Humanoid & robot atlas
EricEric1928
CompanyUnited Kingdom

W. H. Richards and A. H. Reffell

Captain William H. Richards, a First World War veteran, journalist and secretary of the Society of Model Engineers, and engineer Alan H. Reffell, a motor and aircraft mechanic, built Eric, Britain's first robot, in 1928. Richards went on to build the improved touring robot George (1932) and a third robot, Robert (around 1952).

Robot models in the atlas
11 humanoid
First robot
1928One year so far
Headquarters
United Kingdom
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Robots

1 robot model shown in public in 1928. Newest first. Open one for its full profile.

Humanoids 1 humanoid

  1. RetiredEricW. H. Richards and A. H. Reffell · 1928EricNo longer soldNo skills shown in public yet

Who uses it

Customers and deployments reported for W. H. Richards and A. H. Reffell's robots. Each robot's page links its sources.

  • EricEric1928 · Retired

    Toured the US, including New York in 1929, then disappeared; a rebuilt Eric is in the Science Museum collection.

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The latest stories about W. H. Richards and A. H. Reffell's robots, newest first.

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The company

What it says about itself and what the sources record.

Focus
Showpiece entertainment robots for exhibitions and touring shows
Funding
Private individuals; Eric cost about 140 pounds sterling to build and George almost 2,000 pounds (period press)
Partners
Society of Model Engineers (1928 exhibition); Exide battery dealers sponsored US appearances (1929)

Similar makers

Other makers of humanoids, starting with those in United Kingdom.

Sources

1 source behind this page.

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