The Shasta courier., 1868-02-15
COURIER
Extraordinary Invention--A steam Man.

The following story of remarkable me-
chanical invention is told by the Newark IN.
J.) Advertiser:
Mr.. Zadock Deddrick, a Newark machin-
| est, has invented a man; one that, moved by
steam, will perform some of the most impor-
tant functions of humanity that will,
standing upright, 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 inventor. who is at present but twenty.
two years of age, conceived the novel idea Of
constructing man that should receive its
vitality from perpetual motion machine
| The idea was based on the we'll known me-
chanical principle that if heavy weight be
placed at the top of an upright slightly in.
clined from vertical, gravitation will tend
| to produce horizontal as we'll as vertical
motion. The project was not successful
However, by observing carefully the cause OF
the failure, preserving 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 nine inches
high, the other dimensions of the BODY being
correctly proportioned, making him a second
Daniel Lambert, by which name he is face
tiously spoken of among the workmen. lie
weighs five hundred pounds. Steam is gen
Grated in the body or trunk, which is nothing
but three horse power engine, like those
used in our steam fire engines. The legs
which support 1t are complicated and won
derful. The steps are taken very naturally
n,,1 A.. ~ IL Al.
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 revo.
luton of the engine produces four PAGES. As
the engine is capable of making more than
thousand revolutions minute, it would get
over the ground, on this calculation, at the
rate of little more than mile minute
As this would be working the legs faster than
would be safe on uneaven ground or on Broad
street cobble stones, it is proposed to run the
engine at the rate of five hundred revolutions
per minute, which would walk the man at
the modest speed of half mile minute.
The fellow is attached 10 common Rock
away carriage the shafts of which serve to
support him in vertical position. These
shafts are two bars of iron, fastened in the
and are curved so as to be Joined to a circular
sustaining bar, which passes around the
waist like a girth, and in which the man
moves so as to face in any direction. Besides
these motions, machinery has been arranged
by which the figure can be thrown backward
or forward from vertical nearly forty-fye
degrees. This is done in order to enable it
to ascend or descend all grades. To the soles
nf hos -
eff ctually prevent slipping. The whole
affair is SO firmly sustained by the shafts, and
has SO excellent foothold, that two men are
unable 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 before stated. throw it
backward from the vertical, while the other
bends the knees in direction opposite to the
natural position.
An upright post, which is arranged in front
OF the dash board, and within easy reach of
the front seats, sustain two miniature pilot
wheels, by the turning of which these yari
Gus motions and evolutions are directed. It
is expected that sufficiently large amount
OF coal can be slowed away under the back
seat OF the carriage to work the engine fer
day, and enough water in a tank under the
front seat to last half day.
In order to prevent the "eiant,, from
frightening horses by his wonderful apnear.
ance. Mr.. Deddrick intends to clothe il. and
give 1t as nearly as possible likeness to the
rest of humanity. The boiler and such narts
as are necessarily heated will be encased in
felt or woolen under garments. Pantaloons.
coat and vest, of the latest styles, are proyi
ded. When the fires need coaling, which Is
every two or three hours. the driver stons the
machine, descends from his seat. unbuttons
" Daniels vest, opens door. shoyels in the
fuel, buttons up the vest and drives on. On
the back, between the shoulders. TIE steam
cocks and gauges are placed. As these would
cause the coat to set awkwardly. a knansack
has been provided that completely covers
them. A blanket neatly rolled up. and placed
on top OF the knapsack, perfects the delusion.
The face is moulded into cheerful copnta'
nance OF white enamel, which contrasts we'll
with the dark hair and moustacbe a sbeat
stack. - 'AioAo
The cost of this " first man. is 90 600
though the makers, Messrs. Deddrick &
erase, expect to manufacture succeeding
ones, warranted to run year without renair
for $500. The same parties exnect 70 com
struct. on the same principle, horses which
Will do the duty of ten or twelve ordinary
animals OF the same species. These. Il Is
confidently believed, can be used alike before
carriages, street cars and plows. The man
now constructed can make his way without
difficulty over any irregular surface. whose
ruts and stones are not more than nine
inches below or above the level of the
ground.