Antique tin toy depicts a boy feeding a dinosaur-sized chicken

Here's an antique tin toy currently for sale on eBay. The toy depicts a boy feeding a chicken -- a very big chicken. The actual toy is 7" long and 4" high. If we were to scale the boy up to anything like that of a real human, the chicken would be the size of a Velociraptor (actually, more like its larger cousin, Deinonychus).

Just to show I've done my (frivolous) homework, the image below should prove the point. Bear in mind that the human in the image is supposed to be a full-grown male.

Despite the dubious scale, it's still a wonderful toy. Made in prior to the WWI in Japan, the toy was meant to compete with the famous German toy manufacturer, Lehmann. As you can see in the video, when set running, the chicken pecks at the bird pan as if feeding. According to the description, the toy's mechanism utilizes a verge escapement. It certainly appears to be using an escapement to measure out the pace of the action, but the picture of the bottom of the toy doesn't quite show the mechanism in question.

The toy is in beautiful shape for its age. Tin toys took a lot of abuse. Just imagine how many times this has been used in the last 100 years! Here is where you can get all the details or bid on this antique Japanese tin toy of a boy feeding a chicken.

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Timekeepers: a new documentary about timekeeping needs your support!

The Timekeepers Kickstarter project is centered around the creation of a documentary on this history of timekeeping. A few months ago, Dustin Muncy and his colleagues stared interviewing watch and clockmakers in order to gain an understanding of their profession. They soon realized they had stumbled upon a subject with a rich history. The video shown here is some of the footage they have already shot. They are looking for supporters to continue and finish the film.

The part that really struck me was their recognition this is a field in serious jeopardy. Most watch and clockmakers are in the second half of their lives and many horology schools are closing.

From the Kickstarter project page:

This documentary will be for educational purposes to hopefully spark an interest in the next generation to appreciate and even pursue horology as a career or hobby. It will be available to national organizations such as the NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) and AWCI (American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute) to hopefully be used as a means to educate and enthuse young kids or those who have never given thought to how their watches and clocks actually work.

I can't post about every laudable Kickstarter project out there, but this one is close to my heart. As you may know, automata and clocks have a long, shared history. There are millions of beautiful antique clocks and watches in the world. If all of the clock and watchmakers disappear, what is to become of these mechanical marvels? It's not a pleasant thought.

Please consider supporting the Timekeepers documentary. They have about two weeks left and are about 1/3 of the way toward their goal. If you cannot donate, please do what you can to spread the word!

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Automata Workshop by Steve Guy for Cabaret Mechanical Theatre

This video shows a bit of the "Introduction to Automata-making Workshop" offered by Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. During the workshop, participants use pre-made components to construct basic cam and crank mechanisms. They are then free to experiment with different movements in order to create designs of their own.

For more information visit www.cabaret.co.uk.

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Mechanical art/bank uses a wind-up motor to flip pennies into the air

Check out this fun mechanical bank (or kinetic sculpture depending on your point of view) by Gina Kamentsky. I suppose it could also be used as an automatic coin-flipper, but it may throw the coins a bit too consistently for that. Like many of her "Mechanical Confections", this one uses a small wind-up motor to power the action. This is an older piece made back in 2003 as part of a series of mechanical penny banks she created.

Here is where you can see more kinetic art by Gina Kamentsky.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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The clatter and whir from the wooden marble machines made by Paul Grundbacher

Woodworker Extraordinaire, Matthias Wandel, has a web page on his informative site featuring seven incredible marble machines made by Paul Grundbacher.

According to Grundbacher, a native of Switzerland, he usually skips the other design steps and jumps right into working with wood -- mostly ash, maple, and linden (aka basswood) scraps a from a local factory. Why not? It may not be the most efficient design process, but it's not all about efficiency. Sure, many of his failed experiments may end up going into the fireplace, but he spends his time working in the medium he prefers. I admire that.

Grundbacher makes his own dowels using a technique he learned from his father. That's smart, given how warped and out-of-round some store-bought dowels are.

Here is the page on Matthias Wandel's site about Paul Grundbacher's wooden marble machines.

[ Thanks Walter! ]

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The man who has built tiny ships inside of bottles for 60 years

Check out this short film about Ray Gascoigne who builds those incredibly detailed ships that you see housed inside of bottles. In this well-made short film, he talks a bit about the process of making his extraordinary models. Here's a craftsman with a lot of patience, ingenuity, and a love for what he does.

From the video description:

Ray Gascoigne has been around boats his whole life, as a shipwright, a merchant sailor, and now as a ship builder on the smallest dry dock there is: a bottle. This short film by Smith Journal and Melbourne-based production studio Commoner picks through the wood chips to tell the story of a craft honed over 60 years, and the man behind it. A step-by-step account of the process was featured in Smith Journal volume six.

Here is where you can buy the journal with the article that features Ray Jascoigne.

[ Thanks John! ]

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Hand-cranked wooden biplane automaton by Timberkits

Check out this new wooden biplane kit. It looks like it has a nice compound action. It certainly is a good example of how to use o-ring material as pulley belts to transfer motion across a distance and to change the axis of rotation. For more detailed instructions on how to make belts out of o-ring material, check out Number 9 of of my Tips, Tricks, and Techniques article series.

The Bi-plane kit shown here is another great product from TimberKits, who offers an extensive line of automaton kits.

Here is another place you can get the wooden biplane automaton kit.

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Antique wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin

This wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin is currently for sale on eBay. The automaton figures are hand-painted paper and depict a nineteenth century lady and gentleman at a well.

It's hard to tell from the photo shown here, but the well emits a stream of "water" which is really a rod of glass that has been twisted into a spiral shape. When set it motion, it creates a it creates a convincing effect. The eBay listing has a close up shot of this often-used mechanical illusion.

From the eBay description:

The music box plays two tunes while the automaton picture has 6 moving parts. The ladies head moves up and down, the gentleman's head and hand move, the dog and horses head move up and down to drink water. There is also a special piece in the center, a turning glass cane that makes the simulation of water. All the mechanical parts are intact and original. The music box plays for half a minute.

I am always amazed at how delicate and spidery the works are for these old wall-mounted paper automata. Somehow that assemblage of tangled wires and thin strings continue to run after 100 (and sometimes 200 or 300) years. The eBay listing has some wonderful shots of the mechanism as seen from the back.

The automaton has an integrated music box which plays two tunes. These are changed by pulling on a dedicated string. The piece measures 15 1/2" x 18 3/4" inches.

Here is where you can see this Antique wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin.

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Tiny Town diorama - 68 years in the making, entirely from found and recycled materials

Tiny Town was the creation of a man named Frank Moshinskie who worked on it for 68 years. The display depicts various places in America that Moshinskei visited. Over 20 states are represented. The tiny people were hand-carved by Moshinskeie. You get a brief look at the mechanism that powers it all -- also made from recycled objects -- around the 1:25 mark in the video posted above.

From an article on Tiny Town:

Frank wanted his Tiny Town to be busy, so 18 hidden motors power everything from the rivers to the oil pump jacks to the carousel and merry-go-round. Push-buttons at various spots allow visitors to make the tiny people move: people swim, swing, hammer and saw, rock in hammocks, hang up clothes. A family eats the same sandwiches they've been eating since 1963; the bread goes up and down to their mouths many times a minute.

The entire thing is made from found, recycled, and inexpensive objects. Nothing in Tiny Town cost more than $4.00. Items used include cat food cans, rotisserie motors, puzzle pieces, popsicle sticks, sawdust, record player parts, and anything else you can imagine.

You can still visit Tiny Town in Hot Springs, Arkansas where his son Charles has continued to display it as a tribute to his father's creativity.

Here is the full article on Tiny Town from RoadsideAmerica.com.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata available as a free download

Our friend Joe Freedman of LEAFpdx has made the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata available for download. The book covers some of my favorite subjects including the magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, history, magic, automata, and mechanical toys.

'The Sette of Odd Volumes' was a group of book collectors in Victorian era London. They published transcripts of the lectures they presented to each other. Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata compiles two of these lectures into a single book. An affordable printed version of the book has been available for a while, but if you prefer to have an electronic copy (PDF) you are now in luck!

In the first section of the book, William Manning offers his recollections of the famous magician, Robert-Houdin. In the second section, Conrad William Cooke provides a history of automata to that point. It's a fascinating book and well-worth reading.

Though the digital version of the book is available for free, please consider using the Paypal donate button on his page. A lot of time and effort went into creating this book and I'd like to see Joe Freedman produce more of his excellent mechanical creations. Show him some love if you can! Here is where you can download the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata.

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Paul Spooner and the automata he creates as 'wooden cartoons'

The BBC just featured one of my all time favorite automaton-makers, Paul Spooner. In the film, we get to see a number of his automata and here his thoughts about them. I could listen to Paul Spooner for hours. Or, at least I think I could. I haven't had the actual chance to listen to him for hours. The Tom Waits song used in the piece is both slightly disturbing and on the mark.

I've always agreed with his notion that his works are a form of cartoon. In his work in particular, his wit comes through in such a strong way, there can be no doubt that most are a form a joke. The analogy works in my mind even for those pieces that are not humorous. As with a single panel cartoon one might see in The New Yorker, the automaton depicts a snapshot in time. To understand the point of the piece, the viewer needs the scene to be set. The background, the objects, the figures, their clothing, expressions and posture -- these things must be carefully considered so that the viewer can quickly understand the broader context of the scene. Without this, the actions performed by the characters might come across as nothing more than simple, arbitrary motions.

Spooner is also brilliant with the titles of his pieces, which provide the right shade of glasses through which to view his work. Of course, his use of mechanics and his carving ability are some of the best around. Put all of this together and you get a body of work that's impressive and distinctive. He's one of the greats.

I think you will enjoy this BBC segment called Twisted toymaker Paul Spooner on his 'wooden cartoons'.

[ Thanks Martin! ]

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Vintage film explaining how a differential gear works

This film does an admirable job of clearly explaining what can be a rather confusing mechanical concept -- the differential gear. It's Tuesday, and you owe it to yourself to learn a little something. If you already know how a differential gear works, I'm sure you'll also enjoy the charming retro qualities of this film!

True, we normally hear differentials in cars, but they've had other some intriguing uses in the past. Take for example the amazing South-pointing chariots created in ancient China. A carved wooden figure standing in a horse-drawn chariot would point South no matter which way the cart turned or how often. This was done with a differential.

Here is where you can get a wooden South-pointing chariot kit!

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How to fuse custom-size urethane belts for your projects

In my latest Tips, Tricks and Techniques article for Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, I show you exactly how to make custom-sized belts from urethane material. It's an easy method that produces a strong welded joint. It just requires the right materials, a bit of preparation, and some patience.

Here is where you can read my latest article on how to fuse custom-size urethane belts for your projects.

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Cinder block-throwing robotic dog, both awesome and scary

When I started this video I wasn't sure what to expect. I've posted other videos about robots by Boston Dynamics and most of those seemed to involve the robots staying on their feet as they encountered various obstacles. This one is a little different. This robotic dog (for lack of a better term) hurls a huge cinder block across the room.

From the video description:

BigDog handles heavy objects. The goal is to use the strength of the legs and torso to help power motions of the arm. This sort of dynamic, whole-body approach to manipulation is used routinely by human athletes and will enhance the performance of advanced robots. Boston Dynamics is developing the control and actuation techniques needed for dynamic manipulation. The cinderblock weighs about 35 lbs and the best throw is a bit more than 17 ft. The research is funded by the Army Research Laboratory's RCTA

I'm sure this technology will have many useful, benign applications in the future (e.g. demolition, rescue, bomb removal, trail blazing, etc.), but I have to admit the sight of a robot throwing a heavy object in such an organic way left me feeling both impressed and a little freaked out. It's not the power that did it. We have machines and robots far more powerful than this one. Rather, it's the way the robot moved to make the throw that made me uneasy. Perhaps I experienced a bit of that hypothesized uncanny valley. How could I not? The robot even seems to be craning its neck after the throw to see how well it did, as if wondering if it beat its old record.

Here is where you can learn more about the Boston Dynamics BigDog project.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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Antique automata from The Toys & Automata Museum in Verdú

When I posted the other day about the Toc de Fusta's kinetic street art installation, I mentioned that it took place at the closing event held at the Museu de Joguets | Autòmats (Toys and Automata Museum) in the Catalan city of Verdú. Sadly the museum closed its doors this past January. Hopefully, their collection will find a suitable new home. More news on that later. In the meantime, enjoy this short film showing the many fine Golden Age automata once on display at the museum.

Here is a link to the Museu de Joguets | Autòmats (Toys and Automata Museum).

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Clever interactive street art makes people look like marionettes controlled by giant hands

I posted a few days about Toc de Fusta's interactive street installation in Catalan city of Verdú. Recently, another group in the area known as Itinerania also did an installation of interactive kinetic art called Titeretú.

The installation consists of five giant hands. An audience member uses the controls attached to one of the hands to play a small mechanical game mounted to the hand's platform. Meanwhile, the giant hand above moves as if controlling the person like a marionette. The clever installation forces us to question who is controlling who. Is the hand controlling the person? Is the person controlling the game? Is the game, ultimately, controlling the hand? It all depends on your point of view. [ Thanks Alfred ]

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Hand-cranked mechanical bank featuring a snail that grabs the coin

Check out this lovely mechanical wooden coin bank by artist Christopher Blasius. When you turn the handle a snail emerges to grab the coin and pull it into its shell. The reverse side is covered in Plexiglass so the mechanism can be seen. Love those gears! Plans are available and the latter portion of this video shows you just what you'd be getting into if you decide to make one for yourself.

Here is where you can buy the plans for the mechanical snail coin bank.

[ Via the Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog ]

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Douglas Fisher now offering Golden Age automata, singing birds, and musical boxes

The firm of Douglas Fisher of London has launched a new web site which offers Golden Age automata, fine singing bird boxes and cages, and unusual cylinder musical boxes.

The list of offerings features many examples from the most renowned makers: Vichy, Roullet-Decamps, Griesbaum, Bontems, Phallibois, and others. Every piece they offer is shown in static images, video with sound, and in a 360-degree view. According to their web site, the majority of thier pieces can be viewed at their gallery at 75 Portobello Road in London. They will also be exhibiting at various fairs in Europe, USA and Asia.

Here is the web site for Douglas Fisher Antique Automata Ltd.

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