Tiny Town diorama - 68 years in the making, entirely from found and recycled materials

Tiny Town was the creation of a man named Frank Moshinskie who worked on it for 68 years. The display depicts various places in America that Moshinskei visited. Over 20 states are represented. The tiny people were hand-carved by Moshinskeie. You get a brief look at the mechanism that powers it all -- also made from recycled objects -- around the 1:25 mark in the video posted above.

From an article on Tiny Town:

Frank wanted his Tiny Town to be busy, so 18 hidden motors power everything from the rivers to the oil pump jacks to the carousel and merry-go-round. Push-buttons at various spots allow visitors to make the tiny people move: people swim, swing, hammer and saw, rock in hammocks, hang up clothes. A family eats the same sandwiches they've been eating since 1963; the bread goes up and down to their mouths many times a minute.

The entire thing is made from found, recycled, and inexpensive objects. Nothing in Tiny Town cost more than $4.00. Items used include cat food cans, rotisserie motors, puzzle pieces, popsicle sticks, sawdust, record player parts, and anything else you can imagine.

You can still visit Tiny Town in Hot Springs, Arkansas where his son Charles has continued to display it as a tribute to his father's creativity.

Here is the full article on Tiny Town from RoadsideAmerica.com.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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The Incredible Dancing Santa automaton by Tim Donald

Tim Donald was born and raised in the beautiful countryside of the Welsh Marches, where he still lives. After studying art in college, and spending time working as an undertaker, Tim turned his love of making things into a career as a professional artist.

There appears to be a strong tradition among automaton-makers to make automata featuring Santa Claus. Tim Donald has contributed to this fine tradition with this lively automaton inspired by a traditional Folk Art design.

This dancing Santa is both hand-carved and painted. When the handle is turned the figure jumps, dances, kicks his legs, and swings his arms -- all in front of a hand-painted sign reading 'The Incredible Dancing Santa'.

Here is where you can get the Dancing Santa automaton and other kinetic work by Tim Donald.

If you have a mind to make something like this of your own, you can find designs for many dancing figures in Rodney Frost's books Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood and Making Whirligigs, Whimsies, & Folk Toys. Full-size schematics and drawings, and detailed written instructions, guide woodwokers through the process building, carving, and assembling a variety of animated wooden projects.

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Reader submission: Automaton of stork delivering a baby

I haven't posted a reader submission in far too long! For July 4th 2012, let's celebrate the birth of The United States with this lovely piece. The automaton shown here, depicting a stork delivering a baby, was made by one of our readers to celebrate the birth of his niece in February of this year. It is his first automaton. It turned out very well! If it was a gift, I am certain the new parents are delighted.

Dave didn't tell me if he referenced any books to make this piece, but here is a very short list of recommended books about automata-making. There is also a longer list of automata and mechanical reference books in the resources section of my web site.

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Woodworking show episode about making whiriligs

Head on over to the PBS web site to see a full half-hour episode of The Woodwright's Shop that shows you how to make wind-powered whirligigs!

Here's a link to the Woodwright's Shop episode on whirligig construction.

[ Thanks Charles! ]

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Knife-grinder whirligig discovered inside of a wall

Here is a lovely piece of mechanical folk now housed at the American Folk Art Museum. The piece has a remarkable history. It probably dates to around 1875. At some point in the early twentieth century, it was stashed inside the plaster wall of a house. When the house was renovated years later, the piece was rediscovered. Some unknown person left a little treasure for later generations! Thank you whoever you are.

More about the knife-grinder:

Knife grinders such as the gentleman depicted here were a common sight in urban areas and larger towns in the nineteenth century, at a time when tradesmen and vendors plied the streets in search of business. By mounting a grinding stone on a handmade cart, knife grinders could offer a convenient service to customers, particularly in residential neighborhoods where the periodic sharpening of blades used in the home and garden was best accomplished on a large wheel.

The large wheel has a number of interior vanes that allowed the wind to power the piece, moving the man's leg as if he were treading the wheel to sharpen the knife.

Here is where you can learn more about the knife-grinder whirligig.

[ Thanks Eric! ]

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Book: How to Make Whirligigs & Folkcraft Objects

I haven't stumbled upon this whirligig book before; I'm not sure why -- maybe because it seems to be out of print. The one review on Amazon is glowing. The book can be found used at a very reasonable price.

From an Amazon review:

The book is a treasure trove of ideas, examples, information and entertainment all centered around crafts and skills that have nearly vanished from our cultural landscape. I was looking for a few whirly gig plans and found so much more in the narrative examples and instructions that ranged from making animals out of pine cones, to traditional quilting methods! An added bonus lies in the amazing illustrations that accompany each item that are, by themselves, beautiful works of art. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American folk craft, toy making, history or just an appreciation of an entertaining read.

Here's where you can get a used How to Make Whirligigs and Whimmy Diddles and Other American Folkcraft Objects.

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Book: The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction

Here's a book with 12 different whirligig projects with a lot of good general information on making moving things from wood and metal.

From the book description:

Over 50 color photos, 80 patterns and mechanical drawings, with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions, reveal all the reader must know to successfully create twelve original whirligig projects made from wood and/or metal, including imaginative, original designs that all will enjoy. Each project has been designed, built, and tested by the author to ensure success. The detailed text provides tips for simplifying layout and construction techniques, the proper use of bearings and balance to spin whirligigs in minimal wind, along with practical woodworking, metalworking, and decorating techniques.

Here's a link to the book The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction.

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BlueBell Folk Art Gallery featuring wood automata

Michael and Marlene Forte create one-of-a-kind wood and fabric folk art -- mostly featuring animals -- from their studio in rural Vermont. They also have a few automata on display in their online gallery.

Here is a link to the BlueBell Folk Art Gallery page with wood automata.

[ Thanks philsing! ]

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