Retro robots: 13 old androids doing run-of-the-mill things

Who wouldn't want to develop a robot that takes on one of the most arduous tasks when it comes to cleaning the house?

We're not entirely sure we'd let this mechanical contraption anywhere near our face, especially with blades in its robotic fingers. Fortunately this particular device is controlled by a human, but still, perhaps we'll just leave this task in the safe hands of a barber.

Love cooking or hate it, a robot that will rustle up a delicious fajita in the evening for you is a tasty vision of the future we can all tuck in to.

Save a fiver by not getting little Timmy to clean the car - get Tinny to do it instead.

Need to improve your swing? Don't waste money on an expensive personal trainer, get this 1920s golf robot to perfect your poise.

If your robot starts smoking it's usually a sure fire sign that the engine has blown, but not Vocalite, the 1930s robot built to keep you company on your smoking break.

Nothing shouts class and sophistication more than your own robotic personal assistant serving you Mojitos by the pool.

Real pets need house training, run up huge vet bills and will hop on the table and eat your dinner the moment you look away. Not Tama though, who willmeow when annoyed, purr when stroked, open and close its eyes, move its paws, wag its tail and look cautiously around when it hears a noise.

Just because you are a robot with no sense of taste, digestive system or capacity for free thought doesn't mean you can't indulge in a nice, hot cup of coffee. Milk and sugar?

Let's face it, nobody wants a creepy clown or an granddad masquerading as a magician at a children's party when you could have Topo for entertainment.

The streets of Mexico can be a nightmare for any but the steeliest of traffic wardens, unless you're actually made of steel...

Robots don't eat food, which makes them something of a bizarre choice to teach children about the benefits of a balanced diet, which is probably why NUTRO is still the world's only nutrition-teaching robot.

Are you ready to rock? We were back in 1954, with this steel shredder looking to give Jimi Hendrix a run for its money (ok, maybe not). We imagine it would have sounded something like this.

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