---
title: The Mechanical Turk
author: Joseph Friedrich von Racknitz
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20947/the-mechanical-turk/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2025-09-11
---

# The Mechanical Turk

_Authored by Joseph Friedrich von Racknitz_

## Image File

[![The Mechanical Turk](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20947.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20947.png)

## Image Caption

The Mechanical Turk, illustration in Joseph Friedrich von Racknitz's pamphlet *On Mr. von Kempelen's Chess Player and its Replica*, 1789.

This drawing depicts how von Racknitz believed the so-called Mechanical Turk, a supposed chess-playing automaton developed by Wolfgang von Kempelen, to actually function, housing a human operator within.

Humboldt University Library, Berlin.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Racknitz, J. F. v. (2025, September 11). The Mechanical Turk. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20947/the-mechanical-turk/>
### Chicago
Racknitz, Joseph Friedrich von. "The Mechanical Turk." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 11, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20947/the-mechanical-turk/>.
### MLA
Racknitz, Joseph Friedrich von. "The Mechanical Turk." *World History Encyclopedia*, 11 Sep 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20947/the-mechanical-turk/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Racknitz_-_The_Turk_3.jpg) by [**Joseph Friedrich von Racknitz**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Racknitz_-_The_Turk_3.jpg). Submitted by [Howard Burton](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/irenaburton/ "User Page: Howard Burton"), published on 11 September 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.