2000 – Six Legged Bicycle – Pete Beeman (American)

Six Legged Bicycle This piece is built to ride like a bicycle, but pedaling walks the six legs, instead of turning wheels, for forward motion. Somewhere between riding a bicycle and a horse. See video here  Fabrication: Pete Beeman Engineering: Pete Beeman Date: 2000 Dimensions: 5' deep, 4' wide, 4' high Materials: aluminum, steel, wood, mechanics. [Source: All pictures and text from Pete …

2011 – “Iron Stallion” and other Mechanical Walking Machines – Carter Sharer (American)

Iron Stallion (Pedal Horse) Carter's linkages remind me somewhat of Alzetta's 1933 horse.  Longer legs, a more powerful motor, lower centre of gravity, steering and one could ride this machine bicycle-like. You start and stop with the person's feet touching the surface of the road. The ride would be a bit bumpy but swift – something …

1947-55 – Baby Mechanical Elephants – Frank Stuart (British)

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 …

1909c – Walking Machines (Fictional) – Harry Grant Dart (American)

"Orient Express" is one of my favourites, showing Luggage with arms and legs! Robot with attitude! Harry Grant Dart (1869 – 1938) Unlike many illustrators who graduated from newspaper art departments to the more lucrative magazine markets, Harry Dart continued to work in both fields.  Beginning with the Boston Herald, he was sent to Cuba …

1875 – W.W. Cole’s Circus “Steam Man” – (American)

$7,000 Mechanical Wonder ! The only Steam Man Actually walks and runs alone! The Greatest Invention of Modern Times. The W.W. Cole's Great New York and New Orleans Zoological and Equestrian Exposition toured the American continent between 1871 and 1886, and in 1875 and early 1876 featured a Steam Man. Other than the illustration that …