Polar bears are some of the most charismatic megafauna we’ve got, and even early robot makers, it turns out, were charmed by them. This delightful little polar bear that blows bubbles is an early automaton from 1905:
The bear is featured on the Douglas Fisher Antique Automata website, which explains:
When bubble mixture present in chalice and automaton wound by the key and bayonet start/stop rod actuated, the polar bear turns his head to the left as his right hand holding bubble hoop scoops up mixture from the chalice held in left hand and lifts hoop in front of face, pausing for a moment then suddenly blowing to exude a stream of many bubbles which blow around the room. He then quickly turns his head to the left and opens his mouth to clearly reflect on the fun of the action, scooping more liquid for the next of many bubbles blown in repeating sequence again and again.
This isn’t the only polar bear automaton that Douglas Fisher has, in fact. The site also features this circus bear that balances a ball on its nose.
These might not be as technologically advanced as, say, the 3D polar bears of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but they’re far more whimsical.
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