This spark-breathing question-answering 1920's robot will soon live again

Eric the Robot, Britain's first humanoid robot is being rebuilt following a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign by London's Science Museum. Eric caused a sensation in the 1920s, delivering speeches answering questions and firing sparks out of his mouth. He made his debut in London at the Model Engineering Exhibition in 1928, and could stand, move his arms and head, and take a bow as well as speak -- probably thanks to a human operator hidden off-stage. Eric is important because he was built around the time the modern concept of the robot was taking shape. And mysteriously, after wowing the crowd with his debut, Eric was taken on an international tour but disappeared soon after -- possibly cannibalised for parts, or lost.