Self-portrait drawing machine by Aaron Kramer

Check out artist Aaron Kramer's drawing machine. Using two large cams, a parallel linkage, and a great to deal of experimentation this machine is able to draw the artist's face with a single line over the course of about 15 seconds. It is still a self-portrait if a machine draws the picture? I think so...

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Video showing the process of making of pinwheel gears for a kinetic sculpture

Doppio Espresso Dance from aaron kramer artist on Vimeo.

Artist Aaron Kramer created this great video in which he shows us the inner workings of one of his kinetic sculptures. Along the way, we learn a lot about how to make a set of pinwheel gears.

From Aaron Kramer:

I had always wanted to make a piece that contained a pinwheel gear made from wood and metal. These gears are the kind you would find on an old windmill. They seem pretty simple but are tough to get right. Starting with the tin can base and half an idea I first needed to make a set of working gears. I used Adobe Illustrator to generate my own templates. Transferred them to wood disks that I cut with a hole saw.

The method using Adobe Illustrator is covered in Cabaret Mechanical Movement: Understanding Movement and Making Automata.

If you don't happen to have Adobe Illustrator, you can also use an online gear template generator. I explain that process in an article on Making Pinwheels Patterns.

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Watch with magician automaton in a walnut shell

Made in Geneva in 1810, this incredible watch was made in a walnut shell. It incorporates a magician automaton and music! This is just one of the treasures to be found at the Patek Philippe Museum near Lake Geneva. It houses one of the most important collections of watches in the world, going back six hundred years.

Here is an article and gorgeous photo set titled six centuries of the world's greatest watches.

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Book: Tinplate Toys from Schuco, Bing, & Others

Here is what looks to be a very nice book on tinplate toys from Germany -- Nuremberg, in particular -- during the mid 1900s.

From the book description:

The chapters include 300 color photographs, information about the manufacturers (especially Schuco and Bing) and their markings, and essays on the past, present and future of this special toy industry. The mechanical figures, automobiles, trucks, trains, machines and associated buildings that are presented will remind many of the best toys of their youth.

Here is a link on Amazon.co to Tinplate Toys: From Schuco, Bing, & Other Companies

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Gnome picture automaton from around 1890

Here is a wall-mounted animated picture depicting a group of gnomes. The automaton was probably made by Schoenhut of Germany and dates back to before the turn of the century. It measures 35cm wide by 27cm tall by 12cm deep.

From the YouTube description:

The picture features a replaceable section for advertising purposes, probably of a bar or cafe. In good original condition with very few repairs evident. There is a later added musical movement playing "La Traviata" which can be removed if required.

See this and other amazing antique automata at www.automatomania.com.

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HUGE cam used in wall-mounted kinetic art piece

Here is some video of a GIANT cam incorporated into a piece of kinetic sculpture.

The piece may be called Parallelotree and the Mechanical Wind, though I am not certain of this. I am certain that it was created by kinetic artist Aaron Geman and was shown at Mercury20 Gallery in Oakland, CA.

See more of Aaron Geman's kinetic sculpture on his web site.

[ Thanks to CTP! ]

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