Popular Mechanics May 1949
WILLIE the ROBOT
WILLIE is a dapper little citizen of Hammond. Ind., with a leer in his eye and a stomach chock full of wires and gears. He's a robot, the mechanical child of Andy Bober. If you ever meet Willie, there's any number of things he may do. He introduces himself politely, puffs a cigarette, answers your questions, walks, dances, turns in any direction, sings, plays a horn or harmonica and even aims and fires a pistol. Bober has worked 15 years on Willie. He won't reveal all his secrets. but explains that electrical impulses from the control box travel along a cable, up one of Willie's legs and into coils in his body. Willie hears through microphones in his ears and answers questions through a loudspeaker installed in his stomach.
Above. Willie smiles bravely with his shirt peeled back so his creator can marke some minor adjustments. Below, tho robot pauses for a light during a stroll around the room. Below, left Bober operates dopper mechanical man by remote control from switch box.
(Source: Modern Mechanics and Inventions, March 1934).
The above article is dated from 1933, and also shows Bober spelt as Baber.
The above article from The Hammond Times19 Mar 1934 p16.
Grandpa Bober lived with us for a while when. I was young. The other two robots where named Eleanor and Billy. I Also remember how grandpa entertained us with his Majic tricks.
I am the oldest granddaughter of Andrew Bober. My father, Walter (Butch) was his oldest son. Grandpa was a man of many talents. Besides being a watchmaker, he also owned a Butcher shop. People referred to my dad, as the butcher's boy,so the name Butch became his nickname. I probably knew Grandpa better than the other kids, being that I was one of the oldest. If any cousins want to contact me, I'm on Facebook.
I saw many shows with all three robots working, I wish there was a video somewhere. He was also working on a clock that would wind it self by wind currents in the house. In his later years he worked as a cabinet maker for Pulman Coach railroad cars.
My Grandpa–(Mom)was also great with magic tricks–a fabulous carpenter, and real estate magnet. We were too young to understand all that we could have learned from him. I understood him to be a quiet SHEIK OF HAMMOND, he lost his wife when she was only 28.
IF ANY OF ANDREWS RELATIVES SEE THIS PLEASE E MAIL ME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ALL OF US. I WAS NOT AWARE OF HE HAD A BROTHER
THIS IS MY GRANDFATHER HE ALSO MADE A WOMAN AND A BOY IN A HIGH CHAIR. THEY SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD IF HE IS DEBBIES GREAT UNCLE PLEASE E MAIL ME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE. SHARONMCCARTHY96@YAHH.COM
Source is “modern mechanics and inventions” magazine march 1934.
Noticed watchmaker article was recently posted,
Mr.Bober is great uncle wondering were newest article was found