45 Retro Robots Built with Trash

Creator and inventor Paul Loughridge (pronounced ‘Lok-rij’) from Lockwasher Design, describes his robots as being created from everyday trash, but they are so, so much more.
Built from raw materials, his creations are amazingly choc-full of character, and when brought to life have a retro feel that will have fans of B-Movies from yesteryear and of pulp science-fiction TV shows salivating.

“Well first is was the ray guns, then I had so much stuff still left laying around and my workshop/studio/garage was already so trashed and the word robot starts with an R like ray gun… you following this logic. Anyway to top it off my wife actually thought they were neat or cute or some warm and fuzzy description that she had never bestowed on any of my ray gun creations. And the garage continues to exist in a perfect state of being trashed.“
by Paul Loughridge

Robot Creations

BR2D2…beertooD2

After several mugs of liquid inspiration while viewing StarWars for the umpteenth time BeertooD2 was born… or should I say drafted? His 4.7 liter keg body, chrome tractor headlight dome, vintage shoe polisher legs and mini bread loaf pan feet have proven popular with the over-21 crowd…may the force beer with you.

Go Bulldogs!

Bull Dog is fashioned from a vintage electrical tape can, a pair of mini-loaf bread pans, flexible copper propane BBQ hoses, old fishing bail box, coffee pot lid, aluminum horn mute and assorted springs ‘n bolts. Just a tad over 17″ tall…Go Bulldogs!

Sir Lube of Can-o-Lot

The days of shivery are still alive thanks to Sir Lube! Striking a bold stance protected by his vegetable grater shield and oil can lance, our hero sports a custom helmet with hinged face guard. Know a damsel in distress?

Paperbot

This robot is part of a series to help promote a new post consumer waste recycled product. Here’s thes first prototype…Attack of the Noddle Bot!

Dance your copper ass off

Sandy

Fashion shades & full figured Sandy’s beach ready. Needn’t work about SPF… she’s already aluminized. Copper sunhat included!

Trouble Shooter

Assembled from not one, but two vintage flashlights…the envy of any self-respecting boy scout. Let Mr T.S. light your way…and shoot some trouble while your at it. He stands 15″ tall…batteries not included.

Jumbo Tube Heads

Schauer

Wide-eyed and up for a challenge nothing gets past Schauer. Gloriously displaying his radar headgear (lawn sprinkler) and dual window cranks (arms) this bot is master of all he surveys. A vintage motor analyzer case, auto valve bodies, electric drill parts, springs
and a big gold nose keep him on top of his game.

Buzz Robot

One of the original cut-ups Buzz always maintains his edge (ouch)! Assembled from parts off of both column A and column B – vintage test box, screen door handle, old truck emblem, movie reels valve knobs, glass fuses, aluminum junction box, and, oh yes, saw blade. With Buzz there are no dull moments.

Starflex

Here the essential picnic pal. Straflex will hold a couple of sandwiches & beverages, snap a picture, and light your way home if your out too late. With his specially designed feet
he even does light ironing…you gotta ask nicely. Aluminum lunch bucket, old camera, bicycle gears, flashlight parts, cake decorator parts, child’s toy iron, vintage car handles etc.

Scotty Robo-Dog

Scotland’s loss is our gain, Scotty dog. Classic thermos plaid body, aluminum lamp shade head and hot and cold ears make up our wee lad.

Devry

Robo Bros – Hans & Franz

Cyclops

This mechanical menace is manufactured from a super heavy-duty Navy battery powered lantern. His arms are grab-handles off a 50’s 5th wheel trailer. I re-fitted the lense and bulb with a vintage electronic gauge. His bodacious legs are a combination of stainless test tube, solid gears(?) cannibalized from a cars rear differential( …like anyone really cares!) and a set of steel spring.

Mix Master

This guy’s based on a vintage automotive air/fuel ratio meter. Mr. Mix’s head is an old ice crusher and arms are fabricated from a pair of solid aluminum garden tool handles. His torso is a stainless steel bellows coupler connected to a 3 wheeled furniture
dolly.

Ice-O-Matic

1950’s Ice-O-Matic ice crusher body, Bakelite coffee pot handle, Watt gauge, Brownie Hawkeye camera, pair of motorcycle control levers, extrude aluminum stock and a pair of candle holders.

Walter – aka The Lung

…yeah Walter’s feet are old SU carburetor covers and the green base is the motor cover off a Westinghouse electric vacuum cleaner.

Lady Bots

Fancy Nancy

Chef Julia

¼ cup bolts, 2 bike brake arms, and a pinch of scrap aluminum, place in preheated 325 degree oven…and in 35 minutes you can enjoy a freshly baked Julia. Antique lamp shade, vintage light fixture and retired car license plate…now your cooking.

Little Ballerina

Glamour Robot, Pearl

Redefining metallic high society from her aluminum gown to her exquisite beads…Pearl is “all that…and more”! old GE rpm tester, pressure regulator, gas flex line arms and legs fashioned from lights that flash.

Robot Cars

1932 Boardtrack Racer

Back when men were men and motorcycles had no brakes, board tracking racing was America’s No. 1 spectator sport. Bright white tires should tip you off to the nostalgic era from wench this thumper came. Valve spring compressor tool forks and “cheater brakes”
from a ten speed bike make up the front end. The brass tank started life as a vintage torch
and the hand formed saddle was cover with leather from a woman’s handbag. An all aluminum espresso maker and black finned heat sink power add the go and a pair of old meat grinder handles sturdy the rear end. Grab your leather skull cap and you’re ready to rumble.

Motorcycle Racer

It’s 28″ long and 12″ tall…and weighs 14lbs.

Dragster

Lakester Race

Robot Rockets

Tri-Bulb Rocket

Rocket Badge

Coffee Rocket Urn

Thermo Coleman

Robot Critters

Shutter Bug

Shutter Bug is fashion from a vintage 1953 Ansco Shur-Flash box camera which I mounted to an old Squarespray “It Gets The Corners” Lawn Sprinkler base. The eyes/antennas once formed Swedish meatballs (…making it an international meatball tool, that just sound weird) and the six legs are “cheater brakes” off old ten-speed bicycles.

King Robo

Ernestine and Stereo Dog

Top down – Aluminum ground wire, antique ceiling light fixture, aluminum water carafe, antique hot/cold faucet knobs, large coffee grounds basket , vintage coffee urn (Ernestine…get it?), Harley Davidson fender supports, industrial light reflector, super long candle stick holders, go kart hubs. That’s a turn buckle between her legs…

Eli the Aluminum Elephant

The inspiration for this little guy was his tea pot head, all that was needed was adding the ears (poached egg trays) and tusks (bicycle brake levers).

Robot Dog Yellowtail

Camp flashlight body, bobbin eyes and ice tong ears could be your newest best friend…then you name him anything you want.

Robo Rover Head

Flashlight Dog

Road Runner Bird Sculpture

Tartan Terrier

His body is a plaid 1973 Thermos, the legs are aluminum cantilever brakes off a Mountain bike and feet are 4 matching steel gears. His head is a track light shade, ears are a dental impression tray, measuring spoon for a mouth and a vintage radio knob for his nose…bring up the rear – his tail is a window crank. 10″ tall x 18″ long.

Robot Ray Guns

Paul Loughridge started putting these intergalactic self-defense mechanisms (ray guns) together after being totally inspired by Clayton Bailey, artist/gunsmith as well as drawing inspiration from old 50’s and 60’s space movies/TV/toys…anything retro cool!