AutomataCon: a new convention for artists, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of automata

There is an upcoming event that EVERYONE who reads this blog should know about. The event? AutomataCon. That's right...a convention for us! The press release below says it all. I will be there. I hope you will too!

AutomataCon is a newly conceived convention of and for artists, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of automatons and related kinetic art. It is a three day event being held March 18th – 20th, 2016 at and in conjunction with the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey, home of the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata.

The goal of the convention is to gather people from around the world to share ideas, build relationships, and grow interest in automata new and old. As can be seen from our ever-growing Attendee Gallery, beginners as well as some of the premier artists, collectors, historians, and authors in the automaton community from around the world plan to be in attendance. The convention will include a variety of private and public programming, including: social gatherings, museum tours, panel discussions, live demonstrations, workshops, presentations, and an exhibition. There will also be a premier showing of the extremely rare 1928 film, Le Monde des Automates, in the museum’s Bickford Theatre. Originally created as a typical period silent film using hand-driven cameras, an accompanying sound track was added shortly thereafter, making this one of the first Swiss-made sound films. About 25-30 minutes in length, it was intended to accompany Alfred Chapuis & Eduard Gélis’ foundational 2 volume book by the same title, and documents some extremely rare automata plus a truly unique mechanical musical instrument, the Violinista by Boreau & Aubry (1918-22), in action. A fabulous historical document!

The idea for a convention stemmed from the fellowship shown on the Automata / Automaton Group and Mechanical Adventures group on Facebook. The true value of the convention will be the relationships built and knowledge shared when passionate people of common interest come together. As such, the success of the convention will depend on the attendees themselves. In the end, we are optimistic that great things will come. Please join the Facebook event page for the latest news on the convention.

Visit the event website for more details and to make your reservations.

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Working with cams and different types of cam followers

My 16 article on automaton-making for Cabaret Mechanical Theatre is now live on their web site. In this installment, I discuss different sorts of cam followers and how they can be used. The cam gets a lot of attention, but is almost without value in the absence of a cam follower. Read on to learn about the basic types, their advantages, and disadvantages.

Here is where you can read my article on Cam Followers for Automata.

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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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Sublime Dreams of Living Machines: The Automaton in the European Imagination

Due out late in February of 2011 is a most intriguing book by Minsoo Kang entitled Sublime Dreams of Living Machines: The Automaton in the European Imagination. The book explores the Western world's fascination with automata in order to better understand ourselves as humans.

From the book's press release:

Kang tracks the first appearance of the automaton in ancient myths through the medieval and Renaissance periods, marks the proliferation of the automaton as a central intellectual concept in the Scientific Revolution and the subsequent backlash during the Enlightenment, and details appearances in Romantic literature and the introduction of the living machine in the Industrial Age. He concludes with a reflection on the destructive confrontation between humanity and machinery in the modern era and the reverberations of the humanity-machinery theme today.

That is an impressive scope of inquiry! This book is sure to be a fascinating read for anyone interested in automata.

Here is where you can get the book: Sublime Dreams of Living Machines: The Automaton in the European Imagination.

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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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'AUTÓMATA' movie explores what life might be like in the not-too-distant future

With a name like AUTÓMATA I am almost obligated to post news of this upcoming movie. Clearly, it's borrowing some of its major themes from Asimov's classic novel titled I, Robot. One also catches the scent of Blade Runner. Still, the trailer does look exciting.

A synopsis from the film's official web site:

Fast forward fifty years into the future, planet earth is in the midst of gradual desertification. Mankind struggles to survive as the environment deteriorates and the slow regression of the human race begins in AUTÓMATA. On the brink of life and the reality of death, technology combats the prevailing uncertainty and fear with the creation of the first quantum android, the Automata Pilgrim 7000. Designed to bring support to society's plight, man and robot reveal what it means to co-exist in a culture defined by human nature.

The descent of civilization is juxtaposed by the rise of ROC, the corporation at the helm of robotic intelligence. Despite the demise of humanity, the company has set forth security protocols to ensure mankind always maintains control over the manufactured population.As ROC insurance agent, Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas) routinely investigates cases and complaints surrounding defective androids, he begins to uncover the secrets behind who is really manipulating the Automata Pilgrim 7000. Jacq's own suspicions propel the mystery — uncovering a truth that is far more complex than the make or model of any machine.

Here is where you can learn more about the upcoming film, AUTÓMATA.

[ Thanks Glenn! ]

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Antique Black Forest clock with figure playing the trumpet

Many beautiful clocks where produced in the Black Forest region of Germany. The good folks over at J. Miller & Sons Antiques are offering one such example made around the turn of the century. I love this clock.

From the clock description page:

The trumpeter figure is carved from wood and retains its original paint. He has a trumpet in his mouth and a keg of beer over his shoulder. He calls at the full and half hours for another round of refreshment.

Here is where you can learn more about this Black Forest Shelf 3 Horn Trumpeter Clock.

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Beautiful and complex multi-dial automaton skeleton clock

Check out this incredible multi-dial clock created by François-Joseph Hartmann (1793-1830), a clockmaker who worked in Paris. The clock features rarely seen automata, two calendars, the age and phases of the moon, the times of sunrise and sunset, the equation of time, world time and the signs of the zodiac! It is believed to be from 1801.

From the La Pendulerie web site:

When the lever is pushed a polished steel whirligig with mirrored glass background, set above a twin-headed fountain with winged leopard heads mounted with twisted steel rods to imitate running water, is simultaneously activated. The shaped rectangular base features a central palmette frieze flanked by ribbon-tied wreaths; it is raised on six turned feet.

The central sprung panel opens when a lever is pulled, revealing the spring-barrel movement for the animations. Mounted on a substantial oak mahogany-veneered baseboard supported on flattened ball feet, the underside set with a facetted sprung steel shaft and cone terminal, activating the automata work by means of a handle that activates a lever and thence the columns, whirligig and fountain. - See more at: http://www.lapendulerie.com/Hartmann-Coteau-Exceptional-Mutli-dial-automaton-skeleton-clock-DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=6&tabindex=5&objectid=584068&categoryid=14437#sthash.8zrQ1krq.dpuf

Here is where you can read more and see additional photos of this multi-dial automaton skeleton clock.

[ Thanks Felix! ]

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Desperate for gift ideas? Here are 5 more great books for the mechanically-minded!

We are down to the wire in terms of holiday shopping. If you still need ideas for those mechanically-minded folks on your list, here are 5 more books I recommend personally. You have plenty of time to order them from Amazon in time for Christmas. Problem solved.

Eccentric Cubicle (Make: Projects)

Kaden Harris is one of those fascinating people who seems to know how to make just about everything. His skill and eclectic interests come across loud and clear in his book Eccentric Cubicle. Ostensibly, the book is full of projects for you to make for your cubical at work, but the book's title understates how badass some of these projects are. In the book, you will be shown how to build a working miniature guillotine, a small torsion-powered crossbow, a mechanical golf machine, a bass guitar built into a desk, a fog machine, a mechanical percussion machine, and more. The construction of each project is described in great detail; it is probably MAKE's longest book. As if that weren't enough, each chapter has a sub-theme that covers an essential tool, material, or fabrication technique. These alone could form a book that would be worth the price. The book is written in a playful, irreverent style, which makes for good reading. This thing is full of gems, and one of my personal favorites.

Building Wooden Machines: Gears and Gadgets for the Adventurous Woodworker

Among all of the books on how to make wooden mechanisms, two of the best and most advanced are the two by Alan and Gill Bridgewater: Making Wooden Mechanical Models and Making More Wooden Mechanical Models. Originally published in 1995 and 1999, respectively, they have become increasingly hard to find, especially the second book which now fetches high prices in the used book market. So, it was good news to learn that the two books have been combined into Building Wooden Machines. The new combined volume features 28 ingenious woodworking projects with visible wheels, cranks, pistons and other moving parts made of wood. Each project has step-by-step instructions and plan drawings from which to work. It does assume the reader has woodworking skill and tools, so this outstanding book may not be the best choice for beginners.

Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood

This book also features plans for 15 handsome wooden mechanisms such as the cam and follower, the Scotch yoke, the fast-return actuator, and the geneva wheel. Unlike Building Wooden Machines far fewer of projects in this book require access to and experience with a wood lathe. This makes it useful to a greater number of people. If you are a less experienced woodworker, or do not have a lathe, then then you'll want to chose Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood over this title.

Automata and Mechanical Toys

It is certainly no surprise to find Automata and Mechanical Toys on this list. In the past I have said that if you were to have just one book on contemporary automata that this should be the one. Both a how-to book and a showcase of the art form itself, this book attempts to cover it all. If you love automata, want see examples by well known automaton artists, and want to learn more about how to make these wonderful devices yourself, then this book is a must-have. Here is where you can read a more extensive review of Automata and Mechanical Toys.

Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood

Rodney Frost strikes again with his book titled Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood. Previously published as Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits, this book has long been at the top of my recommendations. This book features fourteen complete projects -- one of the only ones to do so. Each project has a bit of text, a photo, and many nice vector illustrations detailing the project's construction. I wouldn't call them formal 'plans' -- they are too colorful, assorted, and playful for that name. People determined to build an automaton, but short of ideas, are sure to find a project in this book that speaks to them. The projects have a wonderful vintage feel.

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One woodworker's version of my 'Unwelcome Dinner Guest' automaton made from plans

Theresa Grammer came upon the plans I created for a wood automaton, called The Unwelcome Dinner Guest. This automaton was created to be a wooden mechanical project that was featured in Gizmos & Gadgets, a special edition magazine from the publishers of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts. The article shows the process of making this automaton from start to finish.

From Theresa's email:

I wanted something a bit more complicated and was thrilled to find your blog jam packed with information and a link to plans for your "Unwelcome Dinner Guest"! The plans are very detailed and I was able to build the automata without difficulty. This was fun!

Her version can be seen in the YouTube video above. She also has a short article about the project on the Lumberjocks website. I like the way she used different types of woods and really made her dog unique. Her success has inspired her to work on creating an automaton design of her own.

The original automaton I created for the magazine article is for sale! Here is a page with details about The Unwelcome Dinner Guest automaton by Dug North. Please contact me or use the Paypal button on the page to order the piece online and pay with the credit card of your choice. This is the original signed piece. It comes with a copy of the magazine in which it was featured, also signed by Dug North.

Here is where you can purchase The Unwelcome Dinner Guest automaton by Dug North.

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Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams - documentary about automata by Simon Schaffer

You MUST check out this incredible BBC documentary. Presented by Simon Schaffer, the documentary tells the story of automata -- those amazing clockwork machines designed to mimic and recreate life.

From the documentary description:

The film brings the past to life in vivid detail as we see how and why these masterpieces were built. Travelling around Europe, Simon uncovers the history of these machines and shows us some of the most spectacular examples, from an entire working automaton city to a small boy who can be programmed to write and even a device that can play chess. All the machines Simon visits show a level of technical sophistication and ambition that still amazes today.

Schaffer also explains the world in which these mechanical marvels were made: the workers who built them, their role in trade and the industrial revolution, as well as providing information on the designers who invented them. Finally, he shows that these fantastic hybrids of art and engineering are the ancestors of many of our most beloved modern devices.

Here is a link to the BBC page about the documentary Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams.

[ Thanks to all who sent this my way! ]

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Jaquet Droz makes the world's first singing bird wrist watch!

Did you see the exquisite automaton wrist watch by Jaquet Droz I posted about back in December of 2012? If not, here is where you can check out the watch. The company has done it again as you can see from the video shown above of a different bird automaton watch. Called The Charming Bird, it is the world's first singing bird automata wristwatch.

Here is a short interview with Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Jaquet Droz. In the video, we see a new large automaton the company has built in order to promote some of the very small ones they are putting into watches.

Jaquet Droz is a name long associated with automata and it's nice to see the company continuing to honor this history.

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Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata available as a free download

Our friend Joe Freedman of LEAFpdx has made the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata available for download. The book covers some of my favorite subjects including the magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, history, magic, automata, and mechanical toys.

'The Sette of Odd Volumes' was a group of book collectors in Victorian era London. They published transcripts of the lectures they presented to each other. Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata compiles two of these lectures into a single book. An affordable printed version of the book has been available for a while, but if you prefer to have an electronic copy (PDF) you are now in luck!

In the first section of the book, William Manning offers his recollections of the famous magician, Robert-Houdin. In the second section, Conrad William Cooke provides a history of automata to that point. It's a fascinating book and well-worth reading.

Though the digital version of the book is available for free, please consider using the Paypal donate button on his page. A lot of time and effort went into creating this book and I'd like to see Joe Freedman produce more of his excellent mechanical creations. Show him some love if you can! Here is where you can download the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata.

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Antique automata from The Toys & Automata Museum in Verdú

When I posted the other day about the Toc de Fusta's kinetic street art installation, I mentioned that it took place at the closing event held at the Museu de Joguets | Autòmats (Toys and Automata Museum) in the Catalan city of Verdú. Sadly the museum closed its doors this past January. Hopefully, their collection will find a suitable new home. More news on that later. In the meantime, enjoy this short film showing the many fine Golden Age automata once on display at the museum.

Here is a link to the Museu de Joguets | Autòmats (Toys and Automata Museum).

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Exhibit featuring The Wonderful World of Rodney Peppé

I've received word from the folks at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre of a new exhibition featuring the work of Rodney Peppé.

I don't know how many times I've referenced his book on my own, on this blog, or to those new to the art form who are looking for a good book with which to start. I've said that if you were to have just one book on making Automata and Mechanical Toys, his would be the one to have.

While often recognized as an important author, it's not often that we get to see his work up close and personal. This new exhibit at the Ruthin Craft Centre will be just such an opportunity.

From the exhibition description:

The humorous and quintessentially British exhibits represent Peppé's creative life; from his early days as a graphic designer in London's 1960's advertising world, through to a wealth of charming children's books which he wrote and illustrated. Running concurrently throughout his visual and written work is his amazing collection of hand crafted models, toys and automata.

This is sure to be a fascinating exhibit -- one that you won't want to miss if you can make it to the area.

What: The Wonderful World of Rodney Peppé

When: March 16th – May 12th, 2013

Where:
Ruthin Craft Centre
Gallery 1, Ruthin Craft Centre
Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1BB

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Japanese Autoamta - New book about 18th century Japanese automatic mechanical devices

There is a wonderful new book out titled Japanese Automata - Karkuri Zui: An Eighteenth Century Japanese Manual of Automatic Mechanical Devices. This book by Kazuo Murakami translates into English the unique book Karakuri Zui, originally published in 1796. The book starts with an introduction which explains the history of karakuri. What follows is a complete translation of Karakuri Zui which explained the mechanisms and methods of construction for several Japanese clocks and mechanical toys of the Edo period in Japan (1603-1867).

Murakami-San wrote to tell me about the Tumbling Acrobot automaton shown in the video above, which I've posted about in the past. He explains that the tumbling doll seems to have already been invented by the beginning of 18th century. Like many of the fine automata of the past, the Tumbling Acrobat was a toy for wealthy people. There is some evidence that the the doll was brought to Europe by the Dutch, where it was then imitated, westernized, improved, and manufactured by German toy makers to look more like this.

The great magician and automaton-maker, Robert-Houdin, bought a tumbling doll from a French toy maker. This story is recounted in the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic and Automata.

All of this information and more is covered in detail in Kazuo Murakami's new book, Japanese Automata. This soft cover book has a total of 257 pages with 104 original diagrams and drawings of the mechanical devices made during the Edo period. It has been published in a limited run of 500 copies.

Here is where you can see sample pages, reviews, and order the book Japanese Autoamta.

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Room for Wonder - A film about the magical collections of Richard Garriott

This short film features the many collections of Richard Garriott de Cayeux -- video game developer, entrepreneur, and space traveler. Garriott built Britannia Manor to serve as his observatory, home, and occasionally, a giant interactive haunted house. An avid collector of amazing and unusual objects, Garriott's home could fairly be classified as a museum. In this film, magician Brad Henderson from Austin, Texas takes you through this extraordinary collection, room by room.

Among the countless wonders and secret passages, you will find a collection of historic space-related artifacts in Garriott's office, complete with one of the original Sputnik satellites. In the dungeon, you can stare in awe at the shrunken heads and vampire hunting kits. In the laboratory, you will find esoteric scientific instruments and orreries, mechanical models of the planets moving around the sun.

I know you guys will be most interested in Garriott's automata collection, featuring antiques as well works by almost all of the modern makers. The automata collection, vast as it is, can only be covered in part, but you do get to see the works of three artists who surely deserve the limelight.

First, you see Paul Spooner's inimitable wit and ingenuity play out in his Sex Change Machine and Poisoned Milk automaton. The mechanism that makes the cat's tongue seem to lap up the spilled milk is a fine example of Spooner's cleverness.

Next, you get a close-up view of the Argentinian artist Pablo Lavezzari's piece Facing a Fake Foe -- a detailed automaton-within-an-automaton depicting a knight fighting a dragon. The dragon, as it turns out, is a fake controlled by a small demon figure. The piece is also notable for its mechanically produced dragon roar sound effect.

Finally, you are shown a few of the macabre and magical automata created by Thomas Kuntz. Kuntz hand sculpts each of the figures and scratch builds the all of the mechanical elements for his pieces, often on vintage watchmaker's lathes. His autoamta seem to be the direct descendants of the most exquisite automata of centuries past. His piece titled L'Oracle du Mort is a modern masterpiece, featuring an oracle who -- with the help of two imps, the Grim Reaper, and a burst of real flame -- will answer your questions.

Amidst so many incredible automata, and artists whom I hold in the highest esteem, I'm dazed and delighted that one of my own pieces made it into the footage. A Dug North original, titled The Birthing Engine is shown and mentioned early on. I couldn't be more pleased.

This film is rare look at one of the finest collections of contemporary automata in existence. I am glad it was made and I am glad to have had the chance to share it with you.

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If you were to have just one book on making Automata and Mechanical Toys, this might be the one to have

The name of this book says it all for indeed, it deals with Automata and Mechanical Toys, and it does it well. The book covers the history of automata, contemporary makers, and the construction techniques you will need to start making them yourself.

What will you find in Automata and Mechanical Toys? The chapters of the book are as follows:

1. A Brief History of Automata and Mechanical Toys
2. The Origins of Contemporary Automata
3. Tools and Materials
4. Techniques
5. Making Automaton Mechanisms
6. Theme Projects
7. Design
8. Painting and Finishing

That's pretty much everything you could ask for in book on automata.

The chapter on the history of automata is among the best short treatments of the topic, dealing with the clockwork examples from history and placing the contemporary form that is the subject of the book in context.

Each chapter is interspersed with profiles of leading automata makers, showcasing their work with many pictures and a page or two of information about the artist. The artists featured are among the best known automaton makers in the United Kingdom. You'll see profiles of Lucy Casson, Ron Fuller, John Grayson, Neil Hardy, Andy Hazell, Tim Hunkin, John Maltby, Tony Mann, Peter Markey, Ian McKay, Frank Nelson, Rodney Peppe, Robert Race, Martin Smith, Paul Spooner, Melanie Tomlinson, Douglas Wilson, Kristy Wyatt Smith, Vicki Wood, and Jan Zalud.

The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. Printed in full color on glossy paper, you can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and the finishes that add that artistic touch.

The section on tool and materials is quite good and provides some translation of terms for speakers of American English (e.g. a "pillar drill" is what we call a "drill press"). The sections that cover construction techniques are clear and informative. In addition, there are printed patterns for pin-wheels, ratchets, cams, and splined gears. If you are just starting out, these patterns are invaluable.

A particularly cool thing about this book is the section on the automaton mechanism test platform. The reader is given complete instructions for making commonly used mechanical components. These can then be fitted to the test platform in order to see them in action. The final product is a bit like an interactive display at a science museum. The construction and use of this platform would make a great classroom aid or science fair project.

You won't find plans for any complete automata projects in this book. For that, you'll have to turn to one of the author's other books, Making Mechanical Toys, which is a great companion volume. What you will find are instructions for how to make the components you'll need to make an automaton of your own: ratchets, pinwheels, gears, linkages, cams, cranks, a Geneva wheel, and so on. This is really useful stuff.

Somewhere between a how-to book and a coffee table treatment of the art form itself, the book may frustrate those who want to focus on just one thing or the other. But, if you love automata, want see examples by well known automata artists, and want to learn more about how to make these wonderful devices, then this book is a must-have. If you were to own just one book on automata making, this is probably the one to have.

Click here to learn more about Automata and Mechanical Toys

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Gizmos & Gadgets special issue - see the projects in action!

The Gizmos & Gadgets Special Issue

I was asked to contribute an article to a special issue magazine called Gizmos & Gadgets. Not to be confused with the technology magazine of the same name, this one is put out by the same folks that publish Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine as well a many of the best carving, woodworking, and craft books you will find. They have to be one of my favorite publishers, so when I was asked to write for them, I was really excited.

The magazine was a year in the making and they did a fantastic job. The projects are awesome and the documentation excellent. They did the job right. The video above shows the projects in action. The automaton I designed may be seen at the 00:53 second mark. There is a wealth of useful techniques within these pages and more than 10 cool projects. What follows is a list of the projects in the magazine.

1 - Kicker Gumball Machine

This fun gumball dispenser will test your hand-to-eye coordination, give you a great project to build, and reward you with a treat. Lots of fun!

2 - A wooden chest with a working wooden lock

Notable wood clock-maker Adrian Iredale shows you how precise cuts and careful sanding can produce a working padlock made almost exclusively of wood. I'm looking forward to making one myself.

3 - Rapid-fire rubber band gun

The ultimate in wooden rubber band guns, this one is fired by turning a hand-crank much like the old Gatling gun. It's incredible.

4 - Simplest possible working wooden clock

Master of the wooden clock, Clayton Boyer, provides detailed instructions on how to make a wooden clock. If you have always dreamed of making a wooden clock, but were intimidated, this is the one start with! It's unconventional design makes it a unique timepiece as well as a work of kinetic art. FULL SIZE plans for this project are included in the magazine centerfold. This is a great value -- more than worth the price of the magazine alone. Trust me.

5 - Tiny ship automaton

Fellow automaton-maker Wanda Sowry contributed this really cute automaton featuring a tiny ship rocking on the waves of the ocean. This would be an ideal choice for one's first wood automaton. It would also make a nice gift.

The Unwelcome Dinner Guest - Automaton by Dug North

6 - Dog and bird automaton

My own contribution to the magazine is a scene featuring a bird stealing a dog's food. The poor dog is tangled in his own leash, so all he can do is wag his tail and bark at the winged thief who pecks away at the food. I worked hard to use materials that could be found easily online and at local home improvement stores. I'm quite pleased with the dog's barking action which uses a four-bar linkage.

7 - Bouncing buggy toy

This charming pull-along toy features a horse and buggy with two riders. The riders are having a bit of bumpy ride. This piece has a strong ties to a long tradition of folk toys. Why not be a part of that tradition?

8 - Wood spitting whirligig

No written work on wooden gizmos could be complete without a whirligig. The Gizmos & Gadgets issue delivers with this fine example. A very traditional scene -- a man chopping wood -- is animated by wind power alone. A classic.

9 - The 'Smoke Grinder'

This is a fun little do-nothing gadget that is loads of fun. It's a great beginner project that will also make a nice gift for kids.

10 - The mother of all gear machines

Ed Legler documents how he made this intricate kinetic sculpture that graces the cover of the magazine. The author uses some tools that may be beyond what you have in the workshop, but you can cut the gears on a scroll saw. I'm going to tackle this one sooner or later.

11 - Marble track tower

A nifty marble machine is also described in detail at the end of the magazine. Because of the complexity, the plans themselves have to be purchased separately. Still, you can get a good look at what you would be buying or perhaps be inspired to come up with your own design.

That's one great magazine if you ask me!

Have I got your attention? If so, here is where you can order a copy of the Gizmos & Gadgets special issue. You can also get the issue for free by signing up for a two year subscription to Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. If you like scroll saw projects, that would be the best value. You will get 8 issues of the magazine plus this special Gizmos & Gadgets issue which sells for $10 alone.

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A new name! A new look! Same great-tasting automata!

I warned you a few months ago that changes were coming. Indeed, they have come. I'm dedicating more of my time to automata these days. Mostly, that means an increase in the time I spend in the workshop creating things. It also means a bit more time to attend to this blog.

I started my blog back in June of 2006. I knew I wanted it to be about automata for the most part, but struggled with what to call it. Which word would be better: "automata" or "automaton"? I decided to use both. So, the somewhat awkwardly named "The Automata / Automaton Blog" was born.

I'll confess: in an actual face-to-face conversation, that is a mouthful! I could also see that the good folks who link to my blog on the web also struggled with what to call it in their links. Sometimes they linked to "The Automata Blog", sometimes to "The Automaton Blog", sometimes to the full title. Making the name shorter started to seem like a good idea.

I've also become increasingly concerned that the title of the blog has led people to believe that the words "automata" and "automaton" are one and the same. Not so. I get a lot of email from excited, enthusiastic people who love my blog and want to show me what they've made. More often than not, they will refer to one automaton as "automata". It's a tricky work, for sure. For the record, here's how it breaks down:

Speaking of only one? Use automaton.
Check out my very first automaton!

Speaking of more than one? Choose either automata or automatons.
I love looking at all of the automata Paul Spooner has made over the years!

That said, welcome (or welcome back to nearly 25% over 30% of you) to The Automata Blog. I chose this title so as not to create undue confusion with the excellent blog titled Automaton -- IEEE Spectrum's award-winning robotics blog. If you like slightly higher tech things than what you find here, I encourage you to check out their news, articles, and videos. Great stuff.

The new shorter name can also be used to find the blog. Simply type AutomataBlog.com into a browser and you're there...um...here.

I thought the new name deserved a new look -- something beyond the simple black template I've been using for years. I can draw reasonably well, but I found the task too daunting. I had a dozen things in my head and no idea how to get them into a header graphic. After 5 years of avoiding the job, I knew it was time to hire a professional. The award-winning Canadian illustrator and cartoonist, Eric Orchard, created the image you now see at the top of the screen. My thanks to Eric! I couldn't be happier with the illustration.

Stay tuned for more changes in the coming months, including more of a behind-the-scenes look at the things I make. I also have a few other new things in mind for you. I hope you will come back often. I appreciate the on-going support that comes in so many forms: return visits, links on your sites, references in written work, word-of-mouth recommendations, invitations to tour exhibits, reviewer copies of books, the use of the Amazon links on this site, tips on things to post, and all of the kind email messages. Thanks for all of it. I'm honored to be part of this dialog.

All my very best to each of you!

-Dug North

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