RUMCars Forum

General Category => RUMCar News => Topic started by: Stuart Cyphus on July 10, 2008, 05:14:28 PM

Title: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on July 10, 2008, 05:14:28 PM
 The question is above, lets see the opinion.....   8)
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 10, 2008, 05:38:38 PM
Mine was YES!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on July 10, 2008, 09:00:52 PM
Mine two, I mean mine too! If the Americans made mechanical elephants they would give them TRUNKS.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: cuscus47 on July 10, 2008, 10:08:45 PM
By definition, a car is a device to transport.  ;) So RUMCars could mean: Rare & Unusual Mechanical elephants. ;D  So it fits right into the sovereignty of the club. :-*
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Peelpower on July 10, 2008, 11:28:50 PM
Whats the hell is a  Mechanical Elephant, mates? Never heard about!

Ferdi
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 11, 2008, 02:17:48 PM
What? , dont you subscribe to Rumcar news Ferdi? see page 31 of the latest issue.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on July 11, 2008, 07:09:11 PM
Ferdi, a Mechanical Elephant is a bit like a Mechanical Duck-Billed Platypus, but larger and with thicker skin. It is not very similar to a Mechanical Horse, which has 3 wheels plus 2 or 4 more on its trailer. And a mechanical Octopus is normally only seen at Fun Fairs. Oh, the M. D.-B. Platypus is just a silly joke ! I hope you now a full understanding...!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Peelpower on July 11, 2008, 08:17:10 PM
Thanks Markus, i got it now, and sorry i never heard it before.
Have i nice weekend,
Regards
Ferdi
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: AndrewG on July 12, 2008, 09:08:47 PM
Here is a mechanical elephant at Colwyn Bay in the 1950s:

(http://nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/images/gallery/gal14-01.jpg)

You can tell that this is a proper, approved, official mechanical elephant, as the gadgie steering it is wearing a white-topped hat.....

Andrew
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 13, 2008, 08:50:53 AM
Oh, they have wheels then. I thought they actually walked!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: AndrewG on July 13, 2008, 12:41:25 PM
I can (just) remember going on one of these.  I assume there were ratchets in the wheels, so that they could only move forwards - though what stopped the elephant from rolling away on down grades, other than general friction, I don't know.

The free play in the system was really scary with a massive lurch when setting off.  Of course once it was apparent that disaster was not striking and that the seat (gondola?) wasn't coming off, the lurching just added to the fun and needed some serious screaming to go with it.

Andrew
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on July 13, 2008, 01:17:20 PM
Oh, they have wheels then. I thought they actually walked!

 You can get both! The early ones actully walked, but later ones were slightly inferier tecnologically. All will soon be revealed, as Tony has just given me clearance to do an article....   ;D
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 13, 2008, 04:39:03 PM
Oh good! Can we have some detail about how they actually worked, the walking ones that is. Leg moving sequence, how the legs were linked to the engine and dare I ask, where the exhaust came out. This should be an interesting article so long as its not restricted to who made them, when and photos. Pull all the stops out Stuart!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on July 13, 2008, 08:26:12 PM
 Rest assured sensitive viewers, the exhaust exited from the trunk, and not from the  :o !  I'm currently trying to contact the family of the original inventor, & here's an interesting micro link for everyone. He came from Thaxted in Essex as did, so I'm led to belive, Les Tilsbury of the MOC.....

 Where's Hornchurch in relation to Thaxted & Halstead, Bob?
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on July 13, 2008, 08:40:33 PM
I am looking forward to this article. Then having covered Mechanical Elephants, perhaps Tony could do an article on Mechanical Horses/Scarabs (surely a micro compared with other trucks!). I also enjoyed an article in RCN a few years back about the miniature Southdown buses.
I made a 40ft high static mechanical Dragon for a museum a few years ago, but I think it really is TOO far away from being a micro car
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 13, 2008, 10:24:36 PM
Thaxted is not a million miles away from me Stuart, i used to go through it regularly on route to Saffron Walden at one time before they built the M11, and is a delightful medieval village sporting thatched roofs etc. Thaxted is typical of hundreds of pretty Essex villages and this is why I get so steamed up about the Essex stereotype, true we have Southend, Dagenham and Basvagis [Basildon] but then again all counties have there rough spots. Maybe you will get a chance to visit Thaxted Stuart, in search of the elephant builders family?
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: blob on July 14, 2008, 10:12:54 AM
For those interested in the inner workings of 'mechanical elephants' here are a few snippets from the Pathe News Archive. As you can see there are a few variations on the theme.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1267_21.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1064_17.flv
http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll87/micr0film/Brritish%20Pathe%20Archive/?action=view&current=1480_34.flv
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: cuscus47 on July 14, 2008, 01:21:11 PM
Great research  Blob.  These archives are great, you must have spent a lot of time finding these.  The second and third ones with the stepping elephant are very interesting.  Good work.  Ian.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on July 14, 2008, 06:23:19 PM
Brill!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on July 14, 2008, 11:13:09 PM
Yes, Brilliant Mr Blob! The last one, Jeanie wins hands down!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: blob on July 15, 2008, 03:55:44 PM
I prefer the 2nd one at least it's anatomically correct, the waste comes out it's rear end instead of down it's trunk.    :-[
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Inaheinkel on July 18, 2008, 08:15:42 AM
WoW!!!!!

The work that went into the mechanics to create a walking effect was amazing.

Good job the real elephant didn't get carried away with desire ::)

Also note on 3'd clip how high up the children are without any sign of H&S inspectors and sfety restraints. Owners would probably have to close down for  a year just to get a risk assesment done now. ;D

John
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on July 18, 2008, 09:45:24 AM
If ladders did not already exist, they would not pass modern H&S regs, and would be outlawed
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Triporteur on August 10, 2008, 09:16:19 AM
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/groovydubber/1-9.jpg)

from the latest edition of Sidevalve News
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: AndrewG on August 10, 2008, 05:21:49 PM
Seeing as I did some surfing, here are some assorted mechanical elephant links:
The Peter Sellers connection (http://learning2share.blogspot.com/2008/03/peter-sellers-man-mechanical-elephant.html)
A Frank Stuart JAP-powered 'phant (http://www.himandus.net/elephanteria/sources/18_wilhelmina.html)
Video of a Frank Stuart (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7465676132985922163&q=anne+weber&total=123&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0)
Snowdrop (http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/birmingham/news/ART50831.html) (another Frank Stuart?)
Elephant for hire (http://www.continentaldrifts.co.uk/artists/Emergency_Exit_Arts.htm)
Andrew
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on December 01, 2008, 02:24:15 PM
Good news for all those fans of the mechanical pachyderm. :o  The article is nearing some form of completion (three pages!) and all being well, SHOULD be in RCN 100......    ;D
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants/ Rhinoceros
Post by: cuscus47 on December 01, 2008, 02:49:35 PM
I was watching the movie,  " Ace Ventura - Pet Detective" ,  last night and even though I had seen it before, I had forgotten that in it he was using a steel  mechanical rhinoceros powered by hydraulics, in one spy scene.  I thought of you immeadiately Stuart.  It appears to have been very well built, even though a movie prop, and it was mobile or at least appeared to be.   ;D
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: cuscus47 on December 01, 2008, 02:52:52 PM
Here is a link to the U-tube clip of it.   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7LrMoLba0c
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Jawmedead on December 01, 2008, 08:04:53 PM
Good news for all those fans of the mechanical pachyderm. :o  The article is nearing some form of completion (three pages!) and all being well, SHOULD be in RCN 100......    ;D
 
 ;D Great. Will it be a Jumbo edition with something to trumpet about?  ::) 
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on December 02, 2008, 10:10:49 AM
I'm sure it will be a 'Mammoth' achievement and we know it will be well written as Stuart is no 'Dumbo'! Make the article longer Stuart , no need to 'truncate' it!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on December 05, 2008, 03:11:33 PM
Bob, I am sure Stuart is up to the tusk
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Jawmedead on December 05, 2008, 03:41:12 PM
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z28/robbie-dee-photos/image004.gif)   TRUMPETY - TRUMPETY - TRUMP!
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on December 29, 2008, 02:45:26 PM
 You all asked for it and now you've got it!  ;D  The mechanical elephant article is all done & dusted and is now in the hands of Tony.....   8)   
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: 98 SNAKE EATER on February 09, 2011, 01:40:44 AM
Here is a mechanical elephant at Colwyn Bay in the 1950s:

(http://nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/images/gallery/gal14-01.jpg)

You can tell that this is a proper, approved, official mechanical elephant, as the gadgie steering it is wearing a white-topped hat.....

Andrew


My mom actually has one of these elephants....

(http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/123/ollifantcomeshome7.JPG)
(http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/123/ollifantcomeshome11.JPG)
(http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/123/ollifantcomeshome5.JPG)
(http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/123/ollifantcomeshome6.JPG)


She picked it up at a local antique auction in Orlando years ago and it's been taking up space in the garage eversince.



Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: blob on February 09, 2011, 02:02:53 PM
Great to see there are still mechanical elephant roaming about, what era does yours come? I know nothing of stationary engines and was wondering if it's a later recreation of the theme, or a genuine vintage example?
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: burford57 on January 19, 2012, 08:49:55 AM
The BBC Radio 4 programme "Questions, Questions", which airs on a Tuesday afternoon at 1530, has an item on mechanical elephants in the January 24 programme.  Having heard it trailed at the end of this week's edition I've emailed the production team, telling them of RUMCars' interest in the subject.  Watch this space. 

If nothing comes of it, at least remember to tune in at 1530 on 24 January.  My birthday, by the way!

Regards
Nick D.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Big Al on January 19, 2012, 09:54:24 AM
At a slight tangent. I wonder if the wheeled elephants have a similar action to the old Mobo Horse kids toy, if you had a J40 you should have had a Mobo Horse too, despite the motive power being different.
I recall a classic car mag doing an item on these elephants sometime ago and it seems there are a few surviving ones out there. Ideal for the London to Venice run as they can do a Hannibal over the Alps.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Bob Purton on January 19, 2012, 12:08:50 PM
Have you not read Stuarts two excellent articles on the mechanical elephants in RCN Al?   Dont tell us you dont subscribe?
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Jean on January 20, 2012, 08:59:39 PM
Have you not read Stuarts two excellent articles on the mechanical elephants in RCN Al?  Don't tell us you don't subscribe?
  That's right he doesn't but then there are a lot of other Forum folk who don't.  They don't what they are missing - the best Microcar magazine in the English language. Plug, plug the first issue for 2012 will be out in March make sure of your copy NOW!   Jean
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Big Al on January 21, 2012, 11:12:38 AM
Yes nearing a sort out on clubs and cars. Being ill for a month stuck inside has got a lot of guff sorted. THe down side is a backlog of active jobs not done.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: mharrell on January 22, 2012, 12:09:18 AM
...the best Microcar magazine in the English language.

Jim, if you're reading this, I'm sure Jean merely intends this as a swipe at our American dialect, not at Microcar News.
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Jean on January 22, 2012, 05:53:38 PM
Sorry Jim,  I certainly did not mean to disparage your Microcar News, I very much enjoy reading it but I am a little biased to RUMCAR NEWS.  I did have a hand in getting it off the ground in 1980 and admire the heights to which Chris has raised it to now.  No offence intended but I think it is the best, certainly this side of the Pond.  If other folk want to pass judgement don't delay subscribe today!  Jean
Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: Jim Janecek on February 03, 2012, 02:27:29 PM
Now for sale to the public!
limited quantity, act now.

Title: Re: Mechanical Elephants!
Post by: marcus on February 03, 2012, 06:31:38 PM
Wow, a 10 seater! That would look great going up and down Oxford Street.