Vintage motorized salesman store display automaton with changing signs

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.

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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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Amazing Sisyphus LEGO kinetic sculpture

Check out this amazing LEGO sculpture posted on YouTube by JK Brickworks. The kinetic sculpture depicts the myth of Sisyphus, as he pushes the boulder endlessly. The motions are very well done and the attention to detail is truly impressive. We also get a nice long look at the insides and a description of the key components that make it work.

A tip of hat to Dave Johnson and his sculpture titled Sisyphus Testing Shoes may be in order. The two sculptures seem very similar. Of course, I don't know the full story; could this be a case of independent invention? At any rate, it's a brilliant example of artistry and ingenuity.

[ Thanks Martin! ]

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Photos and drawings of life-size Trumpeter automaton from 1810

Check out this fascinating trumpet-playing automaton that is featured on Cyberneticzoo.com. This life size clockwork-driven trumpeter was build by a German man named Freidrich Kaufmann in 1810.

Check out more photos, drawings and history in the full blog article located here.

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Dancing pirate automaton by Tim Donald

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!

Here is where you can see more automata by Tim Donald.

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BusyBody - pose and animate a little figure in minutes!

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!

Here is where you can get the BusyBody Quick Pose Animator.

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.

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"Topsy Curvy" automaton by Thomas Kuntz

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".

See more automata by Thomas Kuntz on his web site.

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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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Giant onboard robot arm places wheelchair into the back of a stationwagon

Apparently, this video has been around a while. Somehow, I haven't seen it. In it, you will see a very large robotic arm extend out the back of a Volkswagen Passat so that the driver can hand over his wheelchair. The arm then neatly folds back up, taking the wheelchair with it! Creative, powerful, useful; it's an incredible system.

The video description says that the arm wa installed by Kino Mobility of Toronto. Their web site now redirects to one called MV-1 Canada.

[ Thanks Christoph ]

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Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur carnival sideshow automaton featured on Boing Boing!

Recently, Mark Frauenfelder asked me to describe the process of making my automaton titled Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur.  My write up was featured on the illustrious Boing Boing site yesterday along with a video of the piece in action and several detailed photographs. I couldn't be more fortunate.

I won't repeat all that I said there because you can read the blog post on BoingBoing.net. I will add that I am very pleased with the final piece and that I'm happy to be offering it for sale to my existing customers and the public as a whole at long last.

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The Meditator - a mechanical cartoon by Tom Borromeo

Check out this very funny automaton by Tom Borromeo titled The Meditator.

See more Mechanical Cartoons by Tom Borromeo on his web site.

[ Thanks Dave! ]

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Tom Haney repairs a vintage window display "nodder" figure

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!

Here's where you can read about Tom Haney's repair of a vintage nodder figure.

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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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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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A collection of automata by a artist Steve Armstrong

Check out this beautiful selection of automata by artist Steve Armstrong represented by the Heike Pickett Gallery.

From the artist's statement:

I create kinetic constructions, often referred to as Automata. My themes are poetic and evocative, sometimes narrative, and almost always charged with personal symbolic content. My work is based in the human figure and realism. I simplify my forms. My inner voice dictates that the figures not be in too nonchalant or too candid a pose, and that the figures be posed in a formal manner, maybe contraposto, sometimes with formal hand gestures.

Here is a link to see more automata by Steve Armstrong.

Here is a link to a video profile of Steve Armstrong I posted back in 2009. It's really good.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Upcycled! A human-powered tree house elevator made from a bicycle and pulleys!

This human-powered elevator is cool on many levels. First of all, this guy needed an elevator for his tree house! That, in my opinion, is a good problem to have. Secondly, his solution is elegant and fun.

From the video description:

I have built a tree house (though it is not finished yet) that is nearly 30 feet up a tree. I got tired of climbing a ladder six and a half million times a day, so I made a bicycle powered elevator to solve this problem. Don't you wish you had one?

He's counter-weighted the bicycle on the pulley system so less power is required to raise and lower the rider. Next, he has threaded a thin cable that runs around the bike's back wheel and up a tube in front of the rider. When the bike is pedaled in the forward direction, the bike "rides" up the cable. The weight of the rider and bike, keep the back wheel tight against the cable. This means he can also used the hand-brake on the bike's back wheel when descending, as you will see in the video. This is a beautiful bit of engineering and I wouldn't be surprised to see it used elsewhere in the years to come.

Here's a link to a post about the bike elevator on the Colossal blog.

[ Thanks Christoph!]

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Graceful ballerina automaton by artist Colin Neu is powered by a Gramophone motor

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.

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Keith Newstead and Rob Higgs create two life-size clockwork men for the film 'The Best Offer'

What happens when you bring a well-known autoamton-artist like Keith Newstead together with a mechanical genius like artist Rob Higgs? Something like what you see in the video above happens, namely mechanical magic. Newstead has been featured here on The Automata Blog more times than I can count. Higgs has made a sensation of late with his giant wine bottle opening machine.

[ Thanks Phil! ]

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Video profile of automaton sculptor Jacques Monestier

Check out this wonderful film which profiles automaton sculptor Jacques Monestier. I'm sorry I can't say more about it; my French just isn't that good. Trust me, you will enjoy the film! His demonstration with the mechanical hand is truly amazing.

[ Thanks Thomas! ]

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Too Much Coffee - download and make this paper automaton

Need something to do on a cold February weekend? Why not head over to the web site of paper enginneer Rob Ives and download the entertaining paper automaton shown in the video?

Too Much Coffee is an paper animation kit that you can download and print out from your computer. To do this project you will need to have some thin card stock paper, scissors, and some Elmer's glue. A cutting board and an X-acto knife will also make things much easier. The Too Much Coffee kit comes with two files: a full set of illustrated, step-by-step instructions and a file containing all the parts that you will need to print, front and back on six sheets of card stock.

Here is where you can purchase and download the Too Much Coffee paper animation kit. If you think you may make more than a couple of these models, you might want to consider getting a membership to RobIves.com.

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