Fond of retro robots? A monolithic Italian metal man built in 1957 will go up for auction at Christie's next month. August 5, 2013 11:12 AM PDT (Credit: Christie's) Calling all sci-fi enthusiasts with cash stowed under the sofa. A gigantic 1950s robot called "Cygan" is to be sold at auction next month, and could fetch upwards of $18,000. The half-ton bot was built in Italy in 1957, the BBC reports, and was shown off in London the following year, delighting adults and children alike by dancing clumsily with a lady, and not murdering anyone. Cygan, sometimes called Gygan, has the power to crush a can in his robotic claw, and is equipped with a camera so that his operator can monitor his movements. Powered by a 28-volt battery, featuring 170 valves and 13 electric motors, Cygan now stands as a monument to the "Jetsons"-esque techno-optimism of the past. (Credit: Christie's) Read more of "'Cygan' robot from the 1950s could fetch $18,000 at auction" at Crave UK.
Fond of retro robots? A monolithic Italian metal man built in 1957 will go up for auction at Christie's next month.
Calling all sci-fi enthusiasts with cash stowed under the sofa. A gigantic 1950s robot called "Cygan" is to be sold at auction next month, and could fetch upwards of $18,000.
The half-ton bot was built in Italy in 1957, the BBC reports, and was shown off in London the following year, delighting adults and children alike by dancing clumsily with a lady, and not murdering anyone.
Cygan, sometimes called Gygan, has the power to crush a can in his robotic claw, and is equipped with a camera so that his operator can monitor his movements.
Powered by a 28-volt battery, featuring 170 valves and 13 electric motors, Cygan now stands as a monument to the "Jetsons"-esque techno-optimism of the past.
Read more of "'Cygan' robot from the 1950s could fetch $18,000 at auction" at Crave UK.
