The Cache Machine by Martin Smith

Check out this very inventive use for a cam-based wave machine...

From the video description:

The Cache Machine is a kinetic sculpture that adds rhythm and irony to the tradition of hiding coins in a safe place. Taking its form language from the industrial heritage of the North of England and obsolete scientific apparatus, the machine comes to life when a coin is inserted. This coin travels along a mechanically generated transverse wave that is activated by a poetic system of cams and levers. Upon reaching the end the coin is deposited, with a satisfying clang, into an eagerly awaiting collection vessel.

See more clever things by Martin Smith on his web site.

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Book: Figures in the Fourth Dimension by Ellen Rixford

Jere Ryder, Conservator of the Guinness Collection (of automata and mechanical music) at the Morris Museum wrote to let us know of an important new book on automata. Here's what he wrote:

I think that many of your readers will be interested to learn that there is an exhaustive, 512 page hardcover publication just released: Figures in the Fourth Dimension authored by Ellen Rixford. Over the past 3-4 years the Morris Museum participated in the creation of this book, focusing mainly on the 19th century automata chapter. Throughout the book, the author explains in extraordinary detail how the internal mechanisms of mechanical puppets, marionettes and automata were and are today designed and created. Every cam, lever & linkage is revealed in detailed photographs, exploded view illustrations, and full mechanical descriptions. For any technician, restorer, conservator or contemporary automata or puppetry artist/builder, this reference piece will be required reading.

That's high praise from a very knowledgeable source folks!

This book is now available in the Morris Museum Shop and can no be ordered through our Museum Shop webpage (http://www.morrismuseum.org/museum-shop), or directly from the author’s website (http://www.figuresinthefourthdimension.com/html/Automata-clockwork.html).

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Mysterious spinning stone in this new automaton by Kazuaki Harada

Elegance and ingenuity meet in this new automaton by Kazuaki Harada. I should also mention that the piece features some lovely dovetail joinery and more than a little mystery!

See more automata by Kazuaki Harada on his web site.

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Paper automaton kit reveals why there are no magical fairies in the world

This new automaton from cool4cats titled A Tasty Snack explains why there are no fairies left. It would appear that the carnivorous plants have taken care of them all.

An interesting feature of the model is some gearing which is similar to the hour/minute hand arrangement of a clock. In this configuration, both hands rotate on the same spindle so they display on the same dial. In clock, the gears have a 12:1 ratio -- converting the hourly rotation of the minute hand into a 12th of a rotation for the hour hand. In this automaton, they have used a 4:1 ratio. It also looks as if they've used a paper belt drive. Very clever!

Here is where you can get the A Tasty Snack paper automaton kit.

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