The term
Master Cylinder seems to be fairly common in the
automotive field. I know less about cars than I do about
astrophysics, so I'm not going to discuss that. I'm here to discuss the
robot from
Felix the Cat instead.
Background
In 1958 Felix the Cat migrated to television and aquired his magic bag of tricks, a new personality, some new friends, and a new foe. The Master Cylinder doesn't get much press online, often dismissed as "an evil, cylindrical robot" or "the sinister Master Cylinder" ("often" purely because everyone is stealing the same Felix information).
However one site mentions him being Master Cylinder - The King Of The Moon. Then another site says he lived on Mars, but that's just one mention so it's either wrong or another example of the great continuity of classic television.
Appearance
The Master Cylinder is a cylinder with either three wheels or two feet (images are a little unclear, and I remember him rolling!), eyes in a green panel which is presumably a screen, and two metal claws on arms. He also has eyebrows. Going off one of the episode titles he had an Atomic Drive but it presumably exploded. The Master Cylinder was apparently once taught by the Professor. Below the eye panel are two buttons, and above the eye panel is the speaker so he can talk.
SEE THE UNDISPUTED KING OF THE MOON HERE:
http://www.felixthecat.com/friends-master_cylinder.htm
For some reason he has a red eyepanel!
The evil of the Master Cylinder knows no bounds, with such deviant schemes as kidnapping Felix's friend Poindexter or making off with the Super Robot Formula surely only the tip of the iceberg.
Episodes I can Tell Master Cylinder was in from the title
Master Cylinder - King of the Moon
Master Cylinder Captures Poindexter
Venus and the Master Cylinder
Atomic Drive Explosion of Master Cylinder
The Master Cylinder's Spacegram
I recall the 1991 film Felix the Cat: The Movie containing an army of Master Cylinder clone robots but they had no character and worked for some evil guy on another planet. mkb informs me there was a cameo appearance by the Master Cylinder, however neither of us wants to watch it again to double check.
References
- http://www.felixthecat.com/ oh look, Felix has two skateboarding nephews. ASSHOLES! LEAVE IT ALONE!
- http://www.coolstufftoys.com/felix.html
- http://home.texoma.net/~kgreg/tv.html
- http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Felix-the-Cat
- http://www.thecinemalaser.com/dvd_review_2002/felix-the-cat-dvd.htm
- http://www.toontracker.com/felix/felix.htm