California-based artist Tal Avitzur scours scrap and salvage yards for materials to build his collection of Talbotics, a mini race of robots made from a variety of odd items. Each one has a distinct look and, by extension, a distinct personality. “From a workshop full of thousands of parts, I place pieces together like a puzzle until I get a natural looking fit,” Avitzur writes. “I then cut, grind, drill, tap and whatever else is necessary to connect objects that were not meant to be connected.” Be forewarned, however, as the robots won’t be making our lives easier anytime soon. “Though these robots don’t clean your house, wash your car, walk your dog, or sing and dance, they do light up,” Avitzur admits. Although that also means they won’t take over the world and destroy all of us, either! (Phew.)
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
AG-500 (2010) 28 inches tall Materials: vintage breaker box, oil filter, brass candlestick holders, brass nipples, various scrap metal yard objects, color changing LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Barbiebot (2012) 12 inches tall Materials: vintage voltmeter, gas filter, marine cleats, glass cupping jar, metal scrap yard objects, red, blue and color changing LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Conqueror (2012) 18 inches tall 10.5 inches wide Materials: Medical hip implant part, flux capacitor, turbo encabulator, unilateral phase detractor, cardinal grammeter, differential girdle spring, rear fan piston bearing gauge, Dyson sphere, LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Dietz (2010) 14 inches tall Materials: safety light, gears, acorn nuts, brass nipples, sprinkler part, blinking amber 12-LED bulb.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Firebot (2011) 19.5 inches tall Materials: Fire alarm handle, redwood and alder wood, brass flex line, brass sprinkler, brass hose, keyboard keys, scrap metal yard objects, blinking red LED.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Firebot 200 (2012) 18 inches tall Materials: Fire alarm handle, redwood box, Fire Department hose nozzles, sprinkler heads, brass pump handles, brass railing joint, auto badge, blinking red LED.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Minuteman (2012) 17.5 inches tall Materials: vintage voltmeter, bicycle bottom bracket, heat sink, torch handle, gas burners, metal scrap yard objects, green LEDs and spinning blue LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Monitor (2012) 20 inches tall Materials: Shure microphone, metal box, antenna springs, hose nozzles, brass pump handles, acorn nuts, Hamilton Beach badge, scrap yard objects, white and color changing LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Navigator (2011) 24 inches tall Materials: vintage ammeter, US Navy compass housing, filters, bell housings, U-joint, red, blue, green LEDs, potentiometer to control speed of blinking LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Primo (2011) 13.75 inches tall 8.25 inches wide Materials: Optical testing box, sliding door mechanism, drill guide, refrigeration door handles, vacuum cleaner badge, scrap metal yard objects, blinking red LED, soft blue LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Quark (2012) 20 inches tall Materials: fan motor housing, electronic testing box, piano interior parts, copper cable housing, gears, sprinkler parts, lock part, acorn nuts, metal scrap yard objects, green and color changing LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Throttler (2010) 16 inches tall Materials: marine throttle, pump body, ladle, wing nuts, refrigeration accumulator, blue glass, blue LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Uno (2010) 20 inches tall Materials: faucet body, pressure release valve, refrigeration accumulators, center punch, door knob, compass housing, nipples, amber glass, blinking LED.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Yabba Dabba Do (2013) 12 inches tall Materials: John Goodman / Fred Flintstone doll, glass cupping jar, metal scrap yard objects, red, blue and color changing LEDs.
Image credit: Tal Avitzur
Yale (2012) 25 inches tall 6.5 inches wide Materials: brass pump, aluminum box, brass nipples and couplers, brass gas chandelier part, indicator lights, Kilovac EV500 “Bubba” stationary contacts, metal scrap yard objects, blue, green and color changing LEDs.