The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-02-27
A Steam Man.

machinist has invented steam man, one |
that moved by steam will perform some of
,be ,urortant functions of humanity that
will Standing upright, walk or run, as he |
j. 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 inven
tor, whois atpresent but twenty-five years
of age, conceived the novel idea OF con |
structing a man that should receive vital
ity from perpetual motion machine
The idea was based on the well known
mechanical principle thatifa heavy weight
be laced at the top of an upright slightly
inclined from a vertical, gravitation will
tend to produce a horizontal as well as
vertical motion.
The project was not successful. How
ever, by observing carefully the cause of
the failure, persevering and perfecting
the manform, and by substituting steam
IN place ofthe perpetual motion machine,
the present success was attained.
The man stands seven feet nine inches
high, the other dimensions of the body
being correctly proportioued, making him
a second Daniel Lambert, 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 FIRE euginesr. The legs which
support it are complicated and wonderful.
The steps are taken very naturally and
quite easily As the body is thrown for
ward on the advanced foot the other is
lifted from the ground by a spring and
thrown forward by the steam. Eeach
step or pace advances the body two feet,
and every revolution of the engine pro
duces four PAGES. As the engine is cap
able of making more than a thousand re
volutions minute, it 'wonld get over the
sround on this calculation at the rate of
a little more than a mile a minute. As
this would be working the legs, faster
than would be safe on uneven ground or
on broad street cobble stones, it is pro-
posed to run the engine at the rate of FIVE
revolutions per minutes, which would
walk the man at the modest speed of half
nile minute.
The fellow is attached to common
rock-a way carriage, the shafts of which
serve to support him in a vertical posi-
ton. These shafts are two bars of iron,
which are made fast in the usual manner
TO the front axle of the carriage, and are
curved so as to be jointed to circular
sustaining bar, which passes around the
waist, Ike a girth, and in which the man
moves so as to face in any direction. Be
sides these motions machinery has been
arranged BY (which the figure can be thrown
backward or forward from a vertical, near
ly forty FIVE degrees. This is done 10 order
to enable to ascend or descend all grades
To the soles of the foot spikes or corks are
fixed which efectually prevent slipping
The whole affair is so firmly sustained by
the shafts, and has so excellent foot
hold that tgo 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 back
ward from the vertical, while the other
b nds the knees in a direction opposite
10 the natural position.
y n lt-as2EI pOSE. " ItGii 10 dIEdDgHu III
front ci the dashboard, and within easy
reach of the front seats, sustains two nina
ilre pilot wheels, by the turning of which
1hese various motions and volutions are
directed. 1t is expected that sufficient
j. large amount of coal can be slowed a.
way under fhe back seat Of the carriage
to work the engine for day, and enough
4eater IN tank under the front seat to
l,si half q day.
IN order to prevent "the gaint" from
frightening horses by its wonderful ap
earance, Dir. Deddrick intends to clothe
i aud give it as nearly as possible like,
9ss to the rest Of humanity The boiler
I'd such parts as are necessarily heated
viii be encased in felt or wooden under
garments. Pants, coat aud vest of the
lltcst styles, are provided. Whenever
the fires need coaliDg, which is every two
Or three hours, the driver stops the ma
chine deseends from his seat, unbutoDs
Daniels" vest, opens door, shovels in
the fuel, buttons up the vest and drives
on On the back between the shoulders
the steam cocks and gauges are placed =
AS these would cause the coat to set awk-
wardIy knapsack has been provided that
completely covers them. a blanket neat
ly rolled up and placed on top of the KNAPP
sack perfects the delusion. The face is
moulded into a cheerful countenance of
white enamel which contrasts well with
the dark hair and moustache. A sheet
iron hat with gauge top acts as smoke
stack
The cost of the "frst man" is $4,000,
though the makers, Messrs Deddrick &
Grass, expect to manufacture succeeding
ones, warranted to run year without re
pairs, for $500. The same parties ex-
pect to construct, on the same principle
horses that viii do the duty of ten or
twelve ordinary animals of the same spe-
cies. These, it is confdentially believed
can be used alike before carriages, street
cars and plows The man now construct