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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Profile of Anthony Howe and his large metal kinetic sculptures

Check out this beautiful short video profile of artist Anthony Howe. Formerly a painter, Howe has turned his considerable artistic skill toward making large kinetic sculptures powered by the wind. They are at once somewhat alien and strangely familiar -- like jellyfish from outer space cast in metal.

Here is where you can see more kinetic sculptures by Anthony Howe.

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Adam Savage assembles a kit showing you how to create your own Theo Jansen Strandbeest in miniature

I've posted several times about the wonderful mind and creations of Theo Jansen. He's the guy who builds huge PVC creatures that are meant to roam freely around the beaches, powered only by wind. Here is a nice look at a small kit that replicates one of his 'Strandbeests' in miniature. I've seen this kit around the internet, but this video REALLY shows what putting it together would be like. And, the demo is done by legendary MythBuster Adam Savage no less!

From the product description:

The fantastic Theo Jansen is world-renowned for his creations consisting of PVC pipes, wood, and various plastics. The resulting concoctions spring to life with the slightest breeze and walks the earth on hundreds of tiny feet all on its own. A beautiful amalgamation of art and engineering, these Strandbeest vary in size ranging from the size of small animals to behemoths of incredible proportion. Regardless of size, they all maintain baffling intricacies that make them seem alive.

Powered by wind alone, the completed kit does not require batteries, though it may be fun to motorize it too. The kit comes with a 28-page science and history guide as well as fully illustrated assembly instructions.

Here is where you can order your very own Strandbeest Kit.

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Renewable by Paul Spooner depicts three wind power generators in action

Here is a new piece by automata legend, Paul Spooner. This one depicts three wind turbines atop small green hills. Titled simply Renewable, the piece is made of pine, lime, alder, aluminum, steel, nylon, brass, bronze, acrylic paint.

True to form, Spooner uses an ingenious mechanism to turn the blades of the windmills. Pulleys, of course, right? Oh, no. Take a good look at the shaft on the side of box moving in and out. That's a clue as to what's going on inside.

Paul Spooner on the details of the mechanism:

This piece employs the well-known Sliding Block mechanism to link the movement of the driving handle to all three turbines. The action is not particularly smooth, in fact it’s downright jerky because of the lack of balance in the turbine blades and the 3 x 352 degrees of lost motion in the transmission.

I adore Spooner's signature dovetail joints which hold the mechanism box together.

Here is where you can read more about (or purchase) the automaton titled Renewable by Paul Spooner.

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Mesmerizing large-scale kinetic sculptures by Lyman Whitaker

Here is a video compilation of wind sculptures in motion. The pieces were created by Lyman Whitaker. Based in southwest Utah, Whitaker has been a working sculptor for more than 40 years and is known for his kinetic sculptures. The tall, flowing geometric forms of Whitaker' sculptures stand out among the natural surroundings in which they are often placed. This is no accident.

From the artist's web site:

By placing the sculptures in settings dependent on natural elements for movement, opportunities are provided for participants to think about their surroundings. Lyman's sculptures are organic and natural like vegetation and are enjoyed best in interactive settings where they are viewed over time.

Whitaker's sculptures range in height from 5 to 27 feet tall and are fabricated from copper, steel and stainless steel. Weathered patinas provide the color pallet -- rust, brown, tan and green. Here is piece is a dramatic shot of 19 kinteic sculptures Whitaker installed for the Burning Man festival, in Black Rock City, Nevada in 2011:

Learn more about the artist and see more kinetic sculptures by Lyman Whitaker on his web site.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Six of the most unconventional whirligigs you will EVER see

Here are six unusual whirligigs that were in exhibited in museums in New York, Baltimore and elsewhere. These delightful wind-driven pieces were created by retired surgeon, Ben Thal. Thal has made around 60 complex whirligigs in the last 10 years, devoting four to six weeks for the drafting, carving, painting and assembling of each one.

The Seattle Times did a nice write up of Ben Thal back in 1997. We learn a lot of interesting things about him such as the fact that he does the carving for his whirligigs actual surgical scalpels and that his condo has also been turned into something of a whirligig factory. Read the full article titled Spin Doctor -- Former Surgeon Ben Thal Builds Humor Into His Witty, Whimsical Whirligigs for more details on this fascinating man.

See more amazing whirligigs by Ben Thal on his YouTube Channel.

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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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Wooden machine that mimics grass in the wind

This kinetic sculpture, built by David Bynoe, is meant to look like a field of wheat blowing in the wind. It consists of 40 wooden poles, each about 6 foot high, that are connected up via a system of ropes to a pair of large motorized cams. The two cam turns at slightly different speeds, so it takes about 14 minutes for the machine to complete a full cycle. It's a lovely effect that shows how complicated it can be to reproduce organic motion and the beauty found in nature.

This kinetic sculpture is at the Truck Gallery in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.The show runs from June 3rd-30th 2011.

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Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects online

If you have ever wondered what you might find in the book Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects By Anders S. Lunde, you are in for a treat. A 'limited preview' of the book is now available online. When you've accessed the maximum number of pages allowed for the book, the remaining pages will be omitted from your preview. You can order full copies digital edition of the book on Google eBooks. If you really like it, you can always order your own hard copy of the book.

Here's a link to the full-size eBook Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects.

[ Thanks Charles! ]

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Build a mini wind-powered Theo Jansen beast

If you are into the amazing mechanical life-forms created by artist Theo Jansen, then you'll be excited to learn about Gakken's Otona no Kagaku Kit #30. Called the Animaris Ordis Parvus, the kit is a tiny version of one of Jansen's huge wind-powered beach-walking creatures.

Here is one review of the Gakken's Otona no Kagaku Kit #30.
Here is a second review of Gakken's Otona no Kagaku Kit #30.

[ Found via this post at MAKE ]

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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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Renewable energy racers use 3 power sources

These little remote controlled cars can be powered by three different energy sources: a a miniature windmill, a solar panel, or a hydrogen fuel cell. That's a cool way to learn about renewable energy sources. At the moment, these are 33% off, making them $60 USD for the three cars, three remotes, and three charging stations.

From the product description:

The wind and solar stations provide up to 20 minutes of racing time from a 10-30 minute charge, depending on wind speed and brightness of the sun; the hydrogen fuel cell provides five minutes of run time from a three-minute charge. The simple remote has left/right and forward/reverse controls, a 10' range, and can be used to charge the cars in one minute when time or natural resources prove scarce.

Here's where you can get the Renewable Energy Racers Set.

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Whirligigs for Woodcarvers: bring carvings to life

Here's a new...um...spin...on whirligig books. Often the figures on whirligigs are somewhat flat and tend to rely on paint for detail. This book looks like a remedy for that situation; it is specifically written for woodcarvers. It also looks like a very comprehensive treatment of the subject in general!

From the book description:

Full size patterns for making a knight, dragon, eagle, boxer and soldier whirligig; Numerous photos and illustrations for visualizing whirligig features and function; Woodcarving tips and techniques for beginner and intermediate carvers; Lists of all the tools and supplies necessary for woodcarving and whirligig construction. Plus this useful guidance for whirligig artists and craftsmen: The secrets for designing your own original whirligigs that will work right the first time; Sources of supplies for all necessary tools and materials; Troubleshooting tips for uncooperative whirligigs; Creative ideas for design, construction, carving and mounting whirligigs.

Well, I'm sold. Adding it to my wishlist now!

Here's where you can get Whirligigs for Woodcarvers

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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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Green Science Windmill Generator by Toysmith

I am pleased by the fact that many of the newer mechanical toys have "green" theme. Take this small scale wind generator. The Windmill Generator has a gear motor (which serves as a generator) and 6 inch propeller with a tail. After a bit of assembly you can watch the wind light up its LED bulbs.

From the product description:

How is energy produced by using windmills? Build this amazing wind generator and learn about renewable energy/ "green energy". Watch the LED glow as it is powered by free energy from the wind. No batteries required! Help save the planet by using a recycled plastic bottle to support your wind generator. Ages 8+

Here is the link to the Green Science Windmill Generator

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Plans for mechanical flying goose on radiator cap

The folks over at the always interesting Modern Mechanix Blog recently posted this great set of plans for an animated mechanical hood ornament originally published in 1932. Like a reverse-whirligig, the air speeding past the car's hood powers the motions of this mechanical bird.

From the original article:

While your car is standing still this wild goose isn't so wild. He perches sedately upon the radiator cap surveying the world with a glassy eye. But as soon as you start up and shift into high he flattens out his tail, stretches his neck forward and begins to flap his wings as if he were going somewhere, and going there in a hurry.

The article has been converted in to text and scanned as three large images -- everything you should need to make this project yourself.

Here's the article on the Mechanical Flying Goose Decorates Radiator Cap.

[ Thanks deanS! ]

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Thames & Kosmos wind power experiment kit

Here is a cool mechanical model you assemble to make a wind turbine with a small electric generator.

It comes with a 32-page manual that walks you through how to conduct more than 20 experiments -- including ones using different numbers of rotor blades, different blade angles and profiles, different wind speeds, different gear ratios, lifting a weight, lighting up an LED, and charging a rechargeable battery.

Here's the product page for the Thames & Kosmos Wind Power wind power experiment kit

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Theo Jansen: The art of creating creatures

While we are on the subject of my new heroes (see yesterday's post about Clayton Boyer), I just saw video from one of the TED Talks featuring Theo Jansen. I misunderstood the scale, scope, and beauty of his vision. While I may still not know all of it, this video has given me a much greater appreciation for his attempt to create large-scale mechanical life-forms that roam wind-swept beaches. Truly an impressive vision and monumental feat.

[ Thanks S.C.! ]

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Is there a site that focuses on documenting toys?

A reader of The Automata / Automaton Blog recently wrote to me about a neat little motorized toy he has. He also posed a question.

Reader John Grabowski writes:

Last Christmas, my mom gave me a wind-up tin toy Santa that they got a couple of years before I was born (circa early '60s). I have always loved this wind-up Santa, so I searched the web to try and find out more about him or see similar pieces. I didn't find any like him anywhere though. This year, I got him working really smoothly again, so I filmed a video of him doing his thing. That way, I figured anyone into this sort of stuff would get a chance to see him. Do you know of any site that focuses on displaying and documenting toys (rather than simply selling them)?

I don't have an answer myself. How about the rest of you out there? Do you know of a site like the the one John asks about? If so, post a comment here. Thanks! -Dug North

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