Was C-3PO the first protocol droid of his kind?

Question

We see in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace that young Anakin Skywalker built C-3PO to assist his mother around the house when he goes away, but I do not think any other protocol droids are seen in the Star Wars universe before 3PO is built. Does this mean that Anakin Skywalker invented this kind of protocol droid, or did I just miss something?

Ben Murphy · Accepted Answer

C-3PO is a "3PO Series" droid manufactured by "Cybot Galactica", which Anakin has assembled from spare parts.
Until the release of The Phantom Menace, the Expanded Universe had him as a regular droid who had been manufactured 112 years BBY.
Between The Phantom Menace and the "Legends" retcon, some of the discrepancy was reconciled, such as stating that only some of the parts were 80 years old when Anakin rebuilt him, but I don't think it has been revisited in the new canon.
You can see some of the old information about him on the old Databank.
Chronologically, of course we see 2 examples of droids that look like C-3PO prior to seeing C-3PO. TC-14 aboard the Trade Federation flagship:

And this non-functional unit in Watto's shop:

This is probably a pretty good clue as to where Anakin got the parts...

Valorum · Answer

According to the Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Visual Dictionary factbook,

Standard Cybot Galactica protocol droids have been in use for generations.

and

Most of C-3PO's structural framework is more than 80 years old.

He is, however, a uniquely built droid (and the first of his kind) in the sense that he's made of scavenged parts from a range of protocol droid models, albeit from the same manufacturer.

Timeline-wise, we see at least one fully functional TC model protocol droid before we even meet Anakin, aboard the Neimoidian ship.

Was C-3PO the first protocol droid of his kind?

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