Lovely short film about Maria and Micheal Start of The House of Automata

Here's a really nice short film about my friends Maria and Micheal Start who are behind The House of Automata

Visit their web site to learn more about The House of Automata.

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Incredible lifelike circus elephant automaton made entirely of paper

The folks over at cool4cats have outdone themselves with their new paper automaton kit titled ELEPHANT TRAINING. This one is a large exhibition-size automaton which shows the secret process of training a circus elephant.

From the Cool4Cats web site:

The kit builds into a large (63 centimeters high, 51 centimeters wide) exhibition model. There are many amusing details and a wonderful sequence of movements as you turn the handle. This model is unsuitable for younger children as a fair degree of patience (and a sharp craft knife) are needed to build it. The instructions, however, are very comprehensive with over 160 'step-by-step' diagrams and assembly is a great project, resulting in a spectacular model!

This one has it all: a great theme, characters, lifelike motion, stunning graphics, and a healthy dose of humor.

Here is where you can order the Elephant Training paper automaton kit.

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The passing of automaton creator Peter Markey (1930-2016)

Sad news from our friends at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. They tell me that Peter Markey passed away on November 2nd, 2016 at the age of 86. He was the first to make automata for CMT and therefore has had a huge impact on the world of contemporary automata. The video shown here features the man and his work.

Visit Cabaret Mechanical Theatre's site to read a short and beautiful tribute to Peter Markey and his work.

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Heart Broken Repairman automaton by Carlos Zapata

Check out the latest automaton by Carlos Zapata titled Heart Broken Repairman. His job is to fix broken hearts. Sadly, that is an occupation with a lot of job security.

See more automata by Carlos Zapata on his web site.

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Hand-cranked paper bellows bird call project by Rob Ives

Here's another great mechanical paper design by Rob Ives called the "Twitterer Type 3". This one really sounds like a tweeting bird!

From the project page:

In the previous blog post I showed a design for a crank driven bellows to be used at the heart of a bird box project. I have taken that basic design and made it more sturdy. I liked the way the bellows in the previous model were completely visible so I've fitted the crank to the inside of a box but kept the bellows on a pair of slide rails outside the box. You can see the result in animated action on Instagram by clicking the picture to the left.

If you are a Member of Rob's site, you can download the parts to make this project. An annual membership to Rob's site, which provides access to LOT of amazing paper projects, is $14.95 per year. Here is where you can see the step-by-step instructions for the Twitterer Type 3.

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Biodiversity -- a motorized automaton by Paul Spooner

Here is the very latest creation from the legendary Paul Spooner. He's never made an automaton I didn't like. Well...not that I know of, anyway.

Check out the cast of characters he's created for this one! The little hand-carved figures look like they are attached a differential gear within the sphere which causes them to rotate in groups as the entire things rotates as a whole. The articulated joints allow the figures to flop into different positions as they are turned around.

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'Two dogs that meet on a regular basis' by Paul Spooner

Another delightfully simple, but at the same time extremely clever automaton by Paul Spooner. This one features two dogs both of which are connected to rotary indexing mechanisms. As the dogs rotate, their greeting ritual is played out. The piece shows Paul Spooner's wonderful carving style and humor. Made in a limited edition of six, these automata were made almost entirely of recycled materials.

Here is were you can learn more about Two dogs that meet on a regular basis by Paul Spooner.

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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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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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Artist Aaron Kramer interviews automaton legend Paul Spooner

What a treat! Here we have artist Aaron Kramer interviewing the inimitable Paul Spooner. I have always loved Paul Spooner's automata. He is one of the main reasons I ever became interested in the subject. I know he has inspired hundreds of others and delighted countless people with his mechanical wit.

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Warhol's Cat - a contemporary automaton from Fourteen Balls Toy Co.

Check out the latest automaton designed by Matt Smith over at Fourteen Balls Toy Co.! Look at all the mechanisms inside the box!

From the automaton's description:

This is 'Warhol's Cat' the new edition from the Fourteen Balls Toy Company. Designed and made by Matt Smith. The automaton is 150 mm x 100 mm x 230 mm (6" x 4" x 9"). The box is Douglas fir with the mechanism being made of Stainless steel, brass, birch plywood, maple, phosphor bronze and a small amount of Delrin. The cat himself is carved from lime wood and the eyes made from Delrin balls. The mechanism inside the head is made from brass, phosphor bronze and spring steel.The Campbell’s soup tin is a solid piece of steel with a label printed from a hand painted original by Sarah Smith ). The mechanism comprises two brass ratchets and three camshafts, with a fairly complex sequence .

Here is where you can see more detailed photos of the Warhol's Cat automaton.

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Lacy Scott & Knight Toys & Models sale to be held on November 15, 2014

The Lacy Scott & Knight Auction Centre will be featuring a sale of amazing antique toys this month.

Shown here is one of the many lots included in the sale, a tin plate automaton featuring a clown an dancer.

From the description of Lot 3174:

Gunthermann, tinplate and clockwork musical automata entitled 'Clown and Dancer', comprising of tinplate clown seated upon drum whilst playing the clarinet, when in motion he nods his head back and forth whilst the opposing female dancer twirls, single fixed key mechanism in working order with 'plink-plunk' type music, later clothing has been applied to both figures

Despite its condition, the piece is estimated to bring from $900 to $1200. Toys were often well-used and many examples were eventually destroyed and discarded. They are therefore often quite rare.

To learn more about tin toys check out Pressland's Great Book of Tin Toys which features nearly 700 color illustrations of the toys that dominated the industry for a century.

[ Thanks Steve! ]

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Huge human figure automaton made from found objects!

automaton complete! from rob higgs on Vimeo.

You recall Rob Higgs -- the artist who created the giant wine bottle opener? Here is his latest, a large human figure with moving hands, head, eyes, and many other elements. It's a wonderful assemblage of parts. I can even spot one near to my heart and very near to the automaton's: a lyre-framed brass clock movement with its large spiral mainsprings. The video description notes that he forgot to wind clock mechanism that runs the "brain", and indeed, if you look closely you can see the winding key sticking out the back of the figure's head. It's truly incredible piece. I would expect no less from this particular artist.

Here is where you can see more sculptures by Rob Higgs.

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The Topsy Turvy Clock by Andy Clark

Andy Clark of The Workshop Shed blog made this, The Topsy Turvy Clock, after being inspired by a kids TV show, featuring a clock with numbers in the wrong places.

Andy Clark explains:

I saw a clock with the numbers in a Topsy Turvy order and wondered if I could actually make it work. After concluding it would be too much of a technical challenge to make it entirely clockwork, I decided to use stepper motors and software control. I wanted it to look like an original mantel clock so the brass mechanism and style of numerals were key. I had the numbers laser cut in card by a company who normally make wedding table decorations so the what I call "antique white" is actually "champagne". I started planning in late November last year so it's been a long build with mechanical, electronic and software challenges. I finished it just this week after a month of fine tuning and completing the software.

Here is where you can learn more about the Topsy Turvy Clock. It's also been entered in the Atmel Simply AVR Design Contest, so be sure to vote for it!

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BIRDSONG, with found feather -- a mechanical sculpture by Martin Smith

Check out BIRDSONG, with found feather, the latest mechanical sculpture by Martin Smith. Wonderful!

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Cabaret Mechanical Movement - The classic text on automaton-making in Kindle edition!

One of the all-time best books on the art and science of making contemporary automata, Cabaret Mechanical Movemen, is now available in a Kindle edition. This is great news, because the original paperback edition can be somewhat hard to get and used copies of the softcover book are quite expensive. Published by Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, a museum that pops-up all over the world to delight its visitors with some of the finest examples of the automata makers art, is largely responsible for the existence of the genre. As such, they are a name to be trusted.

From the book description:

Making automata is hard. Making other sorts of three dimensional objects can also be hard, but the extra dimension of movement seems to add a disproportionate amount of difficulty. For most people, especially those untrained in engineering skills, getting to the point where making mechanical devices is easy, can be a long and frustrating task. Then again, there are many people who have a sound understanding of engineering but can’t even draw a horse.

These things can be learnt. This book does not teach you how to draw a horse, but it does remove the mystery that surrounds the world of mechanisms and the business of making things move. Cabaret Mechanical Movement contains a lot of theory but it’s also packed with practical tips and ideas for making your own automata, moving toys or mechanical sculpture.

Chapter titles include:

• Who, What, Why?
• Some Principles
• Levers
• Shafts
• Cranks
• Cams
• Springs
• Linkages
• Ratchets
• Drives & Gearing
• Control
• The Checklist
• Bibliography
• Index

You won't find step-by-step plans to make an automaton, but you will learn a lot about the basic mechanisms that make most contemporary automata tick. You will also get valuable constructions tips for making moving toys and automata. The book includes over 200 black-and-white illustrations. I would say that alone, it may not be enough to get you started making autoamta, unless you have some previous woodworking experience. That said, it is an indispensable book on the subject and should be among the first those new to the field acquire.

Here is where you can get the Kindle edition of Cabaret Mechanical Movement: Understanding Movement and Making Automata

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The Wonderful mechanical world of Rowland Emett

A good friend to The Automata Blog, Richard Partington, wrote to inform us that there is a great exhibition of the legendary Rowland Emett's work at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Emett (1906 – 1990) was an English cartoonist and creator of whimsical kinetic sculpture. The current exhibition of his work is the biggest there has ever been in the UK. That's not something to miss! The video above is from a different exhibition held at the Ontario Science Centre back in 2012.

What:
Marvellous Machines: The Wonderful World of Rowland Emett

Where:
The Birmingham Museum

When:
May 10th, 2014 to September 21st, 2014

[ Thanks Richard! ]

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Zaher The Magician - a modern take on a classic magic-themed automaton

The automaton shown here was created by Haydn Davies over a period of 18 months. The piece is made of plaster of Paris, wood, brass, aluminum, steel, ball bearings, and stainless steel. It relies on servo motors, a microprocessor servo controller, a computer power supply, a miniature passive infrared sensor, and other electrical parts to perform its magic.

Zaher is on display at the Mechanical Art and Design Museum (MAD Museum), Stratford Upon Avon, England. This fantastic automaton is currently for sale.

Here is where you can learn more about Zaher The Magician.

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Animated woodworker automaton and article by Charles Mak

Check out this new automaton by Charles Mak, which was featured in the November issue of the British magazine The Woodworker & Woodturner.

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Book: Automatic Pleasures: - The History of the Coin Machine

I was just alerted to the fact that there is a new edition of this very interesting book on the history of coin-operated machines!

From the description:

The book established many new facts and destroyed many of the myths that had arisen in the gaming industry during the 20th century. Originally an ancient Greek invention the advent of the coin machine in the 19th century heralded a Victorian revolution which sought to establish a fully automated society. The visionaries of the past are the direct forbears of the all pervasive computer industries -- without the gaming and coin machine industries it is doubtful as to whether today's computer dominated age would have ever happened.

There are some really wonderful images and diagrams in this book. Be sure to use the "Look Inside" feature at Amazon to see what I mean!

Here is where you can buy Automatic Pleasures: - The History of the Coin Machine

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