Exhibition Machine man Sabor is back in Teufen AR

A 270-kilo robot and its history are the subject of a new exhibition at the Zeughaus Teufen AR. The machine-man was designed by entrepreneur and inventor August Huber. Sabor IV could even smoke and toured half the world after 1938.

The 2.37 meter tall Sabor looks almost harmless as it looks out at visitors from the back wall of the exhibition room.

August Huber from Teufen, born in 1911, built the first version of Sabor as a twelve-year-old. The technology of the fourth model, which caused a sensation from 1938, was then really sophisticated.

The giant could talk, move around, raise its arms - and even smoke cigarettes. This was made possible by electric motors that were remote-controlled via ultra-short waves. It took two people to bring the friendly giant to life: a presenter who addressed the audience - and a hidden technician who triggered the movements.

Performances in the USA

In 1939, the robot was on display at the national exhibition in Zurich. After the Second World War, it toured half of Europe and performed in the Ed Sullivan Show in the USA - just like the Beatles. Its history is documented in the exhibition with numerous photos. Film sequences show how the machine man got around on the road.

Sabor was hired for exhibitions and shows, was the attraction at events or served as accompaniment to the magician Bobby Lugano. In 1969, its aluminum shell was painted white - as a reference to the astronauts who landed on the moon at the time.

The metal Goliath made its last appearance in 1976 at the opening of a retirement home. It was then put into storage. Sabor now belongs to the Electricity Museum (Primeo Energie Kosmos) in Münchenstein BL. From there, it has now returned to the place where its story began. The exhibition in Teufen runs until February 9.

SDA