News segment about the Guinness Collection of automata and mechanical music in New Jersey

Here is a segment on the Morris Museum that was broadcast by WMBC-TV in the New York City & northern New Jersey area last weekend. The first two-thirds of the video is on the mechanical music instruments, and the rest is about the automata. Not only do we get to see and hear some of these wonderful machines, but we also get some valuable commentary from the both the Conservator and Curators of the collection. Ever wonder why so many of the old automata feature monkeys dressed up in fancy cloths? Watch the video to find out why!

Here is where you can learn more about the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey

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Sotheby's to auction exquisite pieces from the Frank & Lore Metzger collection

We've gotten word of an upcoming sale at Sotheby's in New York City which will features some of the exquisite pieces from the Frank & Lore Metzger collection. The sale includes several different styles of mechanical singing bird, the most astounding being a rare example by Courvoisier & Co. (Lot #63) that features caged, double singing birds that flit towards and away from each other, the cage sits on a base that contains a clock and musical movement.

From the video description:

A very rare Empire Ormolu and Mahogany musical automaton bird cage clock, with twin flying birds and a fountain. The clock is signed by Courvoisier and Comp., famous Swiss clock makers, and sets off the music and bird mechanisms hourly or at will.

This piece is estimated to bring between $150,000 to $250,000 USD.

There are many other amazing pieces in the sale including a George Pyke organ clock (Lot #62), dating to around 1765. The musical clock features an animated scene.

The catalog is online in graphical PDF form. Check out Lots 43 thru 63 for the musical and automata items. Lot 43 starts on page 40. And twelve videos of pieces from the collection can be seen on YouTube.

The preview begins this Saturday, December 6th, 2014. The sale is on Wednesday, December 10th, 2014. Here is where you can get more information on Sotheby's Important Watches sale. For further information contact Daryn Schnipper, Chairman, International Watch Division, at Sothebys, NY (212)606-7000.

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Terrifying animatronic baby in stroller scares the living crap out of unsuspecting New Yorkers

Have you seen this video of a Devil Baby scaring New Yorkers half to death? Some are funny, but I just feel bad for most of these folks. This thing looks real and is frightening! An animatronic baby and remote-controlled stroller are a promotional stunt for Devil's Due film to be released this month.

According to The Examiner, the robotic devil baby was created by Creature Effects Inc., the company who has created animatronic effects for movies such asI Am Legend and Star Trek. There were three people operating the horrific device -- one for the stroller and two for the baby.

I doubt I'll see the movie, but I would watch a video on the making of the mechanical baby.

If you aspire to scare the crap out of New Yorkers, then here is list of books on animatronics to get you started. Happy hunting!

[ Thanks Steve and Jere! ]

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Marie Antoinette's clock and automaton to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington Delaware recently prepared a very special musical tall case clock for journey to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for a rare temporary exhibit starting at the end of this month. The clock is remarkable, as is its history.

Details about the clock from Steve Ryder:

This rare clock was made for Marie Antoinette c.1785, and it plays an organ and a dulcimer combined. Its case was made in the workshop of the German cabinetmakers Roentgen, who catered to the French Court, amongst others. The clock itself and portions of the musicwork are from the hands of Peter Kinzing of Neuwied, Germany. The musical mechanism was restored by my brother Jere Ryder with Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume in 1997, and ever since then, this clock has served as the musical show-stopper on museum tours of the Nemours Mansion, former home of the late Alfed I. DuPont. Jere was called in to prepare the clock for shipment.

The exhibition at The Met is entitled, Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens. It will feature some of the greatest works by Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793) and his son David Roentgen (1743-1807).

The exhibition will also feature an Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette (1784), depicting a likeness of the queen at a clavichord. The automaton will be set in motion at select times during the exhibition.

The special exhibition will run from October 30, 2012 through January 27, 2013 at the Metropolitan.

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Getting ready for World Maker Faire 2012 in New York!

I'm making some improvements to the Monster vs. Strongman automaton. The monster is getting rather impatient, as you can tell from the photo above.

These improvements are in preparation for my exhibit at World Maker Faire 2012 in New York. This is the 3rd annual Faire in the New York area. The event will feature 500 maker exhibits, presentations, how-to workshops, and many incredible attractions.

Come by, say hello, and check out some automata!

Date: September 29th & 30th
Time: Saturday 10AM - 7PM & Sunday 10AM - 6PM
Location:
  New York Hall of Science
  47-01 11th Street, Queens, NY

For more information on the event, visit the Maker Faire web site.

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Automata by Dug North at World Maker Faire NY 2012

I'm pleased to announce that I have been accepted to exhibit at the upcoming World Maker Faire in New York City! This is the 3rd annual Faire in the New York area and is among the biggest and best events of its kind. Attractions include:

• Maker exhibits - I'll be just one of over 500 maker exhibits total
• Presentations from leading voices in the Maker Movement
• How-to workshops on soldering, lock picking, Arduino and more
• Incredible attractions including the Life-Sized Mousetrap, Coke Zero and Mentos show, Power Racing Series, the now iconic Cupcake Cars

The event is an extravaganza of creativity, knowledge-sharing, and fun. I will be there showing something much like what you see below:

Come by and say hello, check out some carvings, ask me about good books on the topic, and turn the handle on an automaton or two.

Event Details
Date: September 29th & 30th
Time: Saturday 10AM - 7PM & Sunday 10AM - 6PM
Location:
New York Hall of Science
47-01 11th Street, Queens, NY

For more information on the event, visit the Maker Faire web site.

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Article about the Maillardet drawing automaton

Charles Penniman with the Maillardet drawing Automaton - © 2009 Dug North

The New York Times has published a wonderful article on the writing and drawing automaton that resides at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Like so many of us, The Times has been inspired by the new movie Hugo, which features an automaton as a central part of the story. The automaton, in turn, was the original inspiration for the one in the movie. I was lucky enough to visit the museum and see the automaton first hand in the summer of 2009. Here is my blog post about seeing the Maillardet automaton in person.

Created around 1800 by Henri Maillardet, the clockwork automaton depicts a young boy. It is capable of rendering four drawings and writing three poems in a beautiful flowing script.

The Times article highlights some of the key players who were instrumental in bringing the machine back to life in recent years. Of particular note is Charles Penniman, who has studied and cared for the automaton for a long time. Author Brian Selznick, creator of the Hugo story, was also important in reviving interest in the machine and bringing in the mechanical genius of Andrew Baron back in 2007. Baron was able to restore the automaton, which had fallen out of working order over time. We owe a lot to these people and the others behind-the-scenes who have preserved this incredible machine.

Though it is not set into motion often, the automaton is on display at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. It remains a mechanical masterpieces and historical treasure.

Here is a link to the New York Times article on Maillardet's drawing automaton at the Franklin Institute.

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Rare antique automata auction Nov. 19th, 2011

Shown here is an extremely rare musical automaton known as The Kneeling Egyptian Harpist. Made by Gustav Vichy around 1890, few are known to exist. It is estimated to be worth between $30,000 - $45,000. This is one of many exquisite dolls and automata being auctioned by Theriault's on November 19th, 2011.

From the Harpist automaton description:

When wound, she elegantly plucks the harp, her right arm moving laterally to the instrument as her right jointed wrist bends to "pluck" the strings. Then her left arm rises and falls vertically in an arc. Meanwhile her head turns and nods as though gazing at the strings and then at her audience, her breastplate heaves slowly in a breathing motion, and her eyelids open and close.

The sale, to take place in New York at the Waldorf Astoria, features a collection of 19th century antique French dolls and automata. The most notable of automata in the sale come from the collection of Aaron and Candy Spelling. These include automata by such masters as Vichy, Theroude, Lambert, and Roullet et Decamps.

Here's one on my wishlist (for all you kind anonymous benefactors out there) -- a French gilt bronze automaton titled Mandarin Magician by J.F. Houdin.

From the magician automaton description:

A heavy cast bronze Mandarin magician with elaborately-sculpted costume in traditional style and having impressed designs, earrings, moustache, and cap is standing behind a gilt bronze table with star and fringe accents. Music and movements are wound separately, and the music can be elected to play alternate tunes, repeat, or can be played separately without the movements. When wound, the Mandarin nods his head, and in a series of movements lifts both magic domes atop his table or only one; meanwhile the secrets under the domes are alternately revealed: cups, dice, cones and such, or, sometimes, nothing.

Here is a link to more information on the Many Wonderful Things auction to be held Saturday, November 19th, 2011. If you cannot attend, be sure to register for the online auction – visit www.theriaults.com and click on the button for Proxibid – because they will be demonstrating each of the pieces as it is brought to the podium!

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Mechanical Wonders: The Sandoz Collection

Currently on display at ALVR is a rare loan exhibition of pieces from the Sandoz collection of automata. This is the first time many of these automata have been displayed in the The United States!

About the collection:

The exhibition features early 19th century Swiss gold and enamel automaton snuff boxes, watches, magicians, and animals, the Imperial Swan Egg of 1906 and the Imperial Peacock Egg of 1908 by Fabergé, as well as contemporary interpretations by Parmigiani of watches in the Sandoz Collection. In addition, the catalogue raisonné of the collection is presented for the first time.

And here is a beautiful video montage of some of the collection:

What: The Sandoz Collection World Premiere Exhibition
When: October 26 - November 26, 2011
Where: A La Vieille Russie, 781 Fifth Ave at 59th Street, New York, NY
Site: http://www.alvr.com

[ Thanks Steve and Thanks Michael! ]

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New York Construction Worker - DIY automaton

Here is a charming automaton that Keith Newstead made for a cruise liner. Like it? I do. Great news: there is an instructable by the artist that shows you most of the details you need to recreate it for yourself!

Here is the instructible for Keith Newstead's New York Construction Worker automaton.

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