Mephisto (automaton)

Mephisto was a purported chess-playing automaton that toured Europe and the United States in the late 19th century. Unlike the earlier, more famous "Turk," Mephisto was not a complete hoax; it did indeed contain a human chess master hidden within the cabinet who manipulated the pieces via a mechanical linkage.

The automaton was initially constructed by Charles Godfrey Gumpel in 1878. He later sold it to Isidor Gunsberg, who significantly enhanced its chess-playing abilities. The machine consisted of a cabinet upon which sat a mannequin dressed as a devil (Mephistopheles, from the Faust legend). Audiences were typically invited to challenge the automaton to a game of chess.

Mephisto gained a reputation for its impressive chess skill, defeating many amateur players. The secret to its success lay in a series of hidden compartments and levers that allowed a strong chess player to control the movements of the automaton’s arm. While the Turk had relied on illusions to conceal the human operator, Mephisto employed a more sophisticated mechanical system and a smaller space for the human player.

Several well-known chess masters are believed to have operated Mephisto during its career, including Isidor Gunsberg himself, Johann Löwenthal, and possibly others. The identity of the operator remained a closely guarded secret for many years.

Mephisto was eventually retired from public performance. It represents an interesting evolution in the history of chess-playing automata, moving beyond pure illusion to a more complex blend of mechanics and human skill.