Recently I have been doing a lot of research on these "Automatons". I have discovered important information, which confirms that the "Turk" was not destroyed (as many thought), but was sold to a Dr. Hooper (from England), who dismantled it and then reassembled it (giving it a completely new look). He then renamed it--"Ajeeb" and from there it was put back into circulation to play checkers and chess again throughout the world. "Ajeeb" was received with great enthusiam by the Londoners, and for years afterward was the feature attraction at Sydenham Crystal Palace in London. In 1886 the Eden Musee authorities cabled Dr. Hooper a flattering offer to exhibit "Ajeeb". He accepted and in this same year, "Ajeeb" was installed in this famous wax-figure institution, where it mystified blase New Yorkers until 1915. From 1915 on "Ajeeb" concentrated mostly on playing checkers.
More to come. (Cont.)