Bussola: a large mechanical sculpture by Jennifer Townley

Check out the hypnotic majesty of this piece by Jennifer Townley titled Bussola.

From the artist's web site:

'Bussola' is named after the Italian word for 'compass', as this sculpture is inspired on one of Leonardo da Vinci's designs for such a drawing tool dating from 1514. The three-dimensional machine is built up from a collection of identical instruments that work in the same way as the original compass.

Here is where you can see more mechanical sculptures by Jennifer Townley.

[ Thanks Jim! ]

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Pathfinders Leonardo DaVinci Aerial Screw Wood Kit

Check out this great kit from our friends at Pathfinders! This time they've designed a wooden kit that allows you to make a replica of Leonardo da Vinci design for the world's first helicopter.

From the kit description:

One of Leonardo's most iconic images, the Aerial Screw (also known as the Helicopter) illustrates the ingenuity of da Vinci, and indicates his obsession with flying. While this idea may never have got off the ground, for some basic technical reasons, it gave us an insight into the different ways in which Leonardo considered the challenge of human powered flying, and defines him as an inventor well ahead of his time. While it is often referred to as a helicopter, the premise of the lift to make it rise is more like archimedes screw than the rotors of a helicopter.

The kit comes complete with all pieces pre-cut and ready to assemble. Even the glue included!  Just follow the easy-to-understand instructions, and in a few hours you will have a completed kit. Mind you, it doesn't fly, but it's wonderful fun to turn the crank, watch the pinwheel gears and see the helical screw spin. A great project for young and old.

Here is where you can order the Pathfinders Leonardo DaVinci Aerial Screw Wood Kit

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Reproduction of a clock kit based on a sketch by Leonardo da Vinci

Here's snap-together kit that allows you to make a working model clock based on one of Leonardo's sketches. The clock uses a horizontal rotary pendulum design commonly known as a verge and foliot. The clock's speed is controlled by adjusting the weight and balance of the pendulum. It can be assemble in either a wall-mounted or standing configuration. The parts are plastic from the looks of it, but it's an attractive piece nevertheless.

Here is where you can get the Academy da Vinci Clock.

For more on clock escapements, check out Practical Clock Escapements by Laurie Penman. With over 400 line drawings the reader is taken step-by-step through the various operations when making or repairing escapements, with recommendations on the materials and tools to be used.

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Summer projects: Build your own wooden ornithopter kinetic model

Take a look at the cool wooden ornithoper kit! The model is based on an invention found in one of
Leonardo's notebook's

Turning the hand-crank sets in motion the gears and linkages that operates the wings, legs and arms of the pilot. It's a pretty big model, measuring 17" by 24" by 12".  The wooden construction kit uses a pegged gear train -- a lantern pinion and contrate pin wheel. This component alone would make this a model worth examing closely!

Here is where you can get the  wooden ornithopter model.

For the advanced Leonardo fanatic:
Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed

From Leonardo da Vinci's descriptions and drawings - and by using digital imaging - armoured ships, hydraulic machinery, winches and machines destined for use in war, work and pleasure emerge fully equipped and functional in stunning 3-dimensional, computer-generated artworks. A fascinating in-depth discussion of da Vinci's work and inventions accompanies these illustrations, revealing at the same time the incredible journey the authors of this book travelled whilst compiling it.

Here's is where you can find books on Leonardo's inventions.

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Did anyone design better wooden machines than Leonardo da Vinci?

Here is some video showing part of an exhibit that was at the California University of Pennsylvania titled Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion. In it, we see the breadth of Leonardo's genius. There is a large-scale wing designed for human flight, a pillar lifting device, and a water-powered saw mill. This, of course, just scratches the surface of what he created, but it gives you a feel for the ingenious way in which his mind worked on a both practical and fanciful problems.

If you are as fascinated by Leonardo's machines as I am, you might want to check out the book Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed which gets a 5-star rating on Amazon -- no small accomplishment.

From the book description:

This unique volume combines work from the original secret, coded, notebooks along with modern computer imaging, to piece together over 30 of Leonardo da Vinci's mechanical inventions into a sensational set of never-seen-before artworks. From Leonardo da Vinci's descriptions and drawings - and by using digital imaging - armoured ships, hydraulic machinery, winches and machines destined for use in war, work and pleasure emerge fully equipped and functional in stunning 3-dimensional, computer-generated artworks.

Also of interest may be a different book, Leonardo's Machines: Secrets & Inventions in the Da Vinci Codices. This one explores what Leonardo's inventions would have looked like if his sketches were brought to life in three dimensions. Sadly, we can't preview the inside of this book on Amazon, but the reviewers like it. Let me know if you have it and like it.

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Moving picture of a man in a flying contraption

YouTube user GrigorevViktor posted this video of a moving picture depicting a man in a mechanical flying contraption -- something like one Leonardo Da Vinci might have designed. I love the floating motion of the man, the subtle shifts in his posture, and the use of moving background elements.

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Motorized model of human-powered flying machine

Here is a short video showing an animated model of a human-powered flying machine. According the YouTube video description, it was designed and built by Jurgen Heimann from the Discovery Channel show Doing DaVinci. I haven't been able to find out much about it. Anyone out there seen it before or perhaps have one?

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Video of Phalibois automaton of Davinci's painting

Last year I posted details of an auction featuring a rare
automaton animating Davinci's painting The Last Supper. This very large automaton is attributed to Henry Phalibois and dates to around 1890 to 1920. At the time of that post, there was no video of the piece, but that has changed as you can see from the detailed video above.

The piece is going to auction once again in New Zealand on 2nd June 2011, this time at Webbs auction house. The seller very much hopes to find someone who will restore it fully and treasure it for the rare piece that it is. It may be the only one of its kind in the entire world!

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Akribos 'Davinci' mechanical wrist watch

I still don't know all the much about watches. I do know that if you name something after Leonardo, pack in full of miniature gears, and make it move by mechanical means that you will get my attention. Hell, I don't even care if it tells time! (This one does, by the way, the picture is of the back of the watch.)

From the watch description:

Featuring a unique exposed-gear design, the Akribos XXIV Men's 'Davinci' Mechanical Gold Round Watch #AK406YG shows off the perfect marriage of form and function. Its skeleton dial and exhibition caseback combine to reveal engraved, gold-tone gears, which are complemented by the watch's gold-plated stainless steel case and bezel. Bright blue hour and minute hands with luminous-tips add a touch of color to unique design, and a small hand in the nine-o'clock position tracks seconds.

So, here's the other crazy thing about this watch...

List price: $749.00

Amazon's current price: $134.99

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You save: $614.01

You save 82%? Really?!? I honestly don't know, but that sure sounds good.

Here's where you can see more pictures and info for the Akribos 'Davinci' Mechanical Watch.

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Da Vinci armored car and other invention kits

Here is an articulated model kit based on DaVinci's design for an early form of the tank. The model is made of plastic and snaps together (it's from the makers of Snap Circuits actually), so requires no special tools and is probably good for first-time builders -- or those who like immediate gratification. It comes with an informative manual that explains how Leonardo's invention has evolved into the modern tank. This is just one of an entire line of Da Vinci inspired kits.

Here's where you can check out the Da Vinci Armored Car Kit.

UPDATE: I have it on good authority that these models are definitely plastic and NOT wood, despite what some product descriptions say.  Also, they are quite simple, being made up of only a few pieces. Finally, they are not terribly robust, so are more for display than anything else.

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Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed

Here is a highly-rated book that explores Leonardo's inventions from flying, hydraulic, war, and theatrical machines to musical instruments. This uses Leonardo's orginal artwork and annotated computer diagrams to show how each of his inventions might would have worked.

It seems to be out-of-print, but can be found used at Amazon. Here's a link to Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed

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Video of Leonardo's full-sized knight automaton

In this installment of the series Ancient Discoveries we see a recreation of a full-sized armored knight thought to be designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The internal gears and system of cables allowed the knight some limited forms of motion.

Learn more about Leaonardo's fascination with automata in Mark Rosheim's beautifully illustrated book Leonardo's Lost Robots.

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Leonardo's: Machines in Motion exhibit, Nebraska

There is an exhibit that looks simply amazing titled "Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion" at the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska. The models for the exhibit are gorgeous and nearly all of the displays are interactive. The Leonardo exhibit runs through May 9th, 2010.

Here's info on the Leonardo exhibit at the Strategic Air & Space Museum web site.

[ Thanks Rusty! ]

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