The Osceola times., 1882-06-17
A WALKING MACHINE.
The Remarkable Four-Legged Invention
ofa Connecticut Yankee.
New Haven Union.

Sheldon; for forty years resident OF this
city, all the interest of the writer was
centered upon a curious looking piece OF
mechanism that stood in one part Of the
hall. II rested on what joinefs would
call miniature wooden horses. 1t was
Sheldon's walking machine, but whether
1t can ever be put into practical use or
adapted TO the requirements for which
the inventor intends it, remains to be
seen. is almost next TO an impossible
lty to give correct or even understand
able description of the odd looking affair.
1t is shaped something like a square bas'
kct-sleigh, and perhaps just about as
large rs that. II is as yet simply an ILL.,
ustration OF the idea which the inventor
has got into his head. 1t is not compile
ted, and will not be for several months
vet, because Mr.. Sheldon will not have
enough time TO finish It, lie has been
employed upon it thus far about three
months, and has received no assistance
whatever. In the absence Of Mr.. Sheldon,
his wife made slight attempt to explain
the workings.
"These what you see here is what my
husband intends for the legs" began the
inventors wife and she pointed TO two
long sticks on either side of the machine
that ran up from the bottom of the ok ell
eton walking-machine. These legs will
work Just the same as anybody's legs"
continued the woman, and she grabbed
hold of a lever on one side of the ma
chine, axd put into motion what IS con
sidered by the inventor as the propel.
ling power.
"Now, You see" said the woman, as she
pointed to the legs, "that leg there rises
M and the other goes down, Just the
same as an individuals. This lever works
both pairs of legs at the sane time. and
while there is leg down on one side,
another is up on the ether. That bal
ances the machine. Now, look back
quick" added the woman, and she gave
The lever another pull. The four legs or
two pairs were once more set in motion.
There" began the speaker, don't you
see that Just as soon as one leg on each
ride is on. the ground the other two are
in the air, and as soon as the two which
are resting on the ground bearing the
machine up have remained there Just
such length of time they 90 into the air
and the other two does similar service y
1T is the intention Of my husband to
have feet on the legs somewhat similar
to those of an elephant. They will be
made smaller, Of course, and quite fiat"
This was about the extent of the infor
nation that the woman could give for
the prominent part the legs were to
play in the walklng-machine. Naturally
enough the writer thought that machine
having legs must also be possessed of a
pair of knees because how could the legs
operate very well without there was some
place to bend the knee? Noticing the
perplexity of the reporter the inventors
wife again caught hold of the lever. "lf
You will watch this portion of the ma
chinery," she began again, lyon will per-
ce;ve that here are knee joints" and she
pointed to an upper part of the machine
where were several pieces of wood fast
ened together. Every time the lever was
pulled in or out so as 20 make the legs
move, there would be bend of the knee
Joint. Bv this movement of the knee
Joint, when the bend was in an inward
direction, the leg which was connected
with it would be pressed firmly down on
the floor; when the movement was the
other way the leg would be raised in the
air. 1t must be remembered that there
are knee Joints on both sides of the ma
chine, and that when one is motioned so
~ to place a leg on the floor, on the 9th.
er side also another leg is made firm.
while at the same time two knee-oints
are bending in another direction, and two
legs are in the air. The legs and the knee
Joints are the supporting power of the
machine. They are both 80 carefully ar.
ranged that they will not in the least be-
come tangled. Very materially assisting
in the operations of these two portions OF
the machine are number OF littl, wood
en- wheels 80 mechanially contriv ed that
the legs collide against them, and rs soon
as they do the wheels begin TO revolve
and the leg is kept in motion. In addi-
ton there are what looks like set Of
springs on the rear part of the machine.
They are so fixed as to greatly aid in the
movement of the legs. Although the
woman could not state positively, yet she
thought they were for this purpose;
when the machine came to hole in the
road to drop down suddenly into hol
low bed, the springs would come into
play Just the same as wagon springs and
prevent jolting 1t seemed plausible
enough from The position of the springs
and their connection with other parts OF
the machine. There number of other
thrown upon, all having more or less to
do with the thing when it is put into mo
tion. The whole thing is roughly putto-
gether, and is on a scale in SIZE so as to
permit OF its being taken out through a
door.
"Will these legs work in motion Just
the same as human being's?" asked the
reporter.
THAT isjust what my husband intends
them to do and they will plod along in
the street inst az il a mans body was
upon ;hem," replied the woman, laugh
ingly.
Although the machine is called walk
ing machine, vet it will have shafts at
,ached to it lust the same as wagon.
Many may be led to believe that the ma
chine will start right off like man and
walk a block, or any distance. This is
not SO. At least the inventors wife con.
veyed that impression in her explana-
,ion. To come right down to the plain
facts, the legs are intended TO take the
place of wheels on vehicle. A horse
will be hlched into the shals, or it is 10
turn into a sort of velocipede, as it is
claimed can be done, a wheel will be put
In and the legs operated from that
power.
"My husband got this idea while he
he was carting load of stuff last winter"
said the woman. while the wheels were
being put through the sand they stuck
down deep into it, making additional
pulling for the horses. 1t was then he hit
upon this plan. This machine will have
a body like wagon, and the legs, having
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