Norman Tuck wrote to share a video he made of a vintage motorized salesman figure. It belonged to his father who used it as a window display in an appliance store he owned. The figure was distributed by the White Sewing Machine company. He believes it is German made because the paper mache head is made from German newspapers. It probably dates to the 1910s.
Driven by a small electric sewing machine motor turning a worm and screw, the figure moves its eyebrows, mouth, head, and hands. It has a set of signs in the box below which it raises up. A total of five different signs are raised and lowered.
Here's a fun dancing pirate automaton by Tim Donald. The dancing action is not unlike the classic dancing figure folk toy known as a limberjack or a jig doll. According to Wikipedia they have had many names, but the common element is a figure with loose joints that appears to dance when placed just above a vibrating board. The automaton shown here is different in that the floor is stationary and the dancer is made to move by turning a hand-crank. This version probably makes things a lot easier!
Rufus Seder of Eye Think has just come up with this wonderful animation toy! You pose ten identical bendy figures a little differently in sequence. Then, when you spin the turntable you will see the results animated in the mirror rotating at the center of the toy. What a fun gizmo!
If you are into this type of animation, you might also check out this Praxinoscope available from Amazon. Not unlike the BusyBody, this optical device uses mirrors, paper, and a platform to create moving pictures. When you spin the platform, you can view the animations through the mask plate. It includes printed discs and blank discs for creating your own animation.
I don't get to share my own work on this blog as often as I might like. I just realized that I've had this video for quite a long while, but have neglected to share it with the world.
I designed and fabricated this automaton, once again featuring my character Machini the Marvel! Here he is performing his world-famous act titled The Study of Levitations. When you turn the crank, you will see the magician lift his head and then close his eyes. With a slow wave of his hand, the ink in the inkwell slowly rises, the leather-bound book opens and the pen spins in its holder. As the magician moves his arm back to the starting position, the sequence is reversed.
Check out this new limited edition automaton by Thomas Kuntz titled "Topsy Curvy". Though it's a simple one compared to much of his work, the sculpting is -- as always -- second to none. As the description says, the peice "embodies the sensibilities of the surreal and the noir".
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's a clever concept for an automaton -- this one created by Ron Varga. The remote-control helicopter flies around the top of the Christmas, each time barely missing the boy who ducks just in time.
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!
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 an interesting post by artist Tom Haney about his experience repairing an old, automated window display. I recall that he called me at the time and it was fun to speak with him about it. Sadly, I don't think I was much help. At least I could point him to a real expert on the subject.
I like his repair. It may not be how the original worked, but it sure sounds safe, practical, and effective. He has some great under-the-hood shots of the figure and mechanism. Well done!
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.
This devil automaton now housed at a museum in Milan was made by taking a sixteenth-century torso -- possibly that of Christ at the Column -- and applying a clockwork mechanism to it. The automaton when cranked would turn its head and eyes, stick out the its tongue, and make an inarticulate sound. A seventeenth-century description mentions horns and a collar which are now lost.
Artist Colin Neu has finished a new piece, this one featuring a ballerina on a rotating platform. As the platform turns the figure raises and lowers her head, arms and one leg, gracefully striking different positions. As with many of his works, this one is powered by an old Gramophone motor. The dancing figure is made of wood, while the mechanism is made of various metals including brass. Another fine piece!
The aritst's contact information can be found at the end of the video.
Head on over to the artistaday.com site to read a short profile of automaton artist Tom Haney. Haney's work has been featured
on The Automata Blog dozens of times. He has a style all his own that many of us appreciate.
From the Tom Haney:
Any kind of mechanical movement has always been a fascination of mine and to combine this with figurative carvings became irresistibly compelling. After some time I learned about automata, "a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being", an ancient pursuit more thoroughly developed in the 13th – 19th centuries mostly in Europe but also in Asia. The work I create today is a modern offshoot of the time-honored European tradition of automata.
Shown above is a piece by Haney titled Departure. The distinctive carved figure, savvy use of motorized movement, carefully selected found objects, and lovely aged surfaces are all typical of Haney's work.
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's the latest automaton by Paul Spooner. As always is wit is evident in the piece itself. This one also has an especially fun description from the artist:
It's a machine for undertaking thankless tasks; useful for refusing loans and favours of all kinds, invitations to dull parties, requests to take part in surveys, to look after neighbours pets or children, to rescue victims of crime, to take part in the democratic process, to become a collector of automata and to deal with all other questions to which the answer, in our heartless hearts, is "no".
This gem is a one-of-a-kind (or "one-off", if you prefer). Here is where you can see more pictures or buy Answering Machine by Paul Spooner.
Here is the latest mechanical creation from the talented Pablo Lavezzari, creator of Facing a Fake Foe and other amazing automata.
This time around Lavezzari has created a mechanical bank in the form of a man. Any coin may be placed on the man's outstretched hand. When the lever is pulled, El Tragamonedas (or 'Slot Man') flips the coin into his gaping mouth.
I highly recommend spending 10 minutes with automaton and toy making legend Ron Fuller. In this video Fuller explains the design and construction of a dancing figure that is powered by the steam produced from a small boiler heated with an alcohol lamp. Once the boiler reaches temperature, we get to see the figure dance...and boy, does it dance! There may or may not be a fun little surprise toward the end of the video, but I refuse to say.
Fuller also shows some more traditional examples of dancing figures or "limberjacks" as they are sometimes called. He notes that the addition of a side-to-side motion really helps to improve the dancers motion. I think you'll agree. I love how one arm of his dancing figure is particularly animated, while the other moves just a little. This adds a lot of character to the motion.
Here are a few fun facts you might not know about Ron Fuller.
I promised more videos of my automata as well as some footage of the recent World Maker Faire New York 2012. Thanks to a visitor to my exhibit who took this video, I can show you both! This short clip shows me cranking one of my latest pieces which depicts a carnival sideshow scene titled Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur.
The automaton features Mekanikos (the world's strongest man according to the poster behind him) engaged in a struggle with a giant man-beast with horns. Turn the crank and the enraged Minotaur thrashes against the chains that bind him while Mekanikos uses his might to pull the monster back.
Below the stage another scene plays out. Clearly, there are two figures doing something, but what? And why? I'm going to leave those questions unanswered for now.
Each automaton I brought to Maker Faire had its admirers, but this one was undoubtedly the crowd favorite.
In the days to come, you can expect to see a far more detailed video of Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur.
This interesting automaton of a woman spinning wool is currently for sale on ebay. When the handle is turned, the spinning wheel spins. The female figure lifts her left arm, pulling the wool, as she turns her head from side to side.
The piece measures 1-1/4 inches wide by 2 inches long and a little over 4 inches high. While the seller is not certain of its provenance, a search on the internet revealed similar examples that were described as "French Prisoner of War creations", which were made from scraps of cow and pig bone. The prisoner of war notion certainly adds a lot of interest and backstory if true. The piece is possibly from the 1840s.
I love the small spur gear and the mating lantern pinion. I also love the shape of the handle as well as the pulley that drives the spinning wheel. The material, whatever it is, is interesting and looks like it machines or carves well. A fascinating piece of kinetic folk art.
