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 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!
Check out this rare set of Baranger window display from 1953 featuring a newlywed couple in a flying saucer. Baranger Motion machines were animated mechanical store window displays made from 1925 to 1959* by the Baranger Company of South Pasadena, California. They were typically rented to jewelers and were changed on a monthly rotation.
Key Dates:
1920 - (approx.) Baranger Studios commenced operations.
1925 - A new building in South Pasadena was completed. The company supplied static window display material to Jewellery stores.
1936 - A disastrous fire ended production of static displays.
1937 - Motion displays were introduced (M-1 Bridal Ensemble).
1957 - The final motion is M-247 Sultan’s Wedding March. A total of 167 different motions were produced not 247 - 250 as is often reported.
1959 - Founder Arch. E. Baranger died in December. Mrs. Baranger continued to operate the business after her husband’s death but no new motions were created.
1960 - Robert Gerlach, who was the designer of the motions retired in January following the death of A. E. Baranger.
1977 - In March the company notified its customers that the motion display department was closing. Customers were offered the opportunity to purchase motions in their possession for $350 each.
1978 - The building and stock were bought by Burton A. Burton. John A. Daniel was put in charge of repairing motions and selling duplicates. He became a collector of them. 1986 Daniel sold his collection of 90 motions to Teruhisa Kitahara. Kitahara incorrectly states that more than 250 motions were produced but could only claim to have 101 different motions in his collection in 1988. John Daniel subsequently bought the remaining stock of motions from Burton A. Burton.
1993 - Daniel published a 60 minute VHS video showing 122 motions.
2001 - Daniel published a book showing images of all the motions plus a history of the business.
Got a small item you would like to show off in the most futuristic of ways? The Levitron Revolution makes levitating display objects possible! It can hold an object up to 13 ounces in mid-air and illuminates it from below(always dramatic) with 4 white accent LED spotlights. For the added sci-fi effect, the objects continuously revolve in space. Got any ideas? We would love to hear them!
Protected for years in its original shipping crate, this early 20th century window display advertises "Tiny Tabs Indigestion Tablets". The mechanical sign features a clockwork motor that allows the center body portion to spin and the ball on top to swing. When the swinging ball approaches the upright post on the left, the string gets caught. The ball is carried around the post, wrapping the string with it. The string then unwinds, freeing the ball, allowing it to swing again. I've seen a clock that uses a similar principle as a regulating pendulum.
From the eBay description:
Measuring 21" wide at the base by 29 1/4" tall to the top of the spinning wood balls, this early 20th century, Advertising Automaton advertises for "Tiny Tabs Indigestion Tablets." After some searching on the net I found that this product was made by the Peace Remedy Company, which was a small Brooklyn NY Company. There is very little on the net about this company never mind another advertising sign of any sort. The advertisement of a cartoon character, with a Tablet Body is very close to the "Speedy Alka Seltzer" character who came later.
The Victorian Model Workshop designs and builds original mechanical figures, automata, and animated displays for private collectors and commercial customers. Take a look at the video to see some of their marvelous creations.
This video features Lou Nasti. Based in Brooklyn, New York, he is the creator of mechanized animated figures and scenes for holiday window displays. He lists some of his clients in the video. Very impressive!
Here is a great antique window-shop display featuring cobblers busy at work. The maker is not listed in the eBay description, but we know that Schoenhut made moving-picture type automata and some of them specifically depicted shoe-maker's shops. One of these can be seen in Mary Hillier's book Automata and Mechanical Toys.
This one measures 19 inches wide by 13 inches high and it appears to work quite well. Here is a video of the automaton in action:
Here is a link to the eBay listing with many very detailed photographs (including the mechanism) of this cobbler shop automaton.
Artist Aaron Kramer was kind enough to share some video of the collection of Baranger animated window displays from The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Aaron Kramer on this video:
I first became aware of the Baranger displays at the House on the Rock in Spring Green Wisconsin. I shot this old video of several playing in 1997. ... I did not get much info on the inner workings of these. At the auction John Daniel was nice enough to open the back of one. The were all chain driven with cogs, shafts and linkages. Electric. In editions of 30 but some were repurposed over the years. At House on the Rock they have taken parts from some and re-made their own displays.
Baranger Motion machines were animated mechanical store window displays made from 1925 to 1959 by the Baranger Company of South Pasadena, California. They were typically rented to jewelers and were changed on a monthly rotation. The example above is currently available on ebay.
From the ebay listing:
Their appearance was toy-like, cartoonish, or Art Deco, and they featured simple, repetitive motions performed by the doll-like sculptures. No brand names or jeweller's names appeared on the displays; most of them pitched the generic idea of buying diamonds or watches. A typical motion showed technicians working on a "diamond reactor" with dials labelled "fire" and "sparkle," and a plaque noting that "Your diamond will appear much larger in one of our modern mountings." Many depicted couples courting or honeymooning, often in fanciful surroundings such as a Well Fargo stagecoach. Placards often suggested that a diamond could facilitate a favorable courtship outcome: "You will always be on the right road with one of our beautiful diamonds."
This large clockwork nodder automaton currently on ebay may have been made as a trade stimulator.
From the automaton description:
This large Papier-mâché / composition Automaton Clockwork Nodder. This well dressed gentleman is of a grand scale, being just under 19" tall from the top of his head to his heels in the sitting position (from the shelf to the top of his head he measures approximately 12" and is 9" wide at his knees). His most unique feature is his ability to sit on a shelf, table, or fireplace mantle while hanging his legs over the edge. The clockwork mechanism will run for over an hour on just one winding! The man's bottom has been made specifically to sit in the position that best allows the mechanism to function, and still allows for minor adjustment for best performance. The winding shaft is located just below his waist on his back. When wound, this plump gentleman will sit on your shelf and nod his head up and down, simultaneously raising and lowering his right arm as if waving his cane, all while sticking his tongue in and out repeatedly.
Here is a restored store-front attraction depicting a fortune teller. The automaton was made in Germany around 1900. For the last 40 years, it has been in the foyer of a mansion in Newport, RI.
From the eBay description:
The hands and arms move up and down in a lifting motion (for the picking up of display cards that were supplied by the renter of the automaton), along with the head nodding left to right. Another charming feature is the body articulating up and down. Additionally, the eyes move in unison, as though following you, and the mouth and lips purse as if it were speaking to you. All movements are synchronous and very smooth.
