a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
1903 – La Motogirl – Doris Chertney [Chertsey?] / Frederic Melville. Image and text source: here. Belle Epoque Violin Playing Robot, circa 1905 In the French newspaper Le Gaulois, #9558, there is a notice of the appearance, on December 15th, 1903?, at 8:30 PM at the Olympia Theater in Paris, of La Motogirl. Now, we …
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Some of these early concepts for lunar exploration had elements of practicality; others were pure whimsy. One of the first, by Polish science-fiction writer Jerzy Zulawski (1874-1915), fell into the first category. His rover design appeared as an illustration in his 1901 tale "Szrebyym Globie" ["On the Silver Globe"] and featured full pressurization, electrical power, …
Read More “1901-3 – Walking Lunar Vehicle (Science Fiction) – Jerzy Zulawski (Polish)”
The Wonderful Electric Elephant Written in 1903 by Frances T. Montgomery, The Wonderful Electric Elephant is children's story in which Harold and Ione take a trip around the world in a life-sized mechanical elephant. The tale describes their magnificent adventure and journey. Interestingly for this site though, the book was illustrated by Cassius M. Coolidge, …
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(Source: LA Herald 21 March 1906) Phroso appeared in Wisconsin in 1905: "'What is it anyway?' This is the question that is being asked by those who attended the performances at the Bijou theater and saw the act 'Phroso, the Mechanical Doll.' Phroso certainly is a puzzle, whether man or automaton. He or It is a …
Read More “1903 – “Phroso the Mechanical Doll” – Frederick Trevallion (British/French)”