a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Mr. Testu [Tetsu-Kun], unconfirmed name, also called Mr. Stamp. I've dated him as 1973, but I've also seen a reference to 1971.
Mr. Tetsu on display after being restored at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan, 2008.
The author with Mr. Tetsu in November, 2010.
See the full Jiro Aizawa story here 
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(Source: Mechanix illustrated September 1951)
Robots in Ragtime
The Japanese have come up with something new in toys. It’s a mechanical orchestra and its tinny music has captured the hearts of the youngsters.
Jiro Aizawa, an ex-Kamikaze plane designer, is the creator. Loath to discard his mechanical training after the war, he turned to experimentation with robots, a subject in which he had long been interested. His results are quite amazing.
The orchestra’s actual music is produced by a phonograph record synchronized with the movements of the players. In its repertoire are: Buttons and Bows, Beer Barrel Polka and Rumba Tamba.
A drummer in the guise of an early soldier – 1940.
Nine musical robots appear in a Tokyo store in 1966.
Trumpet player on the cover of a Japanese model makiing magazine 1967.
At a Japanese exhibition in 2010, these cardboard and metal 'musical' robots were on show.
Unpainted tin violin playing robot. A single solenoid moves the bow arm backwards and forwards.
See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .
Mr Hachiro appearing on the cover of a 1967 Model Magazine.
Mr Hachiro (small robot second from left).
A later picture of Mr. Hachiro (third from the left, front, small) with his brothers.
See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .
Mr. Ryo [Ryo-Kun] on display after his restoration.
Ryo-Kun during restoration at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan in 2008.
The robot's left arm follows the X-Y directions from a master arm seen here at the base being guided by a person.
Close-up of the drawing hand.
Close-up of the master arm. I do not know if the resultant drawing was recorded (programmed) for repetitive drawings.
After looking at the video clip, it appears that the drawing can be recorded.
All images sourced from a site I can no longer locate. When I do, I will add it here.
See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .
Mr. Atomic is an Aizawa robot that was in an exhibition in 1968. It draws (and/or writes) with its right hand/arm, and rubber stamps with the left. Mr. Atomic may not be it's real name, but is the name on its shoulder.
See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .