1. The Metropolis Robot – Its Creation

He sculpted the design out of the present moment, directly on the plaster cast of the actress Brigitte Helm; it was simply flowing from him. This is likely the main reason for the great effect the Metropolis Robot holds. The challenges lay in the practical realization, this had initially caused him some headache.

„Priority in this case was: "Which material?" Thought of – at first, coppersheet – embossed – to have real metal. This meant = production of a model in natural size – looking for, and finding, a suitable metal chaser for the execution. "Cumbersome" I thought – when Fritz Lang got me interested in this work. But which material, really? Help came by chance.

A shop for architectural models unwittingly provided the essential assistance. I was led there on account of a different task. A small cardboard box labelled "Plastic Wood" – "Sample Without Value" – a postal item, therefore – arrested my attention. This "sample without value" – of no interest to that shop – was placed at my disposal. A working specimen delivered instant proof – the material for the production of the "Machine Man" had been found. "Plastic Wood" turned out to be a pliable wooden material – fast-hardening on exposure to air – with the possibility of being able to work on it – like naturally grown wood.“

Walter Schulze-Mittendorff describes the self-evident facts and the challenges in creating the ,Machine Man‘ – the Metropolis Robot. He clearly saw before him its appearance, the form taking shape:

„Problems with the form? No!

Expressionism was alive.

The technical form had been discovered as a motif for painting and sculpture.”

“I didn’t bother to make a figurine first. A plaster cast was made of B. Helm – and I worked on that directly – the figure, which could be dismantled into single parts, of course.”