Search results for "elephant"

Results 1 - 65 of 65 Page 1 of 1
Sorted by: Relevance | Sort by: Date Results per-page: 10 | 20 | 50 | All

1903 – “The Wonderful Electric Elephant” – Frances T. Montgomery (American)

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…
Read more » 1903 – “The Wonderful Electric Elephant” – Frances T. Montgomery (American)

1980c – “PoCo” the Mechanical Elephant – Post Code (British)

Mr Eric Smith was contacted by the Postal Code officer to build an elephant for them, but he recommended Luneside Engineering to build one. Possibly the image above is the next generation elephant being built at Luneside Engineering in Halton, Lancaster. The original PoCo mechanical elephant. All above photo's courtesy…
Read more » 1980c – “PoCo” the Mechanical Elephant – Post Code (British)

Mechanical Elephants – Toys and Automata

Automata A modern piece of elephant automata. Ducamps automata made for Barnum. The above automaton, by Decamps, shows further articulation in the legs, offering a 'knee' action. Martinet elephant clock c1790.  See youtube video clip here and here . Walkindg model elephant made from Meccano.

7th Century – Mechanical Elephant Legend – (Hindu, Buddhist, Indian)

Popular 7th Century legend on King Udayana. King Pradyota of Ujjain wanted to capture rival king Udayana. King Udayana was very fond of music and of capturing wild elephants, and Pradyota trapped him by luring him out of the limits of his Kingdom into the pursuit of a faked elephant.…
Read more » 7th Century – Mechanical Elephant Legend – (Hindu, Buddhist, Indian)

1938 – Mechanical Elephant – George and Gordon Hutton (American)

Source: Popular Mechanics Feb 1938. G.G. Hutton sells his partnership to George Washington Shrum.  Most images of "Jumbo" post the 1939-40 N.Y. World's Fair are shown as "Rosie" and owned by Shrum. Most of the photos below are sourced from Life magazine. Life have over 70 images, I've just selected …
Read more » 1938 – Mechanical Elephant – George and Gordon Hutton (American)

1948 – “Tamakichi-kun” the Mechanical Elephant – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)

A book cover with elephant. the article says the book was published in 1948. The cover reads the book title "Happy modeling & handicraft" and the author "Tokyo metropolitan kogei (craft) high school instructor Jiro Aizawa". The elephant was made by himself (the pet name is "Tamakichi-kun"). Thank you Hisashi…
Read more » 1948 – “Tamakichi-kun” the Mechanical Elephant – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)

1932 – “Mechanical El” the Mechanical Elephant – M. Marcel Survivet (French)

One of the first known rideable mechanical elephants, called "Mechanical El" in the video clip, This machine is actually a walking machine, but the Howdah frame is on skids close to the ground. Quite a lot of large walking machines use this stabilising and load-carrying technique. Invented by  M. Marcel…
Read more » 1932 – “Mechanical El” the Mechanical Elephant – M. Marcel Survivet (French)

1935c – Automatic-Walking Elephant (Japanese)

This image shows a walking mechanical elephant from Japan. It is 12V electric-powered, 1/4 HP motor. The image is sourced from here. According to the website the images are from a catalog of "Nihon goraku-ki seisakusho (Japan amusement machine manufacturing)" around 1935. More info: The elephant's name is "Jidou-hokou zou (automatic-walking…
Read more » 1935c – Automatic-Walking Elephant (Japanese)

1939 – Mechanical Elephants by Messmore & Damon (American)

Messmore & Damon Mechanical Elephant. (Sourced from the Messmore & Damon catalogue.) This mechanical elephant does everything but walk! Although Messmore & Damon had been around for some time, the interest here is around the animated elephants. There were early mammoths made for The World a Million Years Ago for…
Read more » 1939 – Mechanical Elephants by Messmore & Damon (American)

1954 – “Robo” the Mechanical Elephant owned by C.C. Ezell (American)

Gas-powered Elephant to give Children Rides San Antonio Light 4 Nov 1954 Robo, the monstrous robot elephant owned by the Ezell drive-in theaters is scheduled for a 1-week stay at the Fredericksburg rd. drive-in beginning Friday. The realistic elephant will also be exhibited at Handy-Andy shopping centers during the day…
Read more » 1954 – “Robo” the Mechanical Elephant owned by C.C. Ezell (American)

1947-51 – Mechanical Elephant – Frank Smith & Eric Smith (British)

Frank Smith with his very first Mechanical Elephant outside his garage. (Image courtesy Larry Gavette) Eric Smith, Frank Smith's son with their Elephant. Note the distinguishing tusks. (Image supplied by Larry Gavette) (Image courtesy Larry Gavette) Letter by Eric Smith in response to Larry Gavette enquiry 24 Apr 1983. Full…
Read more » 1947-51 – Mechanical Elephant – Frank Smith & Eric Smith (British)

1999-2005 – “Snowdrop” the Mechanical Elephant – Peter Clare

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…
Read more » 1999-2005 – “Snowdrop” the Mechanical Elephant – Peter Clare

1891 – Mechanical Elephant – Woolson Morse (American)

SEEING THE ELEPHANT. Not Barnum's, But the Great Mechanical Wonder. Few theatre-goers have any intelligent conception of the mechanism of some of the "animals" that are in the cast of a modern spectacular drama or comic opera. A long time ago when the heifer was part and parcel of "Evangeline,"…
Read more » 1891 – Mechanical Elephant – Woolson Morse (American)

2002 – Human-powered Mechanical Elephant – Caltech (American)

The Quantum-Classical Transition on Trial: Is the Whole More Than the Sum of the Parts? by Hideo Mabuchi One quote that I really like came from my thesis adviser, Jeff Kimble (the Valentine Professor and professor of physics), and appeared on page 2 of the February 18, 1997, New York…
Read more » 2002 – Human-powered Mechanical Elephant – Caltech (American)

1948-9 – “Bimbo” the Mechanical Elephant prototype – Maurice Radburn (British)

Whilst it was Frank Stuart that gets most of the credit for the famous British Robot Elephant, it was in fact Maurice Radburn, an employee of Frank Stuart's that toyed with the idea of building a Walking Elephant. Frank Stuart had already built a stiff-legged motorised elephant but wasn't entirely…
Read more » 1948-9 – “Bimbo” the Mechanical Elephant prototype – Maurice Radburn (British)

1957-8 – “Toffee-kun” the Robot Elephant – “Kowa Display Company” (Japanese)

Caption: 森永製菓のロボット象、街を行く=熊本市内 (English translation: Morinaga robot elephant goes to the town-city Kumamoto) Other than the image, I have little other information about this mechanical elephant. Image was taken in 1958 in Japan, I believe. RH update Feb 2011 - Thanks to Hisashi Moriyama from Japan I now  have the following…
Read more » 1957-8 – “Toffee-kun” the Robot Elephant – “Kowa Display Company” (Japanese)

A Ride On A Mechanical Elephant

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 17: 'Billy Bunter', role played by British actor Gerald Campion, and the 'Famous Five' take a ride on a mechanical elephant at Kilburn on December 17, 1958 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Life-Sized Mechanical Elephant

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 12: British comedian Harry Secombe arrives to open the Boys and Girls Exhibtion at Olympia on a life- sized mechanical elephant on August 12, 1958 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

1880 – “The Steam House” Steel Giant – Jules Verne (French)

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…
Read more » 1880 – “The Steam House” Steel Giant – Jules Verne (French)

Mechanical Elephants – Miscellaneous Material

Ice show with elephant. Popular Mechanics March 1947 "Then there's Dumbo, the two-man elephant that shambles across the ice on the skates of Ole Ericsen and Jim Hutchinson. Ericsen wears football shoulder pads to support the head and trunk and guides himself by peering through small windows in the cloth…
Read more » Mechanical Elephants – Miscellaneous Material

1937 – The Mechanical Elephants of J.G. and George W. Shrum (American)

Source: Leader Post, 24 July 1984. Most likely a Shrum elephant.   Source: Victoria Advocate, 12 May 1938. Supposedly six were built and three were sold to the New York World's Fair (1939). Source: Modern Mechanix May 1937 Mechanical Elephants walk 500 miles USED for advertising purposes, two mechanical elephants…
Read more » 1937 – The Mechanical Elephants of J.G. and George W. Shrum (American)

2011 – Inflatable Walking Elephant – Otherlab (Saul Griffith)

Pneubot stands for "pneumatic robot", or a robot that is actuated by pneumatic technology. A pneumatic technology involves the use of compressed air to drive mechanical motion. The compressed air can be moved through soft, balloon-like tubes, which allows for both rigidity (when filled) and flexibility (when decompressed or empty).…
Read more » 2011 – Inflatable Walking Elephant – Otherlab (Saul Griffith)

2006c – Mechanical Elephant – Small Amusement Ride (Chinese)

Shunyuan Style: Ride On Toy  Type: elephant  Material: Plush   Place of Origin: Hubei China (Mainland)  Brand Name: Shunyuan  Model Number: SYDX   colour: green  package: standard exporting packing:cotton clot...  type: battery animal car   seats: 2seats  rides type: lifelike  animal: elephent   material: plush  seat: 1   Specifications Amusement…
Read more » 2006c – Mechanical Elephant – Small Amusement Ride (Chinese)

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

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)…
Read more » 1947-55 – Baby Mechanical Elephants – Frank Stuart (British)

1950 – “Nellie” the Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

Nellie at Sandy Bay Museum. Photo courtesy Larry Gavette. Nellie's control panel. Photo courtesy Larry Gavette. Caption: Perhaps the earliest model built still in existance, this elephant was in the Sandy Bay Country Museum in Exmouth when this video was taken in 1980 or so. This model is the one…
Read more » 1950 – “Nellie” the Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

1979 – “Jumbo” the Mechanical Elephant – Restoration by Larry Gavette

In 1979 an American named Larry Gavette, who lives in Waterford, M.I., U.S.A., took his daughter to Bald Mountain Riding Stables for a pony ride. There he found a some-what dilapidated life-sized mechanical elephant and he bought it,  trailer and all, for 125 dollars. It was in poor condition and…
Read more » 1979 – “Jumbo” the Mechanical Elephant – Restoration by Larry Gavette

Mechanical Elephants, Horses, and other Walking Animals

This page will contain a timeline showing Walking Animals, and dates showing the creation or announcement of the contraptions. For the moment, it is more a list of what is going to be placed in this blog. If IMAGE IS CLICKABLE, then a blog post exists for it. Check out…
Read more » Mechanical Elephants, Horses, and other Walking Animals

1951 – Mechanical Elephants by Frank Stuart in America

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…
Read more » 1951 – Mechanical Elephants by Frank Stuart in America

1957 – “Danger in the Everglades” (Mechanical Elephant) – Frederick Keith

  Danger in the Everglades. Author: Frederick W Keith Publisher: New York, Abelard-Schuman [1957] [Thanks to Michael Rekoff who informed me about this book.] Authors: Frederick W Keith OCLC Number: 1420226 Description: 1 v. illus. 22 cm. Responsibility: Illustrated by Kurt Werth. A diagram of Packy's interior from page 17.…
Read more » 1957 – “Danger in the Everglades” (Mechanical Elephant) – Frederick Keith

1949 – Macades / Luneside Engineering Mechanical Elephant – (Frank Smith design) (British)

Although the caption is not correct, this is the only acknowledged Macades Mechanical Elephant photo found to date. (Image courtesy Larry Gavette). Update Apr 2011: Eric Smith managed to contact David Taylor, ex retired employee of Luneside Engineering, who has confirmed that this image was taken in the loading bay…
Read more » 1949 – Macades / Luneside Engineering Mechanical Elephant – (Frank Smith design) (British)

1950 – “Nellie” the Mechanical Elephant – in Australia built by Frank Stuart

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…
Read more » 1950 – “Nellie” the Mechanical Elephant – in Australia built by Frank Stuart

1965 – “Electrophant” Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

Source: Popular Science May 1965. "Mechanical elephant looks real - This battery-driven elephant looks so much like the real thing that people have complained of its treatment. Built for a British ice show, it annoyed some to see it walk on ice. Guided by controls in the neck, it's powered…
Read more » 1965 – “Electrophant” Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

1967 – Centipede Walking Machine – Meredith Thring (Australian-English)

USEFUL ROBOTS US Patent number: 3522859 - see here for full patent details. Filing date: Jan 22, 1968 Issue date: Aug 4, 1970 First filed in Great Britain 26 Jan 1967 Model of Centipede. The 'centipede' In the first model (Fig. 6.15(a) above) of the centipede the sprung legs were…
Read more » 1967 – Centipede Walking Machine – Meredith Thring (Australian-English)

More Meccano Walking Machines & Robots

Meccano model of GE's Walking Truck designed by Hugh Henry. All legs are completely rotatable in the same direction. For a complete set of images see the NZ Meccano web site here.  Thanks Antonio Gual for encouraging  Tony Brown (the author of the Modelplan) who found some pictures of Hugh…

1949-50 – Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

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,…
Read more » 1949-50 – Mechanical Elephant – Frank Stuart (British)

1982c – Walking Tractor – Meredith Thring (British*)

From Robots and Telechirs - M.W. Thring 1983 Thring has used the fact that the ideal foot movement is close to that of a link of a chain going around two sprockets to produce a very simple walking mechanism for a tractor. A small model is shown in above. There…
Read more » 1982c – Walking Tractor – Meredith Thring (British*)

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…
Read more » 1957- Japanese Humanoid Robots and Toy Robots – Jiro Aizawa (Japanese)

1984 – Bellows Robotic Arm/Trunk – James Wilson (American)

  Reference:  Science News - March 26, 1988 The Muscular Machinery of Tentacles, Trunks and Tongues Scientists discover a new way for muscles to work By STEFI WEISBURD An arm without bones could not bend. A person who tried to bend such an arm would instead end up with a…
Read more » 1984 – Bellows Robotic Arm/Trunk – James Wilson (American)

1969 – Walking Cargo Vehicle – Syd Mead (American)

Text below from Syd Mead's book SENTINEL The four-legged, gyro-balanced, walking cargo vehicle shown on pages 80-81 is from the US Steel Interface portfolio series [published in 1969 - see image below]. The environment is arctic and the mission is to deliver goods and critical supplies to an isolated exploratory…
Read more » 1969 – Walking Cargo Vehicle – Syd Mead (American)

2011 – “Ant-Roach” – Otherlab (American)

Here is the Otherlab’s 15 foot inflatable walking robot, the Ant-Roach.  We thought this conceptual elephant looked more like a cross between an anteater and a cockroach.  The goal of building the Ant-Roach was to demonstrate the carrying capacity and high strength-to-weight ratios possible with inflatable structures. Comments November 21,…
Read more » 2011 – “Ant-Roach” – Otherlab (American)

Early Pneumatic, Fluidic and Inflatable Robots

This page contains a timeline showing Early Pneumatic, Fluidic and Inflatable Robots. If image is clickable, then a blog post exists for it. Check out the updates page for recent posts. Pneumatic Robots 1875- "Psycho" Card Playing Automaton  1928 - "Gakutensoku" by Makoto Nishimura  1957-8 - Joe McKibben "Artificial Muscle"  Early Pneumatic Actuator…
Read more » Early Pneumatic, Fluidic and Inflatable Robots

2010 – Walking Boat – Andrew Baldwin (British)

See Andrew Baldwin's website here http://www.andrewbaldwin.co.uk/. Andrew Baldwin trained as a Master Blacksmith and Welder and worked as such for 28 years. His interest in Victorian engineering, his limitless imagination and his aptitude for working metal are what motivates him to create his outlandish mechanical marvels. Among his creations is…
Read more » 2010 – Walking Boat – Andrew Baldwin (British)

1964 – Painting Machine(s) – “Larry Flint” (American)

In the movie "What A Way To Go!", "Larry Flint" creates painting machines to produce his abstract art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rps9NZPesh4#t=2696s Plot This lavishly produced, big-budget comedy (it cost $20 million in 1964 dollars) stars Shirley MacLaine as Louisa, a widow who is worth $200 million dollars. However, she's convinced that her…
Read more » 1964 – Painting Machine(s) – “Larry Flint” (American)

1947 – Walking Amphibious Barge – John T. Tucker (American)

Rear view. Concept models. Concept models. Concept models. Concept models. Propellor protection. Prop actually swivels up and down to give ground clearance or motive power. [Source: All the above images - Life 1948] [Source: Mechanix Illustrated - March 1948] [Source: Popular Mechanics - May 1948] [Source: Popular Science - May 1948]…
Read more » 1947 – Walking Amphibious Barge – John T. Tucker (American)

1985 – Nuclear Maintenance Robot “AMOOTY” – Tokyo Uni / Toshiba (Japanese)

1985 - Nuclear Inspection Robot "AMOOTY" climbing stairs in a mock-up of a nuclear power plant. Before AMOOTY there was MOOTY. No manipulator arm here, just vision and star-wheel propulsion. Text Source: Inside The Robot Kingdom, Frederik L. Schodt, 1988 If cleverly designed, a robot on modified wheels or tank…
Read more » 1985 – Nuclear Maintenance Robot “AMOOTY” – Tokyo Uni / Toshiba (Japanese)

Early Humanoid Robots

A timeline showing the history of Humanoid Robots, events with dates being the creation or announcement of the robots. If image is clickable, then a blog post exists for it. Check out facebook or the updates page for the recent posts.  Etymology of the word ROBOT  1848- "Mr. Eisenbrass" - German-Automaton  Dr Lube  1867- all The Steam…

1880 – Steam Man “Frankenstein” – Hornburg (Australian)

Being an Australian myself, I got very excited when I found out about this Steam Man from Australia. Despite many hours in the State Library of Victoria, I have not been able to find any photos of him. However, as it was on show for major exhibitions, there was plenty of…
Read more » 1880 – Steam Man “Frankenstein” – Hornburg (Australian)

Updates pre-2015

Updates to the cyberneticzoo.com website. See also the Cybernetic Zoo facebook page for more commentary on updates. pre-2015 31 Dec 2014 Added Unknown Deep Diving Armours . 31 Dec 2014 Added 1977 - Deep Diving Apparatus by Alistair Carnegie. 29 Dec 2014 Added 1914-1937 – Various Diving Armour by Neufeldt and…

1968 – “Mechanimals” Walking Models – Masahiro Mori and Ryuichi Tomiya (Japanese)

In this image, from top left, we have the Lunar Inchworm, Giant Inchworm, Crater Crab, Giant Snake, Martian Frog, and Star Squid. Above Images Source: Robots: Fact, Fiction & Prediction, Jasa Reichardt, 1978. Space Mechanimals advertisement in New Scientist , 23 Oct 1980 showing the available models and their model…
Read more » 1968 – “Mechanimals” Walking Models – Masahiro Mori and Ryuichi Tomiya (Japanese)

1868-1904 – Fictional Steam Man, Steam Horse, Electric Man & Electric Horse (American)

Edward S. Ellis' first of the dime or penny magazine fictional stories that featured the "Steam Man" had a publish date of August 1868, some 7 months AFTER the first known announcement of Dederick's actual "Steam Man" in January 1868. Note: There are those who have either mistaken or mis-represented the Ellis story…
Read more » 1868-1904 – Fictional Steam Man, Steam Horse, Electric Man & Electric Horse (American)

1867-8 – Steam Man – Dederick & Grass – (American)

Zadoc P. Dederick's Steam Man appears to be the first of the Steam Men.  The Steam Man from Newark was so inspirational it generated many more Walking Machines, steam or otherwise, and also fictional stories, now seen as some of the earliest Science or Speculative Fiction (SF) written.   US…
Read more » 1867-8 – Steam Man – Dederick & Grass – (American)

1983 – “Kludge” Omnidirectional Mobile Robot – John M. Holland (American)

1983 - "Kludge" Omnidirectional Mobile Robot by John M. Holland. Kludge with legs contracted. Kludge at a 1984 exhibition. John M. Holland. The focus in this post is on the unique mobility base, and not on its navigation and sensor qualities. Patent Information: Publication number    US4573548 A Publication date    4…
Read more » 1983 – “Kludge” Omnidirectional Mobile Robot – John M. Holland (American)

1972 – BioMechanical Sculpture – Trefor Prest (Welsh-Australian)

Trefor Prest creates some of the most amazing and fantastic sculpture I've ever come across. I've been to Gruyeres and seen H.R. Giger's work, seen Hans Bellmer's "Machine-Gunneress in A State of Grace", and to see Trefor's sculptures is something else again.  His maritime series has a Vernian feel about them, a world…
Read more » 1972 – BioMechanical Sculpture – Trefor Prest (Welsh-Australian)

Walking Machines inc. Steam Man Timeline

This page contains a timeline showing significant Walking Machine events, and dates showing the creation or announcement of the contrivances. If IMAGE IS CLICKABLE, then a post exists for it. Check out cyberneticzoo facebook or the updates page for recent posts. Early Walking Machines inc. Steam Men  480 BC – Wooden Horse Carriage…

1964 – Performance Artist using Robotic Props – John Fare (Canadian)

John Fare Since the late 60's I have browsed all types of magazines for articles on electronic art, kinetic art, and robots. When I first came upon the John Fare article, I tucked it away, taking it at face value, for a future use.  Given the rise of the internet, it appears that the…
Read more » 1964 – Performance Artist using Robotic Props – John Fare (Canadian)
To Top