October 18, 2005

Mechanical Willie (Aug, 1934)

Filed under: Robots, Useless Tech — @ 2:54 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1934
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Great strides have been made in reducing the size of Mechanical “Willies” in the last 70 years.

Mechanical “Willie” Combines Crooning With Housework
CROONING in mellow baritone on command and manipulating a vacuum cleaner with almost human skill, “Mechanical Willie,” laboratory robot, may prove a novel servant.

The product of Westinghouse engineers, Willie salutes, raises flags, smokes, sits, stands and bows at the operator’s orders. Words spoken via a receiver are transformed by a photo electric cell into light beams which transmit impulses to his operating mechanism.

4 Comments »

1. [...] A esto se dedica el weblog Modern mechanix. Partiendo de documentos sacados de revistas tecnológicas de los años 30 en adelante, nos demuestra lo absurdo de algunos inventos que trataban de hacernos la vida más fácil. Entre sus archivos encontraremos por ejemplo: Calzoncillos hinchables masajeadores, (hummm, esto lo he visto en la teletienda hace poco), cortinas metalizadas anti bombas atómicas, camuflages militares que engañarían al más avispado enemigo, cascos con pelo para no afear el look de las motoristas, elegantes trajes espaciales, robots de cocina a lo grande, o inventos increibles como leche embotellada en cajas de papel. [...]

   Pingback by Papel Continuo Mecánica moderna. El futuro de ayer, hoy. — February 17, 2006 @ 4:38 am

2. Aren’t mechanical willies outlawed in most of the southern states?

   Comment by Jaber — February 29, 2008 @ 6:36 pm

3. Oh come on, even in ‘34 this had to be a joke!

   Comment by Wade George — May 26, 2008 @ 6:14 pm

4. You can be sore if its a Westinghouse!

   Comment by carlm — September 16, 2008 @ 3:54 am

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