Mechanical Boxers

[Chris]

Les (Properpunch) brings up the topic of mechanical boxers in a reply to a Chris vdC posting on Sales and Wants. This prompted me to reply and upload some pictures which are probably more appropriate to Punch's Workshop.

Every time there is a major world heavyweight contest there reappears the pair of toy boxing glove puppets with lever punching action. Only the heads change. I have a Henry Cooper and a Mohammed Ali (then Cassius Clay). The action is very realistic and you can effectively jab as well as deliver a knockout.

I bought these with the intention of making a pair of boxers using the mechanism. I have decided that it would be a waste of time. It would be realistic movement, but limited and not in keeping with the rest of the show. Also it is not funny. It is the very unreality of glove puppet boxing that makes it funny.

If anyone fancies experimenting these glove puppets can still be found in the cheap shops. I have seen them in the last two years in various guises. I have seen a boxing wolfman, an alien and a similar boxing ghoul.

I have seen one of these little glove puppets used in a Punch show. It popped out of a hat or box (I can't remember the details) and landed a punch on Punch's nose - not a routine you understand, just used as a surprise like a jack-in-the-box. This was quite effective.


For Les, and anyone else who cares to experiment, I've dug out the toys I mentioned. I hope the photograph will adequately explain the ingenious mechanism.

There are two small levers behind the shoulder blades and you can position your thumb to press on these alternatively to deliver punches, or, because they are close together you can operate both together giving a two handed pushing action.

[lesclarke]

Thanks for the pics and info Chris. I share your opinion that the 'slappy' style of fighting, and head-butting etc, of traditional glove puppet boxers is far funnier than a more realistic action. For a bit of fun I may still have a go at making one sometime, and then I'll add him to my box of 'Figures and props that I know I probably won't ever use (much) but make anyway.'

[Chris]

Yes, I do the same - and with magic tricks too. I'm constantly having new ideas, making new plans, gathering new props and ..... well somehow the rubbish I've been doing for the past 50 years still goes down best.

[johnstoate]

Ok, I'm assuming that this is the right place to continue a thread from elsewhere on this excellent, (If massive) site. So, on the subject of amplification. It's all about 'Horses for courses' - If, (Like Me) You work larger, outdoor venues, You need a sound that a/ Carries, and b/ is suitably 'Tinny' for the Punch voice, (More so if one doesn't use a swazzle, Which is amplification in itself) Therefore, advice based on smaller, domestic venues is not (necessarily) usefull. I use twin horn speakers with an ex navy PA unit,(Originally for use in gun turrets) which has a maximum output of 25 watts. This has only (famously) only failed me once And for internal use, a 'Speakezee' which hasn't the same tone or sound quality, but does the job on smaller venues. This is a new 'toy' and I have found, (By the expensive method) that once charged, One must recharge every few weeks, or risk the expense of new batteries. (The supplied one seems to have little reliability otherwise) Fortunately, as a standard battery supplied for alarm systems, they are easily replaced, and relatively inexpensive!
PS. - When you re-vamped everything after the idiots,- What became of the automatic 'New Topic' &c. Chris?

[Chris]

There has been no change whatsoever John. If you want to start a NEW TOPIC in the section PUNCH WORKSHOP then you simply click to go to PUNCH WORKSHOP and then you click the Bright Red NEW TOPIC - then add your title "Amplification" and write your piece. That is how it has always been.

Of course if you want to confuse everyone then you will do what you did - go to an entry called MECHANICAL BOXERS and click REPLY and add a totally unrelated reply.

[johnstoate]

Ooh dear, - Sorry folks but I seem to have done it again!! I'm sure that if you clicked 'reply' in the old days THAT was when the 'new topic bit (in red) came up. Obviously I got it wrong yet again 'Course, to an owd technophobe like moi confusion comes free!! - I was a little phased when I clicked on the 'Registered Users' bit coming in and was told that I wasn't authourised to access the site, (It was the d***** American spelling) - I simply tried again, and obviously it was the idiot fraternity (again) I discovered who have been trying to undermine Chris' stalwart efforts once more. It's a crying shame that they can't put their (not inconsiderable) talents in this medium to better use than destroying the hard work, (Not to mention expense) of others. Perhaps they could offer 'free websites' (That really are) or 'optimisation' (that really works)Or some other usefull service, (Possibly spelling in English) I'm absolutely convinced that this would earn them shedloads of real 'Brownie points' in both the real and virtual worlds. And ultimately save them the (Very real in this anonymous world) fear of certain elements discovering their real identities or addresses. I have yet to find a computer with the power to resist a 12 bore!!!