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Rear view.

Concept models.

Concept models.

Concept models.

Concept models.

Propellor protection. Prop actually swivels up and down to give ground clearance or motive power.

[Source: All the above images - Life 1948]

[Source: Mechanix Illustrated - March 1948]

[Source: Popular Mechanics - May 1948]

[Source: Popular Science - May 1948]

Leapfrog Barge
Swims, Walks, Climbs
NEITHER surf nor sand dunes can stop  the Navy's newest amphibious vehicle, a "walking" barge with a leapfrog gait and pontoon legs. Carrying a 60-ton load, it lifts itself by its own bootstraps over mud flats, banks, and beaches. It van even climb a six-foot
A single stern propeller, driven by a power take-off from twin Diesel tank engines, propels the barge is the water. When it reaches shore, the propeller folds up and of harm's way, and the huge craft starts to walk on the three compartmented pontoons that form its hull. For each ponderous stop, the center pontoon is lifted 17 inches and moved forward 10 feet; them the outer pontoons, which are decked over to carry the load, move upward and forward in turn, as illustrated below.
Hydraulic steering pads at the rear of the outer pontoons provide sufficient pivotal dry; to turn the 60-foot barge in little more than its own length. In the present model, vertical fins in the forward sections of all three pontoons insure traction in mud.
The barge was designed by John T. Tucker, superintendent of the Navy's proving pound at Port Hueneme, Calif.. where it is being tested. He believes that his steel leapfrogs, built in many sizes, may change the whole concept of amphibious landings and ease the problems of setting up military outposts at remote points.
The uses suggested for the craft support his belief. Carrying stacks of sectional road mats, for example, the walking barges could string completed landing ramps or airstrips behind them. They would be useful in building bridges or piers. Armored, they could beome mobile fortresses la cover troops making shore assaults. In the Arctic, where impassible ice gives way to impassible bogs when the tundra melts. the barges could provide year-'round, heavy-duty transport.

This article is based on a response to the Popular Science article above.

Giving Credit Where Due
Sir:
In reading your article in the May issue of PS ["Leapfrog Barge Swims, Walks, Climbs," p. 146] about the "Navy's newest amphibious vehicle," well it just isn't anything new.
I was a member of the Sea Bee outfit known as A.B.C.D. on the island of Oahu T. H., and we, too, made a leapfrog barge. We didn't get the drawings etc. to build it until too late to help in the war. . . .
I must admit the barge in PS is just a little fancier in design, but you have to consider that the gear raceways were bent by hand in our blacksmith shop under Chief Walter Plaskett, and the gears themselves were cast in a foundry we also built.
Plenty of nights a crew worked voluntarily under a Hawaiian moon and welding arcs to finish the "monster" in time to be of use to the war effort.
I think Lt. Sterling Thompson and all the rest of the officers and men who worked on it should have at least got a mention in small print.
Was our barge ever recognized? Did it play any part in inspiring the one in PS? I guess we'll never know!
CHARLES HARDING, JR.
Saugus, Mass.
Mr. Harding and his mates were not working in vain. They were performing valuable spadework on the original "walking barge." For security reasons, however, their efforts had to go unsung until now.

[RH-2012- This earlier machine is most likely based on the earlier patent by Tucker - see below]

Patents:

There were two patents by John Tucker. The second one, US2667937 is the one the above Walking Barge was based upon.

PROPULSION APPARATUS J. T. TUCKER et al
See full patent details here.    
Patent number: 2381235
Filing date: Mar 6, 1944
Issue date: Aug 7, 1945

WALKING VEHICLE J. T. TUCKER et al
 See full patent details here.

    
Patent number: 2667937
Filing date: May 24, 1948
Issue date: Feb 2, 1954

Walking Boat Trivia:

• In 1918 there was a cartoon of a passenger ship lifting itself out of the water to avoid a torpedo.
• The Walking barge above used the same 'big foot' principle as the British invented Walking Dragline (Ransomes-Rapier) of 1939.
• Frank Stuart filed a patent for Britain’s first (I believe) amphibious walker, albeit in the form of a mechanical elephant, in 1950.

前掲書2頁より
昭和22年（1947年）製作の
「ユニバーサルロボット第2号」
都立工蔓高校の創立四十年記念祭に学生たちと製作した「エ蔓一郎」君の次に製作された弟である

Rough English translation…

Cit from Page 2
 1947 (1947) production
 "Universal Robot No. 2"
 Made with students in Senior high school was founded four decades Jubilee Metropolitan Industrial vine "Mr. Ichiro " is your brother, was made following.

Opened back of robot.

See the full Jiro Aizawa story here .

Ex-Tom Norgate's Mechanical Elephant supplied by Frank Stuart.

The ex-Norgate elephant ("Ellie") is the only known baby elephant to have a plate on it saying "Supplied by Frank Stuart".

Above 3 images courtesy Derek Tucker.

The full history of Frank Stuart and his baby mechanical elephants (stiff legged, not the later walking elephants) remains unclear.  In the mid to late 1940's, Frank Stuart's business was primarily into theatrical mask making and scenic prop making. Around 1947 he finally makes an electric powered mechanical elephant, most likely for indoor theatrical purposes. He reasons that he was holidaying on the sea side at Clacton watching donkeys take children for a ride. Having an affinity with animals, his father was a vetinarian, and he was a fellow of the Zoological Society, as well as making animal props for the theatre, Stuart thought he could make an artificial substitute, saving the animal on the one hand, and believing it to be cheaper to run on the other.

Later on, Stuart makes baby elephants under contract to Macades (Entertainment) who bought the Frank Smith patent.

It appears the idea of theatric prop to making money from amusement rides starts to take shape. Maurice  Radburn, an employee of Frank Stuart's, believes he can make a walking version of this elephant. In his spare time, he produces a working model, called "Bimbo". Stuart develops this idea further, and produces drawings and a full size prototype called "Potsy". At about this time, if not before, Stuart ceases to supply Macades with baby elephants, and focuses his business and staff on building the larger walking elephants. The walking elephant was announced to the world early in January of 1950, but took another 6 months before a reliable version was perfected enough to fully publicise, around July 1950.

Soon after, it is believed that Stuart is charged with infringing the patent now owned by Macades (Entertainment), who are in business to make money in the amusement game. Clearly Stuart was about to muscle in on Macades turf big time, which is why it was most likely Macades that sought the patent infringement. 

Stuart therefore targets his elephants for export only, given that the Macades patent was for Great Britain only. Initial orders were fulfilled, but Stuart geared up for larger orders coming in. Unfortunately for Stuart, his creditors get nervous or see that the production rate is too slow, for whatever reason the receivers are called in and Stuart eventually declares bankruptcy mid 1952.

Most likely Stuart had spirited away some walkers and a baby at the time the receivers were called in, and was now using these at Paignton and Scarborough during the summer season, at least in 1952, and possibly up until 1955, at Paignton.  

The era for such amusements was, however, in decline, and Macades themselves also disappeared off the scene.

Jenny II with coach at Paignton, 1955.

Source: The Argus (Australia) 13 Jan 1950.

"Wilhelmina"

Lot 382 Brooks Auction – Toys and Models 28th Sept. 2000. Sold for Pound 450. (Image courtesy Stuart Cyrus). Notice the Engine display window has not been cut into the side of the howdah in this image.

Amazing Wilhelmina the Mechanical Elephant

Wilhelmina is for sale by John Hornby-Smith, England [or was in 2000].

He provides the following details:
Wilhelmina the mechanical elephant is nearly 50 years old and getting ready to celebrate the millennium. Built by Frank Stuart in the early 50's, she served her time giving children rides on the promenades of famous north country seaside towns and later in the Belle Vue Zoo Manchester (England). Recently restored, now sparkling with gold decoration, she is ready for more and FOR SALE.

Extract of details:
4 children can ride on the howdah. Wilhelmina is propelled by a J.A.P. 4 cycle petrol engine (shown below) with centrifugal clutch. She is steered by an adult walking along beside her. Her head nods as she moves. She is constructed of papier mache and canvas over tubular steel frame.

See full page article here.

**Stop Press** as at 29 Jan 2011, ebay has one for sale!  As Larry Gavette pointed out in the comment posted, this is Wilhelmina being sold again - see Wilhelmina above.

Ebay Item number: 280621953395

1950S FAIRGROUND ELEPHANT IN NEED OF RESTORATION, BODY COSMETICS, HAS  A JAP ENGINE, CAPABLE OF CARRYING SIX KIDS, STEERING IN HEAD OF ELEPHANT, HEAD SPRUNG LOADED, CHAIN DRIVEN LEGS TO  WHEELS, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, MADE IN THETFORD(sic) IN NORFOLK IN THE 1950S. VERY RARE PIECE OF MEMORABILIA. LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES, GLASS EYES CAN BE SEEN IN NORFOLK, NEAR KINGSLYNN, BUYER TO COLLECT, THIS ELEPHANT IS 8FT LONG, 64INCHES HIGH,WIDTH 36 INCHES. NO RESERVE, BUYER TO COLLECT CASH ON COLLECTION, ANY QUERIES TEL TREV ON 07743408970.

Sold for GBP 1,600.

The Orrows now own Wilhelmina and are lovingly restoring her.

**Update** Jan 2012 – During the restoration, Derek Tucker noticed that Wilhelmina, too, is the same construction as it his "Ellie" above. The manufacturing plate is missing, but the mounting holes line up.

NOTE: RH 2011 – My research suggests that the Macades elephants, who bought the Frank SMITH patent, all had the J.A.P. motors and were manufactured by both Frank STUART and Luneside Engineering. Macades may have made some themselves.

Is this the electric version built by Frank Stuart?

Update: No, it was converted from Petrol-fueled engine.

SABOR V – showing battered body (arms), and updated electronics. The Second World War interrupted August Huber's plans to implement a further attempt of his SABOR series. The earlier SABOR IV had good mechanics, but Huber was not happy with the electrical controls. Electrical Engineer Peter Steuer continued  Hubers’ work from his 1947 SABOR IV and developed SABOR V and was responsible for the upgrade to the radio equipment and other electronics. In 1951 SABOR V was now in the ownership of Peter Steuer.

SABOR V with Peter Steuer getting his batteries charged ready for a show at Hamburg , Germany in 1952.

These pictures are from a larger collection from LIFE magazine.

SABOR's head carried separately inside the transport vehicle.

SABOR V being unloaded from the back of the transport vehicle. He was carried vertically on the rear of the van. You can just see the removable cover on the righthand side of the image.

Bobby Lugano (pictured?) took SABOR V all around Europe, usually in Steuer's absence, and appeared on the television and at other public events. Bobby Lugano (aged 34) was a Magician and Conferencier from Vienna and Paul Watensperger was his behind-the-scenes assistant.  In this image we see SABOR smoking. A strange method in that the cigarette is held in the hand, the hand is usually moved to his mouth, then exhales through his nose. In reality, there is a bellows inside SABOR and a rubber tube from the hand to the bellows to the nose.

SABOR V in HAMBURG, 1952, with Paul Watensperger (age 29, from Basel) at the remote controls.

SABOR V, the media called him "Louis" for his 1954 tour. The person in front is possibly Paul Watensperger.

Above: Photographed in Hamburg, Germany on the 10 Aug 1952.

Paul Watensperger commanded Sabor by a short-wave radio channel. Under the system of telephone pulses using a 1 to 0 , from the dial electric signals generated on the short wave base-station and transmitted to Sabor to a phone center – housed in the chest – and activated a relay system to trigger the reactions of the robot.
There are theoretically 24 movement possibilities and can be combined with each other.  Hands are usually combinations of three or four basic movements. Sabors basic movements come close to a persons.  He can move
* Back and forth,
* Sideways,
* Lift the arms,
* Bend the arms,
* Rotate the head,
* Nod the head,
* Move the lips.
Only on stages does Sabor still have a serious worry: he has no knees. And instead of shoe with soles, he tramples around in the open on three small wheels, one in the toe of the foot and two at the back, so Sabor rolls with a walking movement. The legs also lack knee joints.
The Metropolis-show advertising Sabor announced as "the first robot. … Without the direct monitoring by human movement". 
Its cruising speed is 2.5 kilometers per hour.
If Sabor speaks, he moves his mouth while in rhythm with the voice, but Sabors voice is the voice of his master, which consists of a short-wave loudspeakers in the inside of the body  of the robot.  The speaker is on relays with the movement of the lips mechanism coupled to the electric shocks of consonants responded folding system of the lips.
The following effects are necessary for exhibition purposes.  Sabor can, for example,
* Blink the eyelids,
* Fire a revolver,
* Offer a light for a cigarette, and finally
* Smoke a cigarette.
The robot, however, smokes strangly. He raises his hand with the cigarette to the mouth and blows the smoke from the nose, but in reality it sucks the smoke – but no one sees – from the hand, up the arm to the nose and blowing it out.

VIDEO CLIP

Gaumont Pathe Archives have a 1952 video of this version of SABOR V. You have to be registered (free) and logged in to see the preview.  Search for "1952 28 8".

August Huber was the owner of a well-flourishing textile business, and although SABOR V had passed control to Steuer, Huber was looking to finance another robot, called SABINE, and SABINE was be be an artificial rope dancer, being capable of riding a unicycle on a tightrope. Huber got as far as designing it on paper.  

SABOR's compared – Huber's earlier 1938 SABOR IV on the left, followed by the modifications made by Peter Steuer for SABOR V , then the modifications by Eric Lanz. The far right shows the same internals of SABOR V as modified by Lanz, but externally made to look like an astronaut, and called "Orbitus" at the time. Mechanically, SABOR stayed the same.

Externally, SABOR IV is identified by his lack of eye-brows, but more specifically the shorter antennae, being for the ultra-short-wave radio transmitter/receiver. The earlier version of SABOR V externally has a battered body, no eye-brows, and a metal neck, not mesh like the later model.

See SABOR V later version here.

See video preview here.

A second video can be seen here, but you need to create an account and log-in first. Search for "NEW DERBY HOPE"

"Tractor Classic", May/June 2004, Vol. 19 #3, pages 25-26.

"Blowtorch" currently on display at :

Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw Branch – History of Transportation.     
50 Diefenbaker Drive
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada S6J 1J9

From Expo-86

….Lingering awhile at the first two displays as you enter the [Saskatchewan] pavilion. You'd see Blowtorch, the mechanical horse….

Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir, by Lorna Crozier

Here [Saskatchewan], eccentricities are not only accepted, but expected, and even they are familiar: Mr. W.J. McIntyre Jr., who created the smoking, roaring mechanical horse Blow Torch, highlight of the town parade;

As famous in our town as Trigger, the pinto was named Blow Torch. His mane of real horsehair gleamed. Smoke puffed from his nostrils every five minutes or so. and he let out a roar that came nowhere close to a whinny or a neigh. Everyone laughed and clapped as he clomped by. The clamour he made was like a grain him collapsing in on itself in a high wind.
People referred to Blow Torch's creator, Mr. McIntyre Jr., as an inventor. He'd inherited McIntyre's Foundry from his father, and though some considered him eccentric, his construction of the mechanical horse made him even more of a celebrity than the mayor or the skip who'd almost won the Brier. Mr. McIntyre rarely accompanied Blow Torch in the parade, though. Usually it was a clown, maybe one of the bull wranglers from the rodeo, who held the reins to make sure the steel pinto didn't veer into the crowd.