Robotic star is out of the garage and back on show
A SIXTY-YEAR-OLD robot is set to be the newest attraction at the Bletchley Park based National Museum of Computing.
George the Robot is the brainchild of museum trustee and leader of the Colossus computer rebuild team, Tony Sale.
He first appeared on film in 1950 after attracting the attention of newsreel producers Pathe News. Remote controlled George was able to walk, turn his head and move his arms and mouth. His eyes even lit up.
But he languished in Tony’s garage until the Pathe footage was spotted by Aardman Animations, producers of the new BBC programme Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention.
The robot appeared on the show on Wednesday, November 17.
Although he can no longer sit down, George is still able to walk and moves quite freely.
Sadly he has lost the ability to use his photocell eyes to locate and home in on an illuminated bottle of beer as he once could.
Tony said: “George was one of my early ventures into electronics. I built a prototype with Meccano when I was in my teens, but when, as Pilot Officer, I was posted to RAF Debden in Suffolk, I found the perfect material for a life-sized George: recycled aluminium from a crashed Wellington Bomber.
“It took me three weeks to build him in 1950 and he created quite a stir at the time.”
George will now appear at The National Museum of Computing, which is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 1-5pm and on bank holidays.
Guided tours of the museum are available on Tuesday afternoons.
Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention Road Show will be coming to thecentre:mk on November 27 and 28 as part of a nationwide tour.
The show will take place between 10am and 6pm on both days, with the shopping centre transformed into a life sized replica of Wallace’s basement inventing studio.
Visitors will be able to get hands on at the clay station and view original animation sets and characters from the show.
In the invention sessions participants will be given their own ‘Run-About Steam Chair’ kit, which they can build from the comfort of their own home – in true Wallace and Gromit style.
Chris Arrowsmith, BBC Learning Project Executive, said: “We’re looking forward to taking this cracking roadshow across the country to help inspire young and old budding inventors alike.
“So if you have ever been curious about gizmos and gadgets, or fancy yourself as the next Thomas Edison then this is the tour for you. And best of all it’s all free.”
See George in action in the 1950’s and on the Wallace & Gromit show by clicking on the links to the right.
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