The comic book story below about Robotman titled The Robotman Detector, first appeared in full color as it does here, in the No. 72 issue of "Star Spangled Comics," dated September 1948. That same year it also appeared in the "Daisy Handbook No. 2" published by the Daisy Manufacturing Company. The handbook was printed in a booklet format of 128 pages plus an eight page catalog in the center with the covers measuring 5.25" x 4.5". The handbook, except for the smaller size, was similar to a comic book as to content except in black and white instead of color and the page format, rather than having the typical comic book height higher than the width rectangle shape, was for the most part, nearly square.
When the online version of the Daisy Handbook was made available the ROBOTMAN: The Robotman Detector story was left out, hence, to make up for it, it's appearance is presented below, albeit in full color and comic book size format. My personal interest in the 1948 Daisy Handbook No. 2 is twofold. One is the the Robotman story left out that appears below and two, a story that was not left out titled 500 Years Too Soon, a well done illustrated biography of Leonardo Da Vinci, especially the portion that deals with the Da Vinci Flying Machines. In the handbook, as with the Robotman story, it too was in black and white and square. So too, it also had been published previously in full size comic book format and full color appearing in the No. 58 issue of "True Comics," dated March 1947, linked for those who may be so interested down the page.
(please click image)
The detector in "The Robotman Detector" story below is a World War II surplus mine detector. The story tells how the detector was used by a number of nefarious characters to try then located lost buried treasure, in this case, stolen loot, more specifically gold and silver. When I read the Robotman story and my dad showed up with a surplus mine detector, I put two and two together and off my brothers and I went to find the stolen stagecoach gold said to be buried in or around the Garcia Adobe not far from the ranch where we lived. The complete story is found in The Boy and His Jeep.
My dad had no problem with the idea of searching for lost gold. He was always talking about the Lost Dutchman Mine he intended to go search for one day as well as the Lost Gold of the Sierra Prospector, of which he knew about personally because he buried it. Seven million bucks worth in todays dollars and as far as I know it's still there.
Why did my father never go back and get the gold himself. Two reasons, but mainly because of the Cowboy Code of the West. First, he and his partner made a vow that one would never go to retrieve the gold without the other, and secondly, my dad never wanted to go there and find the gold gone with his partner being the only person knowing where it was. He always said he would rather never have the gold than to know his partner took it. Besides he said, if he went to the spot to get the gold in violation of their vow and it was still there, he would be setting himself up to such a terrible dilemma he didn't want to face it.
(please click image)
------LEONARDO DA VINCI---------------------BEACH BLANKET BINGO ----
(please click either image)
FOR A FREE NO SIGN-UP INDIVIDUAL ONLINE COPY OF ANY OF THE THREE COMICS PLEASE CLICK IMAGE ---
---
THE LOST DUTCHMAN MINE , DEAD EYE WESTERNS, NOVEMBER 1949, ISSUE #3 -
(please click either image)
THE DUTCHMAN'S SECRET, UNCLE SCROOGE, JULY 2003, ISSUE #319
