Mr. Lawson's Homemade Robot

Circa 1930's press photo of a homemade robot.

Labeled on the back: "This 7 ft. man of steel has been constructed by Mr. C. Lawson, a Kettering Radio Engineer. It is claimed that the Robot can control traffic, sing, light and smoke a cigarette and sit or stand. The Robot's friend here gives him a light."

George Dean Tin Man

George Dean was a tinsmith and folk artist who created this ten foot high tin man as a trade figure for his shop. It stood on top of his shop until it closed in 1985. The collector and antique dealer Elli Buk bought it shortly thereafter. This, and thousands of other items in the Elli Buk collection, are going up for auction in a few days.

Available at Grogan & Company.

Early Primitive Tin Wind-Up of a Black Man

Not sure if this is home made or manufactured? It has hand painting and the construction is pretty primitive.