Two Contrasting Automata

These two toy automata are only really linked by the fact that one does so little, and the other does so much!

They were bought about 25 years ago, so they are mostly mechanical, without the fancy electronic controls that you find in modern toys.

The first one shows some long grass, growing under a small bell jar. When you switch it on (it is battery powered) you can hear a little motor faintly whirring, but nothing much seems to be happening. It is only when you dim the lights that you see there are some small insects sitting on some of the blades of grass. hey are fire flies, and in dim light, you can see that every so often, one of them will light up.

The other one is made by Mattel, and Tim remembers the crowds of people watching this with fascination, the first time it was shown at a toy fair.

The character drives his dragon vehicle along the track; once he reaches the end of the track, the track swivels around, so that the section of track that was behind him is not in front of him, and he can set off again, along the track. This keeps repeating, and so he can cover quite large distances quite quickly, on his amazing 'never ending' track!

Thanks raafmaat for pointing out that the character is He Man from Masters of the Universe, and this is the Dragon Walker.