The Mysterious Boilerplate, a Victorian Era Robot

Boilerplate, the fictional robot created by artist Paul Guinan, now has a robolicious coffee-table book called Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel. Featuring historic scenes from the 19th and 20th century, we see Boilerplate's military prowess as he fights along-side military giants like Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Villa. The book's "trailer" is hilarious and worth a watch (after the jump.)

Boilerplate was a mechanical man developed by Professor Archibald Campion during the 1880s and unveiled at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.



Built in a small Chicago laboratory, Boilerplate was a prototype soldier for use in resolving the conflicts of nations. Although it was the only such prototype, Boilerplate was eventually able to exercise its proposed function by participating in several combat actions.

Unfortunately Boilerplate was lost to history during WW1 and his final location remains a mystery to this day. According to wikipedia, some speculate he was captured by Germans and used to fuel their mighty technological advances between the wars.

Great alternate history.

BOILERPLATE: History of a Victorian Era Robot.



[Via io9.com]