Robots Gallery

Robot, 1928 - A Mechanical Man who may do work of tomorrow

Mr. R. J. Wensley of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company operating a mechanical man or robot who, in response to spoken signals and notes blown on a pitch pipe, unveiled a portrait of George Washington. The Graphic comments the machine, suggests that one day the work of the world may be carried on by automatons who will never think of striking and goes on to cast doubt on their usefulness in the light of recent mechanised industrialisation leading to unemployment in America. The robot was named Herbert Televox, the first of several robots based on patents taken out by Wensley and created at Westinghouse.
1928

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

A Robot to Teach Physiology by G. H. Davis

One of the novel exhibits on display at the Schoolboys Exhibition at the New Horticultural Hall, London in the Winter of 1928-9; a metal robot which explained the workings of the heart, lungs, stomach etc in mechanical form. The organiser of the exhibition, Mr Schofield, explained the apparatus saying, We are going to translate the body into the terms of something with which boys are familiar - the steam-engine. Touch a button on the Robot and the heart begins to beat, the lungs go up and down, and all the auxiliary machines function. The robot was part of a display by Horlick's Malted Milk Company who supplied information to the artist. No mention of schoolgirls. Date: 1928

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Who Said Robots? by George Studdy

A humorous illustration of Bonzo faced with robot versions of himself. The illustration mocked the craze for Bonzo merchandise that was popular at the time. George Ernest Studdy (1878-1948), was the creator of Bonzo, a small dog with saucer-like eyes and indiscriminate breeding who first appeared in the Sketch in 1922. The Bonzo craze swept the world resulting in postcards, annuals, toys and other merchandise. Studdy also produced a large body of work for the Sketch before and after Bonzo including his later creation, Ooloo the cat. His early cartoon dogs were simply known as the Studdy Dog until readers demanded a name and Bruce Ingram, the ILN editor, suggested his immortal moniker. Credit should read: Estate of George Studdy/Gresham Marketing Ltd./ILN/Mary Evans Date: 1923

© Estate of George Studdy/Gresham Marketing Ltd./ILN/Mary Evans