a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
November, 1915 THE ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTER by Hugo Gernsback. Front cover -"THE RADIUM DESTROYER" from a painting by Thomas H. Wrenn. (typo- actually Thomas N. Wrenn) Warfare of the Future The Radium Destroyer THE European War has clearly demonstrated what a tremendous part modern science plays in the offense as well as in the defense of …
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1960 – "Beauregard" the Robot by Tom Graham. There are 17 buttons on the control panel, which Tom uses to make the mechanical man do his bidding. Aided by his machinist dad, the lad labored for 15 months to perfect the robot. Operating a 17-button control panel, Tom Graham is able to make his home-made …
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1959 – "DUHAB" (Detector of Undesirable HABitués) by Lawrence Lipton / Bill Riola. Photograph caption dated December 5, 1960 reads, "Electronic Cat Detects Subversives for Beatniks. Duhab accompanies poet-author Lawrence Lipton to weed out undesirables." Image source: The Los Angeles Public Library. Lawrence Lipton was talking to the Valley College Writer's Club. Source: The beatnik …
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1965 – "Mr. Obos" the Robot by Lou Nasti (upper right). New York Times, March 20, 1965 – By PHILIP H. DOUGHERTY – Print Headline: "So What Else Is New? A Robot Makes Debut on Flatbush Ave." So What Else Is New? A Robot Makes Debut on Flatbush Ave. ROBOT IN RESIDENCE: Mr. Obos blinks …
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1954 – "Sylvania Sam" Promotional Robot. The "Sylvania Sam" Promotional Robot was a 9-foot tall talking "electronic" robot that tells you all about pink "Softlight" bulbs. See other early Humanoid Robots here.