a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
Illustration by Léon Benett. From Wiki The Steam House (French: La maison à vapeur) is a Jules Verne novel recounting the travels of a group of British colonists in the Raj in a wheeled house pulled by a steam-powered mechanical elephant. Jules Verne uses the mechanical house as a plot device to have the reader …
Read More “1880 – “The Steam House” Steel Giant – Jules Verne (French)”
On July 28, 1950, Frank Stuart gave his first public outing of his man-made walking elephant, walking the roads of Essex with a load of children in its howdah. This robot “Jumbo” is the remarkable invention by Mr. Frank Stuart, a theatrical mask maker and scenic artist. About two years earlier, when watching donkeys on the …
Read More “1949-50 – Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)”
It is difficult to trace the origins of the Frank Stuart’s Mechanical Elephants in America. I’ll present some published information that gives clues to their linearity. The earliest date I have found so far is the delivery of Cunningham’s [Department Stores in Michigan] “Jumbo” is June 1951. The Billboard 23 June 1951 The large Cunningham …
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Nellie the mechanical elephant was purchased for 1,500 pounds by Edward Hayward during a trip to England, and brought home to feature in the John Martin's Christmas pageant. At the time, Nellie was claimed to be the only full-sized mechanical elephant in the world. There is some video on this 1950 parade with the elephant. …
Read More “1950 – “Nellie” the Mechanical Elephant – in Australia built by Frank Stuart”
Peter Clare – Egremont, Cumbria. I keep a mechanical elephant called Snowdrop. It moves its legs and its head, lifts its trunk, squirts water from its trunk and bellows. Snowdrop can carry about six children and will be on display at the Barbican, London this summer. Tue Jan 25 09:27:12 2005 Peter Clare fashioned mechanical …
Read More “1999-2005 – “Snowdrop” the Mechanical Elephant – Peter Clare”