Super-small 12 cylinder engine may be the smallest in the world!

With close to six million views on YouTube, this video doesn't fall into the "undiscovered" category. Nevertheless, it falls into the crazy-amazing-miniature-machine category.

This incredibly small motor is the work of a Spanish engineer named Patelo. 1200 hours went into designing and fabricating one of the world's smallest V12 engines. The video shows the assembly process and culminates in the motor running on compressed air. This is some very fine miniature machining, indeed.

It's Monday; let this inspire you to make all that you can of the coming week. Enjoy!

[ Thanks John! ]

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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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Clever interactive street art makes people look like marionettes controlled by giant hands

I posted a few days about Toc de Fusta's interactive street installation in Catalan city of Verdú. Recently, another group in the area known as Itinerania also did an installation of interactive kinetic art called Titeretú.

The installation consists of five giant hands. An audience member uses the controls attached to one of the hands to play a small mechanical game mounted to the hand's platform. Meanwhile, the giant hand above moves as if controlling the person like a marionette. The clever installation forces us to question who is controlling who. Is the hand controlling the person? Is the person controlling the game? Is the game, ultimately, controlling the hand? It all depends on your point of view. [ Thanks Alfred ]

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Toc de Fusta hosts an interactive street installation with large-scale automata, puzzles & games

I recently heard from Albert, Laura and Alfred of Toc de Fusta. They recorded a video of their lastest project -- an interactive street installation with large-scale automata, puzzles, and games for all ages. The video was filmed at 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.

It looks like it was a lot of fun. The children's faces tell the story. I wish I could have been there!

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Audio story about 400 year old monk automaton

Here is an audio program from NPR's fascinating program, Radiolab. This 20 minute episode tells the tale of a 400 year old monk automaton. The figure is made of wood and iron, stands 15 inches in high, and is powered by a wound spring. When activated, the monk walks, hits his chest with his right arm, moves the wooden cross in his left hand, nods his head, rolls his eyes, and moves his mouth as if in prayer.

The first remarkable thing about this monk automaton is that it is still in working order at the Smithsonian Institution. The second remarkable thing is the sequence of events that led to its creation. To learn more about this, you can listen to the audio clip embedded above, or follow the link below for a lengthy paper on the subject. Both are excellent.

Here is a link to an article on the automaton by Elizabeth King titled Clockwork Prayer: A Sixteenth-Century Mechanical Monk

[ Thanks Michelle! ]

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Necromancer automaton by Oscar Dorian

The latest automaton by Oscar Dorian features a nigromante (necromancer) practicing the dark branch of magic in which he summons the dead -- presumably to divine the future. The detail on the piece is absolutely wonderful. I admire his bold use of actual fire too!

See more work by Oscar Dorian on his web site.

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Reader Submission: Peru's 2nd birthday automaton

Automata / Automaton Blog reader Arri in Madrid, Spain made this charming automaton for his son Peru's second birthday.

From Arri's description:

It is made of wine-box wood, a piece of wood for the "2" found on the street and a small "pianola" that plays the happy birthday song. I love the chaotic movement of the "2", it's like my son.

What an awesome gift! I'm sure Peru was delighted.

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Cabaret Mechanical Theatre's exhibition in Spain

Here is a video with a few highlights from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre's exhibition at El Parque de Las Ciencias in Granada, Spain -- including work from Russian theater company Sharmanka. I wish I could be there to see it in person!

Here is where you can learn more about the amazing Cabaret Mechanical Theatre.

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Cabaret Mechanical Movement in Spanish!

The good folks over at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre have recently shared some great news: their seminal book Cabaret Mechanical Movement is now also available in Spanish.

From the book description:

El libro 'Cabaret Mechanical Movement' (Version Español). 'Autómatas. Arte y Mecánica'es traducción y una adaptación del Parque de las Ciencias en Granada, España.

Del movimiento y de cómo fabricar Autómatas.

El libro incluye una buena parte de teorí a y también proporciona consejos prácticos e ideas para crear tus propios autómatas, mover juguetes o esculturas mecánicas.

pp.124

Here is where you can order copies of Autómatas. Arte y Mecánica.

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Automatons: Museu de Joguets i Autòmats

The Museum of Toys and Automata (Museu de Joguets i Autòmats) is located in the town of Verdú, outside of Barcelona.

The museum's collection is composed of over 1000 pieces and features many vintage automata. Most of the automata were manufactured in France during the last decades of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

This video clip features some of the pieces in the collection...and the song is really good!

Here is a link to Museu de Joguets i Autòmats.

Homage to Dug North's Machini Automata

I am pleased to present to you one of the first duplications of a Dug North Automaton original design.

I am truly flattered that my original Machini The Marvel performing the Transmutative Hat has been recreated by a talented special-effects artist named Dorian based in Madrid, Spain. He has made some modifications -- four objects rather than six and a cloth coat. Check out all the details he has added. I like the addition of the back wall to set the scene.

Visit Dorian's Blog to see other photos of the piece he as titled Automata Transmutador. Pretty cool!