear plastic dome. The other changes are more difficult to explain.

In the following photos, you can see these changes. In the left column are photos and screengrabs of Robby from Forbidden Planet and from the Invisible Boy. In the right column are photos of Robby from his two appearances on Lost in Space.

The New Dome

In the plastic dome seen in Forbidden Planet (1956) and the Invisible Boy (1957), the bottom back rim of the dome that runs along the top of the cooling vents is scalloped. A more dramatic saw tooth pattern is especially apparent in the stepped rise in the dome at the beginning of the cooling vents, just below and to the right of the ear sensors and just behind the mouth opening. The new dome used in Lost in Space has abandoned this scalloping and has substituted straight edges.

Additionally, a solid, integrated keyhole-shaped gasket was added behind the ears and vertically arranged cooling rings. Previously, there had only been a rectangular gasket behind the cooling rings.

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Invisible Boy (1957)
Note the scalloping of the lower edge of the back of the dome
Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967)
Note the lack of scalloping of the lower edge of the back of the dome. The dome is cut in a perfectly straight line.

Invisible Boy (1957)
Robby's right sensor ring is intact.
Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967). While only a temporary alteration of the dome area, this screengrab reveals that Robby's right sensor ring has been removed. Experts agree that this ring was removed to allow Robby to pass through the triangular shaped doorways of the prison ship where he served as the robot guard in this episode.

In this screen grab from Forbidden Planet, note the medial vertical dorsal crest that runs up from the back of the dome. This element was also present in Invisible Boy (1957).
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)
Here is a good shot of the lower edge of the back of the dome.

A perfect shot of the medial crest from The Invisible Boy. Note the obvious scalloping
In The Twilight Zone episode "Uncle Simon" (1963), we have a unique view of the new dome unpainted. Note the lack of a medial crest, the lack of scalloping, and the paucity of cooling fins. I will refrain from commenting on the removal of Robby's brain and its replacement by a horrible tin bucket.

Here, you can see that there is no gasket around the circular ear piece. There is, however, a flat rectangular gasket into which the cooling rings are inserted. This gasket is then attached to the outside of the dome.
The new dome has an unusual new feature. A single keyhole-shaped gasket has been added behind the ear piece and cooling rings. This new, larger gasket has taken the place of the old rectangular gasket that previously adhered to the dome beneath the cooling rings.
Experts speculate that this larger, more comprehensive gasket was added because the hole in the plastic dome through which the ear protrudes was carelessly cut. It may merely be a patch to disguise poor workmanship, but it nevertheless enhances the appearance of Robby by adding an interesting visual detail that unifies those elements that protrude through the dome.

Another view showing the lack of a raised circular gasket behind the round ear piece.
Here is another good shot of the keyhole-shaped gasket.

The New Arms

Robby's arms are similar in conception to the arms of the Lost in Space robot, but there are major differences. Instead of collapsible rubber bellows, Robby's arms are a series of interlocking wooden rings held together by rubber bellows. These rings are found between the wrists and the ball joint that partially protrudes from the shoulder. In Forbidden Planet and the Invisible Boy, three rings (four at the most) are visible.

For Lost in Space, however, Robby's arms were more than doubled in length. Instead of three rings, Robby now has at least seven visible rings. In some shots, I have counted eight rings emerging from the ball joint. While there may have been many reasons for the change in arm length, including the size of the man inside the costume, a practical advantage of the increased length is a great range of arm motion and an enhancement in Robby's ability to pick up and carry objects.

Forbidden Planet (1956). In this publicity shot, one can count four arm rings.
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966). In this screen grab, one can easily count seven rings in Robby's left arm.

Invisible Boy (1957). In this publicity still, the standard minimum of three rings are visible.
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966). In this screen grab, one can count seven rings in Robby's right arm.

Invisible Boy (1957). This is an especially good shot of the rubber bellows behind the rings.
Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967). In this screengrab, one can count six rings.

The New Chest Box

For Lost in Space, Robby's chest box (also called the "heart box") was redesigned. The script for "War of the Robots" requires that a panel open in the robotoid's chest so that a "neutron tube gun" could be fired.

First, Robby's torso had been ingeniously designed so that it could be placed upside down just as easily as right side up. In other words, the top of the torso is identical to the bottom. For Lost in Space, the torso was placed upside down on the waist section.

Second, the "piano keys" that pulsed alternately were masked over with a metal plate. In "Condemned of Space" (1967), this plate was colored red. It is possible that it was also red in "War of the Robots" (1966), but this is difficult to ascertain because it was filmed in black and white.

Third, the function of the "analyzing hopper" door was changed. In Forbidden Planet, this aperture opened up to receive items for analysis. In Invisible Boy, the aperture opens to reveal a central circular socket used to hook Robby up to the evil super computer. In "War of the Robots" (1966), the upside down hopper opens up to reveal that the central socket has been transformed into the barrel of a "neutron tube gun." In "Condemned of Space": (1967), the "analyzing hopper" never opens.

Fourth, and finally, for both episodes of Lost in Space, the two rotating censors have been replace with a copper plate with three glass panes behind which pulsating lights are engaged in a chase sequence.

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)

Invisible Boy (1957)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)
Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966)

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967). Here, the red color of the plate covering the "piano keys" is seen.

The Yellow Paint

The simplest and perhaps the most obvious alteration that Robby underwent for "Condemned of Space" (1967) was the addition of a few yellow stripes: two along each side of the mouth; two around each arm; one around each wrist; one around each knee; and one around each foot. The yellow stripes coordinated nicely with the yellow stripes on the outside of the prison ship, the Vera Castle, where Robby job worked as a prison guard.

Forbidden Planet (1956)

"Condemned of Space" (1967)

Back

Invisible Boy (1957) Note the scalloping of the lower edge of the back of the dome	Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967) Note the lack of scalloping of the lower edge of the back of the dome. The dome is cut in a perfectly straight line.
Invisible Boy (1957) Robby's right sensor ring is intact.	Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967). While only a temporary alteration of the dome area, this screengrab reveals that Robby's right sensor ring has been removed. Experts agree that this ring was removed to allow Robby to pass through the triangular shaped doorways of the prison ship where he served as the robot guard in this episode.
In this screen grab from Forbidden Planet, note the medial vertical dorsal crest that runs up from the back of the dome. This element was also present in Invisible Boy (1957).	Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966) Here is a good shot of the lower edge of the back of the dome.
A perfect shot of the medial crest from The Invisible Boy. Note the obvious scalloping	In The Twilight Zone episode "Uncle Simon" (1963), we have a unique view of the new dome unpainted. Note the lack of a medial crest, the lack of scalloping, and the paucity of cooling fins. I will refrain from commenting on the removal of Robby's brain and its replacement by a horrible tin bucket.
Here, you can see that there is no gasket around the circular ear piece. There is, however, a flat rectangular gasket into which the cooling rings are inserted. This gasket is then attached to the outside of the dome.	The new dome has an unusual new feature. A single keyhole-shaped gasket has been added behind the ear piece and cooling rings. This new, larger gasket has taken the place of the old rectangular gasket that previously adhered to the dome beneath the cooling rings. Experts speculate that this larger, more comprehensive gasket was added because the hole in the plastic dome through which the ear protrudes was carelessly cut. It may merely be a patch to disguise poor workmanship, but it nevertheless enhances the appearance of Robby by adding an interesting visual detail that unifies those elements that protrude through the dome.
Another view showing the lack of a raised circular gasket behind the round ear piece.	Here is another good shot of the keyhole-shaped gasket.

Forbidden Planet (1956). In this publicity shot, one can count four arm rings.	Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966). In this screen grab, one can easily count seven rings in Robby's left arm.
Invisible Boy (1957). In this publicity still, the standard minimum of three rings are visible.	Lost in Space, "War of the Robots" (1966). In this screen grab, one can count seven rings in Robby's right arm.
Invisible Boy (1957). This is an especially good shot of the rubber bellows behind the rings.	Lost in Space, "Condemned of Space" (1967). In this screengrab, one can count six rings.