Since all references originate from http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/ I am led to
believe this is an elaborate hoax. The big tipoff is no mention at all of how the thing
operated, recorded and made conversation, etc.
And, of course, we quizmasters have just researched the 1893 Columbian Exposition
and not seen a word about this robot.
More proof: No parents listed for Archibald Balthazar Campion (ABC) and he does not
show on the 1900 census. Does not show on the 1870 Chicago census, or any other
census, either. Sister Lily's pictures show a young woman, but if she married in 1870
would be in her late 40's at the time of the 1893 Fair. Final proof, from the website:
All contents copyright 2000, 2006 Paul Guinan. Boilerplate, Archibald Campion, and all
related marks and indicia are trademarks of Paul Guinan. Marilyn Hamill
N.B. An elaborate hoax? What do you mean? And anyway inventors don't
normally disclose the secret of their inventions...
Besides just because you didn't find Archibald in the census records doesn't mean he
didn't exist. That's negative proof, honey. If you are a genealogist you know that
there are lots of people who don't appear in the census records but if they didn't exist
then neither would we!
Oh, that thing about Copyright 2000, 2006 Paul Guinan. A minor concern.
Anybody can post stuff like that.
Quizmaster General
*****
Teddy Roosevelt is often described as a master of public relations. He might have been
serious and enthused about the impact Boilerplate would have on the enemy. Surely he
was equally excited about the publicity such a picture would receive. Politicians can
often benefit from the occasional informal photo such as golfing or attending a
ballgame. Perhaps it makes them a little more human and less robotic, themselves.
Wherever Boilerplate was taken it had to be an invitation for a picture to be taken. In
office, I have to believe that Roosevelt was the antithesis of stuffy. To find out, that
will be reading for another day! Don Draper
*****
.Long live steam-powered robots! They put puny electronic ones to shame! We tend
to deprecate the accomplishments of our ancestors (exactly how DID Avogadro come
up with that number? We use x-ray crystallography today), but the steam-powered
Boilerplate is a precious rebuke to us. Mike Swierczewski
*****
It is a great joke, and damned funny. He was supposed to do everything from charging
up San Juan Hill to traveling to Antarctica. His real accomplishment is to show people
that they need to read more! Mike Vanlandingham
N.B. Joke? You have to be kidding me.....
*****
This was fun, and you had me going for a bit. I am glad I read the comments on
Boilerplate's website. I should be as well traveled as Boilerplate. Milene Rawlinson
*****
I love it!!!! Stay turned for further adventures. I'm waiting for Boilerplate: The
Movie. Diane Burkett
*****
This was an easy one, especially since you have your tongue firmly in your cheek. This
is an excellent example of the reason that people shouldn't believe everything that they
find on the internet. George Wright
N B. You mean to tell me that new research into the Losch Ness monster might not
be true if I read it on the internet???
*****
I had never heard of Boilerplate before that picture and now I've gotten just about every
Boiletplate website bookmarked! Brad Labine
*****
Paul Guinan is a very clever man. I suspect he fooled a great number of people with
his elaborate hoax involving the victorian era robot 'Boilerplate'. He has marvelous
illustrations and photos of Boilerplate with Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Vila and spins
tales of his adventures in Antarctica, etc. I have been a fan of the Columbian Expo for a
long time and have collected many types of memorabilia from the Fair, but this little
'sidetrip' has been very interesting. I have enjoyed the search as I do all of the
searches. Dennis Brann
*****
I have students that would believe this story at face value just because it is on the
internet. I will use it as an example of bogus info. It is a good example of a story
taking on a life of its own. It is what Steven Colbert refers to as "truthiness" or truth
by consensus. Mary Osmar
*****
I didn't know that about Boilerplate. Actually I had never heard of Boilerplate before the
photo quiz. He definitely has the steely eyed resolve to be an effective leader and should
understand the nuts and bolts of good government. In order to seek election in 2008,
Boilerplate was likely viewed as too iron-fisted to sign off on bail-out money or gov't
loans. Oh my! Don Draper
believe this is an elaborate hoax. The big tipoff is no mention at all of how the thing
operated, recorded and made conversation, etc.
And, of course, we quizmasters have just researched the 1893 Columbian Exposition
and not seen a word about this robot.
More proof: No parents listed for Archibald Balthazar Campion (ABC) and he does not
show on the 1900 census. Does not show on the 1870 Chicago census, or any other
census, either. Sister Lily's pictures show a young woman, but if she married in 1870
would be in her late 40's at the time of the 1893 Fair. Final proof, from the website:
All contents copyright 2000, 2006 Paul Guinan. Boilerplate, Archibald Campion, and all
related marks and indicia are trademarks of Paul Guinan. Marilyn Hamill
N.B. An elaborate hoax? What do you mean? And anyway inventors don't
normally disclose the secret of their inventions...
Besides just because you didn't find Archibald in the census records doesn't mean he
didn't exist. That's negative proof, honey. If you are a genealogist you know that
there are lots of people who don't appear in the census records but if they didn't exist
then neither would we!
Oh, that thing about Copyright 2000, 2006 Paul Guinan. A minor concern.
Anybody can post stuff like that.
Quizmaster General
*****
Teddy Roosevelt is often described as a master of public relations. He might have been
serious and enthused about the impact Boilerplate would have on the enemy. Surely he
was equally excited about the publicity such a picture would receive. Politicians can
often benefit from the occasional informal photo such as golfing or attending a
ballgame. Perhaps it makes them a little more human and less robotic, themselves.
Wherever Boilerplate was taken it had to be an invitation for a picture to be taken. In
office, I have to believe that Roosevelt was the antithesis of stuffy. To find out, that
will be reading for another day! Don Draper
*****
.Long live steam-powered robots! They put puny electronic ones to shame! We tend
to deprecate the accomplishments of our ancestors (exactly how DID Avogadro come
up with that number? We use x-ray crystallography today), but the steam-powered
Boilerplate is a precious rebuke to us. Mike Swierczewski
*****
It is a great joke, and damned funny. He was supposed to do everything from charging
up San Juan Hill to traveling to Antarctica. His real accomplishment is to show people
that they need to read more! Mike Vanlandingham
N.B. Joke? You have to be kidding me.....
*****
This was fun, and you had me going for a bit. I am glad I read the comments on
Boilerplate's website. I should be as well traveled as Boilerplate. Milene Rawlinson
*****
I love it!!!! Stay turned for further adventures. I'm waiting for Boilerplate: The
Movie. Diane Burkett
*****
This was an easy one, especially since you have your tongue firmly in your cheek. This
is an excellent example of the reason that people shouldn't believe everything that they
find on the internet. George Wright
N B. You mean to tell me that new research into the Losch Ness monster might not
be true if I read it on the internet???
*****
I had never heard of Boilerplate before that picture and now I've gotten just about every
Boiletplate website bookmarked! Brad Labine
*****
Paul Guinan is a very clever man. I suspect he fooled a great number of people with
his elaborate hoax involving the victorian era robot 'Boilerplate'. He has marvelous
illustrations and photos of Boilerplate with Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Vila and spins
tales of his adventures in Antarctica, etc. I have been a fan of the Columbian Expo for a
long time and have collected many types of memorabilia from the Fair, but this little
'sidetrip' has been very interesting. I have enjoyed the search as I do all of the
searches. Dennis Brann
*****
I have students that would believe this story at face value just because it is on the
internet. I will use it as an example of bogus info. It is a good example of a story
taking on a life of its own. It is what Steven Colbert refers to as "truthiness" or truth
by consensus. Mary Osmar
*****
I didn't know that about Boilerplate. Actually I had never heard of Boilerplate before the
photo quiz. He definitely has the steely eyed resolve to be an effective leader and should
understand the nuts and bolts of good government. In order to seek election in 2008,
Boilerplate was likely viewed as too iron-fisted to sign off on bail-out money or gov't
loans. Oh my! Don Draper
Guinan estimated that roughly a third of the site's visitors treated its faux history as real.
People fooled by the site include comedian Chris Elliott, who thought the spoof dated
back the 19th century and included the character in one of his books (see below).
Guinan later expanded his website into The History of Robots in the Victorian Era,
which features other "turn-of-the-century robots, both real and imagined".
Fictional Character History
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 originally designed as 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.
In the mid-1890s, Boilerplate embarked on a series of expeditions to demonstrate its
abilities, the most ambitious being a voyage to Antarctica. In 1901 to celebrate the new
century, Boilerplate circumnaviated the glove in what turned
People fooled by the site include comedian Chris Elliott, who thought the spoof dated
back the 19th century and included the character in one of his books (see below).
Guinan later expanded his website into The History of Robots in the Victorian Era,
which features other "turn-of-the-century robots, both real and imagined".
Fictional Character History
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 originally designed as 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.
In the mid-1890s, Boilerplate embarked on a series of expeditions to demonstrate its
abilities, the most ambitious being a voyage to Antarctica. In 1901 to celebrate the new
century, Boilerplate circumnaviated the glove in what turned
 |  |  |  |
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
 |  |  |  |
| Boilerplate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boilerplate_(robot) http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate.html |
| ********** |
| Click here to see results of 5th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Answer to Quiz #210 - May 24, 2009 |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| Quiz #210 Results |
| Visit our blog at www.forensicgenealogy.info/blog. |
| This robot was unveiled at the Columbian Exhibition in 1893. 1. What was its name? 2. Who is supposedly the man to the right of it? 3. Cite two of its famous adventures. |
| Many thanks to Mike Dalton for submitting this photo. |
| Answers: 1. Boilerplate 2. Teddy Roosevelt, leading the charge up San Juan Hill with his Rough Riders 3. There are many, including: Circumnavigation of the globe Expedition to Antarctica Participated in the charge up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt Boxer Rebellion Japanese Russian War Member of Major Whittlesey's Lost Battalion in WWI Saved Pancho Villa's Life See www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate.html for more. |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Rick and his Quiz Angel Jina Yi Congrats to Quiz Angels Jina Yi and Ashley Hicks on their graduation!! Anne Alves Don Draper Mike Swierczewski Carl Blessing Robyn Lang Tom McChesney Mikd Vanlandingham Elaine C. Hebert Stan Read Brad Labine Linda Templar Alexander Jim Baker Marilyn Hamill Tamura Jones Delores Martin Robin Depietro Caroline Pointer Betty Chambers Tammy Evans Michelle Mounts Karen Kay Bunting Milene Rawlinson Joshua Kreitzer Suzan Farris Diane Burkett Mike Dalton Lisa Thaler Jim Kiser Richard Wakeham Gary Sterne Judy Pfaff Margaret Bonar Beth Long George Wright Carol Lemieux Phyllis Barattia Mary South John Chulick Betty Ware Justin Campoli Wayne Douglas Dorothy Oksner Maureen O'Connor Dennis Brann Carolyn Cornelius Shirley Ferguson Gina Hudson Mary Osmar Nancy Lear Mike Dalton Robert Steinmann Venita Wilson Jocelyn Thayer Nancy Lear Fred Stuart Charles Coats Kathy Storm Chris Bucko Robert Edward McKenna, QPL |
| THE HEROIC ROBOT Inventor, Archibald Campion named his robot "Boilerplate." It has been credited with many acts of daring-do. With Teddy Roosevelt (pictured) used its skills to help, Save lives of Spanish-American soldiers in the crew. Numerous actions of military merit were recorded. While In Mexico, observed to save Poncho Villas life. Also Boilerplate trapped in the siege of Port Arthur , Relived months later as the Russians ended the strife. The demise of Boilerplate occurred in Wold War I. As General Pershing used Boilerplate in a new vain. Participating in the disastrous Battle of "The Lost Battalion," No pieces of Boilerplate were ever found again. Robert Edward McKenna Quiz Poet Laureate ***** Boilerplate has appeared again He's been in featured news No one is sure of where he's been But it's known he's been re-fused. He may be our next US President He's a potential candidate. He appeals to conservs who want a vet, Someone they'd highly rate. He also appeals to the younger types The reason will astound It's not their need for leadership- It's his heavy metal sound. Colleen Fitzpatrick Understudy to Quiz Poet Laureate Robert Edward McKenna |
| How Anne Solved the Puzzle |
| The photo seemed familiar and I recognized Teddy Roosevelt in the middle. It didn't take long to find the real photo of T.R. and the Rough Riders standing atop San Juan Hill in Cuba. But there was no robot! Next step, search google images for "Rough Riders" and "Robot". Once again - "Boilerplate, the robot" appeared with a link to a website that described Boilerplate and his heroic exploits after being unveiled in 1893. But, my instincts told me this was a fake! I found the explanation I was looking for in Wikipedia - Boilerplate was created by a guy in Oregon in 2000 to be used in a comic book or novel. He made up a fictional "history" and put it on the faux website and people believed it! The "exploits" include taking San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders; fighting along side Pancho Villa; WWI and WWII heroics. Anne Alves |
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Boilerplate is a fictional robot of the Victorian era and early 20th century, created in
2000 by Portland, Oregon artist Paul Guinan. Originally intended for comics, the
character became known via a faux-historical website created by Guinan, and has since
appeared in other media.
Boilerplate originally featured on a website created by Paul Guinan in 2000 as an online
2000 by Portland, Oregon artist Paul Guinan. Originally intended for comics, the
character became known via a faux-historical website created by Guinan, and has since
appeared in other media.
Boilerplate originally featured on a website created by Paul Guinan in 2000 as an online
| The Inadvertent Plagiarist: Chris Elliott Meets Boilerplate Publisher's Weekly Heidi McDonald November 1, 2005 Read about Chris Elliot's inadvertent use of Boilerplate as a character in his book The Shroud of the Thwacker. Click here. |
pitch for a graphic novel. The Boilerplate
site details the history of a remarkable
robot built in the late 19th century, and
features photoshopped "archival images"
in which Boilerplate (actually a 12-inch
articulated model) is seen interacting with
historical figures, such as Teddy
Roosevelt and Pancho Villa. Becoming
aware that some visitors to the site were
taken in by its contents, making it an
unintentional hoax, Guinan resolved to see
how authentic he could make the
character seem, working to ensure the
descriptions of non-fictional events were
accurate.
site details the history of a remarkable
robot built in the late 19th century, and
features photoshopped "archival images"
in which Boilerplate (actually a 12-inch
articulated model) is seen interacting with
historical figures, such as Teddy
Roosevelt and Pancho Villa. Becoming
aware that some visitors to the site were
taken in by its contents, making it an
unintentional hoax, Guinan resolved to see
how authentic he could make the
character seem, working to ensure the
descriptions of non-fictional events were
accurate.
| Love Steampunk? How about robots? And what about fictions pretending to be reality? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, you're likely to love the heck out of Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel by Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett, out from Abrams Books in October. Abrams was kind enough to send me a preview of the book, in unbound form, and it's spectacular. The creators of Boilerplate have meticulously inserted the robot into various phases of twentieth-century history, weaving his story into our own. The book expands on the original online avatar of Boilerplate. A lovely foreword sets Boilerplate up as "the world's first robot soldier," created by Professor Archibald Campion in 1893 to prevent "the deaths of men in the conflicts of nations." Since then, Boilerplate has "charged into combat alongside such notables as Teddy Roosevelt and Lawrence of Arabia." Not only that, he's traveled to the South Pole, "saved Pancho Villa's life," made silent movies, and "hobnobbed with the likes of Mark Twain and Tesla." The book purports to tell the story of Boilerplate as "one of history's great enigmas, a technological breakthrough that languished in obscurity," until now. Read more.... |
| Boilerplate History's Mechanical Marvel |
| Boilerplate History's Mechanical Marvel by Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett Hardcover: 168 pages Abrams Image (October 1, 2009) ISBN-10: 0810989506 ISBN-13: 978-0810989504 Available for pre-order from Amazon Click here. |
| Review by Jeff Vandermeer April 29, 2009 www.omnivoracious.com/... |
out to be a failed publicity attempt to
garner interest in its industrial applications.
Boilerplate is one of history's great ironies,
a technological milestone that remains
largely unknown. Even in an age that
gave birth to the automobile and aeroplane,
a functioning mechanical man should have
been accorded more significance.
Boilerplate is also active in the First World
War, but disappear during the relief of
Major Whittlesey's Lost Battalion, possibly
garner interest in its industrial applications.
Boilerplate is one of history's great ironies,
a technological milestone that remains
largely unknown. Even in an age that
gave birth to the automobile and aeroplane,
a functioning mechanical man should have
been accorded more significance.
Boilerplate is also active in the First World
War, but disappear during the relief of
Major Whittlesey's Lost Battalion, possibly
having been captured by the Germans for study. Supporters of this theory point out
that German military technology advances tremendously in the twenty years between
the two world wars, encompassing guided rockets, experimental jets, and sophisticated
tanks. Post World War II, Boilerplate is sighted on a number of occasions, often in
Chicago.
that German military technology advances tremendously in the twenty years between
the two world wars, encompassing guided rockets, experimental jets, and sophisticated
tanks. Post World War II, Boilerplate is sighted on a number of occasions, often in
Chicago.
| Boilerplate with Pancho Villa near Guerrero, Mexico March 27, 1916 www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate |
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| The Shroud of the Thwacker by Chris Elliott Miramax Books September 2006 ISBN-13: 9781401360115 Buy Now from Barnes and Nobel |
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| Chris Elliott |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| Our quiz photo was drawn from an article "Victorian robot is a history emcee" by Randall Barton that appeared in the Portland Tribune on January 22, 2009. You can read the article at www.portlandtribune.com. |
Original photo of Teddy Roosevelt with
Rough Riders in Cuba.
Rough Riders in Cuba.
Photo of Teddy Roosevelt with Rough Riders
including Boilerplate, www.portlandtribune.com
including Boilerplate, www.portlandtribune.com
| ********** |
Boilerplate & the all black 10th Cavalry
of San Juan fame. www.bigredhair.com/
of San Juan fame. www.bigredhair.com/
| A Sample of Boilerplate's Remarkable Adventures |
In 1894, after the closing of the World’s Columbian
Exposition (where Boilerplate was unveiled), Professor
Archibald Campion embarked on a field demonstration of
his creation. The professor’s plan was to take the
mechanical man to Antarctica to test its abilities in
extreme environments.
The Euterpe was the iron-hulled sailing vessel used for
the first leg of this journey. The ship approached
Antarctica from the Ross Sea. As it neared the Ross Ice
Shelf, it was surrounded and eventually trapped by pack
ice. The crew would have to await the spring thaw in
order to free the vessel.
After five months, the pack ice shifted enough for
Boilerplate to effectively carve out a channel that the
Exposition (where Boilerplate was unveiled), Professor
Archibald Campion embarked on a field demonstration of
his creation. The professor’s plan was to take the
mechanical man to Antarctica to test its abilities in
extreme environments.
The Euterpe was the iron-hulled sailing vessel used for
the first leg of this journey. The ship approached
Antarctica from the Ross Sea. As it neared the Ross Ice
Shelf, it was surrounded and eventually trapped by pack
ice. The crew would have to await the spring thaw in
order to free the vessel.
After five months, the pack ice shifted enough for
Boilerplate to effectively carve out a channel that the
| Remark from the Quizmaster General |
| ********** |
Euterpe could escape through. The expedition arrived at Cape Evans in the spring of
1895. More...
1895. More...
When the American First Army became official on August 10, 1918, Boilerplate was
attached to Pershing’s staff and functioning in a variety of roles. The metal soldier
participated in the St. Mihiel campaign in September and was to take part in the Meuse-
Argonne campaign in October.
On October 2, 1918, General Pershing ordered the U.S. 77th Division to advance
through the Argonne forest--"no matter what our casualties are." More...
attached to Pershing’s staff and functioning in a variety of roles. The metal soldier
participated in the St. Mihiel campaign in September and was to take part in the Meuse-
Argonne campaign in October.
On October 2, 1918, General Pershing ordered the U.S. 77th Division to advance
through the Argonne forest--"no matter what our casualties are." More...
| Boilerplate's page on MySpace Status: Single Hometown: Chicago Height: 6' 6" Sign: Sagittarius Occupation: soldier Click here. |
| Comment from Quizmaster Marilyn Hamill |
| I had doubted the existence of Archibald Campion, too, but then I found this among all the detrita: In 1894, The Euterpe was chartered by explorer Archibald Campion for his polar expedition, because of the ship's iron hull, and because the ship had both crew quarters and cargo holds. Interestingly, Archibald brought along his own invention, an electric motor with a variety of interesting attachments, which allowed the crew to power the ship through the ice, and also provided light and heat. This is the only reference I have found for this man on the web. |