Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-02-05
An Extraordinary Invention
A Steam Man.

mechnlcal lnVentlon Is tOlu ny tue
Newark New Jersey Advertiser:
"Mr. Zadock .Deddriek, a Newark
machinist, has invented a man; one
that, moved by steam, will perform
some of the most important functions
of humanity; that will, standing up
right. walk or run, as he is bid, in any
direction, and at almost any rate of
speed, drawing after him load whose
weight would tax the strength of three
stout draught horses. The history of
this curious invention is as follows:-
Six years ago Mr.. DeddrIck, the invent
or, who is at present but twenty-five
years of age, conceived the novel idea
of constructing a man that should re-
ceive its vitality from a perpetual mo-
ton machine. The idea was based on
the well-knoWn mechanical principle
that if heavy weight be placed at
the tof of an upright, slightly inclined
from vertical, gravitation will tend to
produce a horizontal as well as a verti-
cal motion. The project was not sue
cessful. However, by observing care
fully the cause of the failure, preserv-
ing and perfecting the man-form, and
by substituting steam in place of the
perpetual motion machine, the present
success was attained.
"The man stands seven feet and
niue inches high, the other dimensions
of the body being correctly proportion
ed, making him q second Daniel Lam
bert, by which name he is facetiously
spoken of among the workmen. He
weighs five hundred pounds. Steam
is generated in the body or trunk,
which is nothing but a three-horse
power engine, like those used in our
steam fre-engines. The legs which
support it are complicated and wonder
full The steps are taken very natural
ly and quite easily. As the body is
thrown forward upon the advanced
foot, the other is lifted from the ground
by a spring and thrown forward by the
steam. Each step or pace advances the
body two feet, and every revolution of
the engine produces four PAGES. As
the engine is capable of making more
than thousand revolutions a minute,
it would get over the ground, on this
calculation, at the rate of little more
than a mile minute. As this would
be working the legs faster than would
be safe on uneven ground or on Broad
street cobble stone, it is proposed to
run the engine at the rate of FIVE hun
dred revolutions per minute, which
would walk the man at the modest
speed of. half mils,a minute.
''The fellow is attached to'a common
rockawAy carriage, the shafts of which
serve 10 support him in vertical po-
sition. These shafts are two bars Of
iron, fastened in the usual manner to
the front of the carriage, and are curry
ed so as to be joined to a circular sus-
tanning bar, which passes around the
waist, like girth, and in. which the
man moves so as to face in any direc-
ton. Besides these motions, machinery
has been arranged by which the figure
can be thrown backward or forward
from vertical nearly fortY-five de-
grees, This is done in order to enable
it to ascend or decend all grades. To
the soles Of the feet spikes or corks are
fixed, which effectually prevent slip
ping. The whole affair is so firmly sus-
tanned by the shafts, and has so excel
lent foot-hold, that two men are un-
able to push it over, or in any way
throw it down. In order to enable it
TO stop quickly, it is provided with two
appliances, one OF which will, as be-
fore stated, throw it backward from the
vertical, while the other bends the
knees in direction opposite to the
natural position.
upright post, which is arranged
n front of the dashboard, and within
Easy reach of the front seats, sustains
,wo miniature pilot-Wheels, by the tur-
ming of which these various motions
md eyolutions are directed. 1t is ex-
oected that a sufficiently large amount
If coal can be slowed away under the
pack seat of the carriage to work the
engine for day, and enough water in !
! tank under the front seat to last half
! day.
"In order to prevent the giant from
horses by his wonderful |
Mr.. Deddrick intends to
,lothe it, and give it, as nearly as
possible, likeness to the rest of hu- |
nanity. The boiler and such parts as
re unnecessarily heated will be en-
.ased in felt or wooden undergarments /
oantaloons, coat and vest, of the latest |
tyles, are provided. Whenever the
Tres need coaling, which is every two |
II three hours, the driver stops the |
Machine, descends from his seat, un-
buttons Daniels vest, opens a door,
novels in fuel, buttons up the vest, |
md drives on. On the back between |
he shoulders the steam cocks and |
,agues are placed. As these would |
;ause the coat to set aWkwardly a /
has been provided that COM
,letely covers them. A blanket neat
y rolled up and placed on top of the
Inapsack pertects the delusion. The |
ace is nodded into a cheerful counte-
lance of white enamel, which contrasts
yell with the dark hair and mustache. !
sheet iron hat with a gauge top acts
5 smoke stack.
sThe cost of this first man is $1,000,
hough the makers, Messrs. Deddrick
erase, expect to manufacture sue
eedlng ones, warranted to run a year
Without repair, for $500. The same
,arties expect to construct, on the same
principle, horses which will do the du-
y of ten ortwelve ordinary animals of
he same species. These, it is conf
Iently believed, can be used alike be-
ore carriages, street cars and plows.-
he man now constructed can make
lis way without difficulty over any ir-
egular surface whose ruts and stones
re not more than nine inches below or
boye the level of the road"
Memories OF fHOme.