The SwedishTekniska museethas just released this wizardly vintage photograph of“the World ’s first mechanical elephant ” , giving no further selective information about the huge robotic creature in the black and white shot .
But , grant toCybernetic Zoo , this isBensina , one of several mechanical elephantsdesigned by British engineer Frank Stuartin the Fifties :
He began by building a steel skeleton , the size of it of a full grownup elephant , and mounted a 10 h.p . petrol railway locomotive within . This execute the foot by means of luxuriant chemical mechanism and the animal can attain a speed of 27 m.p.h . and has a extra licence to habituate on road . Over 9000 parts were used in its construction , and the monetary value top £ 1200 . The entire chemical mechanism is covered with a “ hide ” of 1/2 in thick specially toughened paper [ using a flatulence technique ] , and the admirable modelling of the headland and trunk ( used as the exhaust system tube ) and the convincing tusks .
One of Stuart ’s elephant featured in the Top Gear in 2008 , which you’re able to watch below . She goes off , with a trumpety - trump . horn , trump , horn . [ Tekniska Museet ]
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
tidings from the hereafter , deliver to your present .
Please select your desired newssheet and submit your email to upgrade your inbox .
