1934 – Egbert – (American)

Popular Science June 1934

TALKING ROBOT SALUTES VISITORS

Mechanical man salutes and speaks to visitors at Franklin Institute.

Phonograph record that gives robot its voice and mechanism that causes action.

SPOKEN messages of welcome. accompained by a snappy salute, startle visitors to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Pa., where a mechanical man nick-named "Egbert" has just been installed as official greeter. The robot comes to life when the visitor's shadow falls upon a light-sensitive "eye," operating electric relays that set him in action. A phonograph record supplies his voice.