1957- Japanese Humanoid Robots and Toy Robots – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)

Jiro Aizawa, born 1903, is very significant in terms of Japan's history of robots, toy robots in particular.  (also Dr. Aizawa, Uncle Robot, Dr. Robot, Zirou Aizawa, Dr. Aizawa Zirou, and 二郎相澤 in Japanese.) In 1910*1, when in 5th grade, Aizawa saw his first mechanical man in a London exhibition [RH Note that the word robot was not …

1952 – Ebenezer the Mechanical Man – Jack Brownson (American)

(Source: Mechanix Illustrated June 1952) Mechanical Ebenezer Children in Des Moines, Iowa are enchanted by a six-foot mechanical man who walks, talks, and smokes cigarettes. Jack Brownson, who spent four years making him, guides Ebenezer by a cable, projects his voice through loadspeaker. Construction is almost entirely auto parts.

1952 “Anatole” the Robot Secretary – A. Grouvel (French)

In 1956, there were a couple of press reports of Anatole, the robot secretary was on show at the Paris Office Equipment Exhibit. Claims that French engineer A. Grouvel constructed him four years earlier (making it 1952). At the exhibition, the robot exhibited its ability to talk and print envelopes. VIDEO CLIP There is a …

1952-67 – “Bensina” the Frank Stuart Elephant in Sweden – Frank Stuart (British)

"Bensina" arrived in Sweden in August 1952. It arrived with Karl Nelles, one of Frank Stuart's elephant drivers. See here for the full Frank Stuart Mechanical Elephant stories. DAGENS NYHETER Onsdo Eq 9 / Elefant „Döp Stockholms nya elefant Barnavårdsdirektör Otto Wangson, längst t. v., bland barnen. ungdomskonsulent Axel Brandt och f. d. tyske krigsfången …

1952 – Mr. Rivets the Robot – Joe Earley (American)

Source: http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/rivets-golf.html  – also contains video clip. Alan Scott & Mr. Rivets "Let Scott Do It" WPTZ, Channel 3 1954 There was a mechanical man on WPTZ, Channel 3 from 1952 to 1956. His name was Mr. Rivets and he was portrayed by Broadcast Pioneers member Joe Earley. The program was called "Let Skinner Do …