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Source: Popular Science, October 1935

LIFELIKE ROBOT SPEAKS, SMOKES. AND DRINKS
The robot and a companion go fishing. So realistic in appearance is this mechanical man that it is hard to pick out at a casual glance.  After closer inspection, you may distinguish him as the figure sitting on the right.

HOW THE DUMMY PLAYS ITS PART
The operator talks into a microphone which actuates the loadspeaker mechanism (exposed) in the dummy and gives him his 'voice'. The movements of the robot are made possible by the intricate works shown at the left.

SINGING, smoking, drinking, and holding an animated conversation are some of the accomplishments of an amazing mechanical man designed by Milton Tenenbaum, of Brooklyn. N. Y. Controlled remotely from a concealed point of vantage, the robot is operated by built-in electric motors. A rubber bulb, alternately squeezed and released by a motor-driven cam, enables the automaton to puff a lighted pipe realistically. Compressed air stiffens or relaxes its legs. Words addressed to the robot, picked up by its hidden microphone, are carried to the distant operator, who replies through a loudspeaker in the dummy figure. Meanwhile the lips of the figure move in a lifelike fashion. The creator of the mechanical man, a young sculptor, proposes the use of figures of this type in animated movie cartoons.

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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 Henry's original.

(Has anyone built this model? I wouldn't mind getting some more pics and possible Youtube clip of this.)

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Walking Steam Boat

Above model by Anthony Burkitt.

The Meccano Steam Boat Construction Set is part of popular the Crazy Inventors series of 5 multi model motorised sets.

You can build 3 different unique models with the 363 wood, metal and plastic parts in the Steam Boat Crazy Inventors Erector Set. Included in the set are a legs with suspensions, an anchor with chain, gears, tools and a character. A 6V motor (requires 4 AA batteries -included) allows the vehicle to really walk.

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Other Meccano models:

Konkoly Walking Camel by Gary Higgins

See a selection of Konkoly walking models here. Thanks Antonio Gual for the link.

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Mechanical Elephant model 1954.

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Mechanical Kangaroo – Gravity walker. 1969.

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Man learning to walk on a treadmill.

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Source: Meccano Magazine, March 1965

…Since then, we have featured examples of his skill at fairly regular intervals in the M.M., one model which I personally remember very well being a Walking Horse and Chariot which was described in a 1965 issue. In fact, Mr. Konkoly himself said of this model recently, "Although I later built bigger, or more attractive, or perhaps better models, I nevertheless consider this model the chief work of my Meccano activities". It took him two years to perfect, but I [Ed] remember that the result was well worth the effort.

Source: Mecanno Magazine, June 1972

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Image by Charlie Pack.

Model by S. Tokarski.

Model by Chris Shute.

Models by John Hanson, includes the walking Nurse with Pram on the left..

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The Horse with mounted Spanish Night.

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