Necromancer automaton by Oscar Dorian

The latest automaton by Oscar Dorian features a nigromante (necromancer) practicing the dark branch of magic in which he summons the dead -- presumably to divine the future. The detail on the piece is absolutely wonderful. I admire his bold use of actual fire too!

See more work by Oscar Dorian on his web site.

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Sweety Plane - automaton by Keith Newstead

Keith Newstead's latest piece, commissioned by a candy shop in York, UK, is now finished and shown in the video above.

See more incredible automata by Keith Newstead on his web site.

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Article on Hero of Alexandria & video of aeolipile

The io9.com site featured a nice summary of the work of Hero of Alexandria earlier this week. Among his many inventions were sophisticated automta and a steam engine known as an 'aeolipile' -- a modern version of which is shown here. The post also shows a nice video of a recreated version of Hero's steam engine.

Here is the article on The Greek engineer who invented the steam engine 2,000 years ago at io9.com.

Here is were you can learn more about the beautiful steam turbine model shown above.

[ Thanks Julia! ]

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Three Lego contraptions: conveyer, lift, & jigsaw

Any search for "contraption" on YouTube brings up a LOT of results involving what might be the ultimate contraption toy of modern times: LEGO.

Here we see some nice video (with music) of three contraptions:
1) Conveyor Belt
2) Lift and Dump
3) Jigsaw

Want more? OK! Here is a link to a whole bunch of Lego contraptions on YouTube.

If your aspirations are somewhat more modest, look into the book/kit Lego Crazy Action Contraptions. I haven't played with it myself, but gets truly outstanding reviews.

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Why Not? - crazy necktie knotting contraption

Just in time for our recently declared Contraption Week a convoluted contraption whose sole purpose is to tie a necktie. This kinetic sculpture by Seth Goldstein does not involve a person, no neck...just a robot and its knotted tie. I admire the dedication and considerable ingenuity!

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Stunning desktop internal combustion engine

So it is Contraption Week here a The Automata / Automaton Blog. It's probably not fair to call something this slick a "contraption", but it has the requisite number of moving parts and lack of utility to qualify. So,...a beautiful contraption, then. This is a desktop internal combustion engine sold by Hammacher Schlemmer. It burns butane and can reach a speed of 2,000 RPM.

From the engine description:

Crafted from solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum by a German engineering company, the engine has a precisely calibrated carburetor, spark plug, and piston that generate maximum mechanical energy in a smooth, efficient manner. Fueled by butane (available at camping stores), the engine starts by turning its flywheel. A piezo magneto is attached to a timing disk that sends an electrical impulse to the spark plug, igniting the fuel within the cylinder. An adjustable fuel valve controls the engine's speed and the simple yet elegant movement of the valve rod, cross head, and crankshaft are clearly visible at lower revolutions.

Here's where you can check out this gorgeous desktop combustion engine.

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Fantastic Contraption - free physics based game

As part of Contraptions Week here at The Automata / Automaton blog, here is a treat for you: the free online game called Fantastic Contraption.

The game involves moving a small pink object into a goal area by assembling crazy machines out of a handful of parts. The tutorial takes only minutes and many levels can be solved in a number of different ways. This is good stuff, but fair warning, do not start to play if you have something you have to get done anytime soon.

Here's a link to the online version of Fantastic Contraptions, the fun online physics puzzle game.

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Eccentric Contraptions: Gadgets, Gizmos & Thingamabobs

Perhaps it is 'Contraption Week' here at The Automata / Automaton Blog. This is the third post in a row about them. So be it! Check out this book on the subject. Beautiful photographs!

From the book desciption:

Mind-boggling technology from the days of yore. An amazing collection of fascinating and visually intriguing gadgets which will engage and amuse everyone.

The incredible clockwork teasmade on the cover is just one of over 100 bizarre and ingenious gadgets in Maurice Collins' collection from the complexity of mechanical fruit peelers and a hand-pumped automatic shaver to the simplicity of the 'toe socks' of the 1920s which claimed to cut hosiery bills by 80%.

If you thought burglar alarms were a modern invention, there is a Victorian brass clockwork one in the collection, if you've always found striking matches too taxing, someone in the 1920s invented an automated self-striking match box to save you the trouble.

Fascinating and humorous Eccentric Contraptions will intrigue and amuse and is a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Take a look inside Eccentric Contraptions: and Amazing Gadgets, Gizmos and Thingamabobs over at amazon if you are curious!

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Contraptions, crazy inventions & absurd patents

Yesterday we featured a book on how to make Make 50 Wild & Wacky Contraptions. As strange as some of the things in that book are, I realized that stranger things havet been invented, patented, and even put to use! And so, there is now a new section of The Automata / Automaton Store dedicated entirely to crazy contraptions -- both real and fanciful.

One of the items you'll find in the new section is the book shown above, Patently Ridiculous. Author Richard Ross dug up some of the strangest patent applications submitted over past 100 years -- there are MANY of them! Illustrated with the inventors own diagrams, this bargain-priced book is an hilarious assortment of inventions. The next time you have what you think is a 'crazy idea' you might check this book and decided that it's not so crazy after all.

Here's a link to the new Crazy Contraptions section of The Automata / Automaton Store. Enjoy!

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Make 50 Wild & Wacky (but Useful!) Contraptions

I found this at the bookstore today and thought it was really cool. The projects are indeed wacky and the illustrations are excellent.

The book covers the following topics:
• The key players in the history of contraptions
• The different mechanical components often found in contraptions
• Scientific, mechanical, and engineering principles involved
• How to build working contraptions of your own

Be warned: there aren't really 50 unique projects in this book...I would say it's more like a dozen. Also, these are contraptions in the Rube Goldberg tradition. Though the title insists they are "useful", they are not -- just silly, complicated, mechanical fun.

Here's where you can get Make 50 Wild and Wacky (but Useful!) Contraptions.

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Wolf in sheep's clothing automaton with crank

I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking at here -- a wolf in sheep's clothing, perhaps? It certainly is a nicely made crank mechanism driving the whole thing!

[ Thanks Julia! ]

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Coin banks - bizarre, traditional, fun & eductional

Recently, we featured this clever dog mechanical bank and a couple of banks that grab the coin. It got me wondering what other cool mechanical banks were out there. Here are some of my recent finds:

Face bank - most bizarre bank

Here's where you can get your own creepy/cute Face bank.


Clown bank - traditional cast iron bank

Maybe your tastes are more traditional? Here's cast iron bank you might like. Wind the clown around the ball until it latches, press the lever and he spins around the ball then stands on his hands while depositing your coin. Here's where you can get this reproduction clown bank.


Spin bank - automatic coin spinner

This one was a real surprise to me. It looks like addictive fun at an affordable price. Here's where you can get the coin spinning bank.


Safe bank kit - learning about mechanisms

What I like about this is that you construct the safe from items included in the kit and learn about its inner workings in the process. When you're done you can use it as a bank. Here's where you can get the armed safe money bank kit.

Check out a dozens of nifty mechanical banks at the the mechanical bank section of The Automata / Automaton Store.

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Japanese stork cigaretter dispenser automaton

Here's a really nice piece currently listed on ebay. According to the listing the automaton bird is from the 1920s or 1930s and is of Japanese origin. A crane stands on the top edge of a brown lacquered box with gold designs. When the push-button beside the crane is pressed, the lid opens and the crane bends down to snatch a single cigarette in its beak.

Here's the ebay listing with 6 additional pictures of this Japanese stork cigaretter dispenser automaton

The modern version isn't quite as classy (though it is pretty funny):

Here's where you can get a donkey cigarette dispenser or an elephant cigarette dispenser of similar design.

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400 year old gold skull automaton and clock

This incredible automaton features a beautiful clock underneath the skull cap. Over the course of a few minutes the mandible opens, then snaps shut all of a sudden. The snakes in two eye sockets alternately emerge and retreat. Created in 1610 by Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger, this skull automaton/mechanical clock recently sold for an astounding $135,000.

Here is is a more complete description and several large photographs of the 400 year old gold skull automaton and clock over at the Watchismo Times Blog.

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Micro turning with a homemade rotary tool lathe

Ever wonder how to turn VERY small wood items? The January 2011 issue of the Lee Valley & Vertas Woodworking Newsletter features an article on micro turning by Maarten Meerman. The author has created a tiny high-speed lathe powered by a common Dremel rotary tool (shown above). The micro wood lathe allows him to turn incredibly small parts. It's a simple build for some very specialized work.

Here's the article on micro turning with a homemade rotary tool lathe.

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Book: How to Make Whirligigs & Folkcraft Objects

I haven't stumbled upon this whirligig book before; I'm not sure why -- maybe because it seems to be out of print. The one review on Amazon is glowing. The book can be found used at a very reasonable price.

From an Amazon review:

The book is a treasure trove of ideas, examples, information and entertainment all centered around crafts and skills that have nearly vanished from our cultural landscape. I was looking for a few whirly gig plans and found so much more in the narrative examples and instructions that ranged from making animals out of pine cones, to traditional quilting methods! An added bonus lies in the amazing illustrations that accompany each item that are, by themselves, beautiful works of art. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American folk craft, toy making, history or just an appreciation of an entertaining read.

Here's where you can get a used How to Make Whirligigs and Whimmy Diddles and Other American Folkcraft Objects.

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Carved devil handled cane with articulated tongue

Check out this beautifully carved antique cane handle. The little devil's tongue is articulated and will stick out when the cane is moved.

From the item description:

Carved 'ox-bone' depicting the devil – more continental than the traditional English style, finely carved with his eyes closed and a stained red tongue which protrudes out when the cane is shaken or tapped on the ground. Accepted as an amusing surprise to delight (or scare) children, popular in the early 20th century.

Set in a plain silver collar fully hallmarked London 1923 makers punch R P – R Penston and mounted on an elegant ebonised hardwood cane terminating with original ferrule.

Here is the full eBay listing with many excellent photographs of this carved devil handled cane with articulated tongue.

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Typewriters driven by pin-cylinder-programming

Many automata, looms, music boxes, and other machines use pins protruding from a rolling cylinder to program a sequence of actions. Here's an artistic application of this technique entitled Remember. The large pins on these wooden cylinders activate long wooden arms which type words out on each of several typewriters. Together, the typewriters write a complete sentence...over and over and over...

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Barkly the Banker mechanical dog piggy bank

Who said that saving can't be fun? This mechanical piggy bank features a dog that seems to gobble up your coins. This is a clever use of a simple mechanism being used to produce a lot of convincing motion.

Here's where you see a bunch of pictures and/or order your own Barkly the Banker Piggy Bank.

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PrimoGraf - lovely hand-cranked drawing machine

The PrimoGraf is a hand-cranked machine which uses wooden gears with prime numbers of teeth to produce a nearly infinite array of intricate drawings. The various patterns are achieved by connecting the linkages via different holes. Check out the video to see what I mean. It's mesmerizing!

The PrimoGraf is a well-designed set made of walnut, basswood, and solid brass. It comes with 7 gears, 2 sets of rods, 2 pen-holders, and all the hardware required.

You can order the PrimoGraf from LEAFpdx.

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Renewable energy racers use 3 power sources

These little remote controlled cars can be powered by three different energy sources: a a miniature windmill, a solar panel, or a hydrogen fuel cell. That's a cool way to learn about renewable energy sources. At the moment, these are 33% off, making them $60 USD for the three cars, three remotes, and three charging stations.

From the product description:

The wind and solar stations provide up to 20 minutes of racing time from a 10-30 minute charge, depending on wind speed and brightness of the sun; the hydrogen fuel cell provides five minutes of run time from a three-minute charge. The simple remote has left/right and forward/reverse controls, a 10' range, and can be used to charge the cars in one minute when time or natural resources prove scarce.

Here's where you can get the Renewable Energy Racers Set.

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Cat & Mouse(s) Game by Jim Kransberger

Here's a new piece by Jim Kransberger callded Cat & Mouse(s) Game. The piece is 10.5" tall, 5.5" wide and 7" deep. Alternating mice pop up and down in the front corners, as the cat's head moves to follow them. The cat seems to not be able to be fast enough to get its head turned before the mouse retreats back into its hole and the other mouse appears.

See more automata by Jim Kransberger on his web site.

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Proxxon disc sander works horizontally or vertically

My homemade second-hand 1" belt sander gets a lot of use in my shop, but I could use something a little more precise at times. This bench sander fits the bill perfectly. I'm adding this to my wish list. I have two Proxxon benchtop tools -- the table saw and miter saw. These tools are, in a word, awesome. I have a lot of faith in this brand.

From the product description:

For all types of wood, steel, non-ferrous and precious metals, plastics, plexiglass and fiberglass. Vibration-free running due to a powerful and balanced DC motor housing made of fiberglass reinforced Polyamid. Aluminum table is adjustable to include 50 degrees downward and 10 degree upward with miter gauge. The adhesive sanding discs can be easily removed after use. Two additional square silicon sheets ensure that used discs can be stored and reused as necessary. Proxxon Disc Sander can be mounted horizontally or vertically to a table or work bench.

Here's what the sander looks like when mounted to the bench in the other orientation:

Here's a link to a lot more info on Proxxon Disc Sander

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Alfred the circus trapeze acrobat automaton toy

Here's a vintage sand-powered automaton toy currently on ebay -- ALFRED THE ACROBATIC BAFFLEMENT THE FLYING MARVEL.

From the toy description:

When the box is rotated counter-clockwise 4 or 5 times and then rotated once clockwise the paper acrobat twirls and spins actively. The sand in the back of the sealed box turns a wheel (axle) and the trapeze artist does his acrobatic wonders and extremely dangerous feats of daring and thrills, and he doesn't use a net.

Here's where you can see additional pictures get a lot of details about Alfred the circus trapeze acrobat automaton toy.

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Under the Influence - kinetic piece by Brett Dickins

Take a look at this crazy wall-mounted mechanical wooden sculpture by Brett Dickins!

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Siete Ejercicios Básicos (Seven Basic Exercises)

Seven Basic Exercises by Juan Pablo Cambariere features motorized wooden marionettes performing a variety of actions. This beautiful video captures the subtlety, creativity, and humor of the collection.

Visit www.cambariere.com to learn more about the artist.

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The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms

Here's a book on paper engineering that gets some very high praise on Amazon. In fact, the glowing reviews include paper engineering luminary Robert Sabuda and Cory Doctorow of BoingBoing.net.

Here's a bit from the book description:

This elegant, accessible guide steers readers through the process of designing and constructing simple pop-ups, no matter what their skill level. Filled with sixteen do-it-yourself models, helpful illustrations, and clear, step-by-step instructions, "The Pocket Paper Engineer" provides playful cards that can be detached, cut, and assembled right out of the book, then stored in pocket pages inside. Each card demonstrates a fundamental principle of how to design and construct easy cut-and-fold pop-up forms. Instructions for creating pop-ups from scratch are also included, along with suggestions for illustrations and recommendations for tools, paper, and adhesives.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Here's a link to the book The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step

Oh...and there's more of the same goodness in Volume 2: The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume 2: Platforms and Props: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step.

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Charmingly little ramp-walking robot made of PVC

Retired engineer, cartoonist, automata and toy maker Roberto Lou Ma has designed a few more ramp-walkers. Among them is this PVC robot -- who has no problem marching to some seriously dramatic music! I makes me laugh every time.

In case you missed it, Roberto Lou Ma shared instructions on how to make a ramp-walking rhinoceros. The figure has a great design consisting of geometric shapes and straight cuts, so it is fairly easy to make.

Here's a link to the plans to make a ramp-walking wooden rhino.

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Dremelcpter - DIY wood toy flies over 100 feet

Here's an impressive flying toy made from wood -- though I hesitate to call it a "toy" because it is launched by a Dremel rotary tool which spins the 5 inch diameter fan at several thousand RPMs! The author says it can go well over 100 feet. There are complete step-by-step instructions and downloadable plan drawings on the instructables web site. You will need a laser cutter, or order some parts cut by one to complete this project.

Here is a link to the instructable for the DREMELCOPTER.

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Thinking Machine by Martin Riches & Masahiro Miwa

The Thinking Machine by Martin Riches and Masahiro Miwa uses rolling balls and mechanical track switchers to play a programmed sequence of notes on pipes. It has to be one of the most beautifully haunting computers I've ever heard.

From the video description:

The "Thinking Machine" is a ternary computer that outputs melodies formed by three sounds as resulting from the calculations. Whether binary or ternary, it is a computer in the terms of a Turing machine. In Thinking Machine the algorithm is fixed as a mechanical mechanism so it is not a versatile Turing machine or von Neumann type computer. However, like all computers Thinking Machine is a logical machine that can process code, and is an actual object that expresses discrete time within real time.

You can learn more about this and other machines at http://martinriches.de.

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Machines that Almost Fall Over - kinetic sculpture

Check out this wonderful trio of machines by Michael Kontopoulos. Attached to each piece is a hammer tripped by a motorized snail cam. As the title of the piece suggests, when the swinging hammer hits the base of the machine, it is rocked and almost falls over. The anticipation of the hammer strike, loud bang, the teetering of the entire piece, and its safe landing make for a tense and playful cycle that is very captivating.

[ Thanks Casey!

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