Just in case you were wondering what you could get me for Christmas, and my birthday.
I went to a lecture about Automata at the Observatory in Brooklyn recently, and the lecturer brought in a stripped down whistling bird automaton. I have always been obsessed with them, and after I was able to examine it's inner workings I have been looking into building my own. I found this while doing some research. DAMN! Enjoy!
Thanks Neatorama!
My friend Ryan Dillon alerted me to this documentary on Hulu. The Rock-afire Explosion was the original animatronic animal band for Showbiz Pizza before it was replaced with Chuck E. Cheese.
And here they are in a MGMT video!
MGMT 'Electric Feel' Rockafire Explosion Clip from Joel on Vimeo.
More automatons! This one is from the 19th Century. If you are wondering what she is doing, she used to hold a harp.
Thanks io9!
Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO Brooklyn is host to THE MACHINES PROJECT: GUIDONIAN HAND, ONI BUCHANAN, DUO ORFEO, AND ARTHUR GANSON. on Friday, April 22.
From the Galapagos website:
As Ganson’s sculptures and films ratchet along through the night on stage, screen and ghostly shadows, a full program of mysterious works from the recent past and brand new compositions of the uncertain present will be performed by this incredible and diverse lineup of musicians.
Ganson is a modern automaton maker. I love everything he makes. Enjoy!
And watch him make his own gears! Genious! What kind of welder is that?
More here!
I came across a great piece on automatons which featured a Euphonia. I have never heard of this. The Euphonia Speaking Machine, invented by Joseph Faber.
Joseph Faber’s "Euphonia" was both a response to the telegraph and a remediation of it. He imagined a telegraph that could speak, leading him to construct a model of the human speech organs. Faber studied language and human vocal anatomy in order to break them down into parts and then reorganize them mechanically. The Euphonia operated by “By pumping air with the bellows and using different combinations of 16 keys to manipulate a series of plates, chambers, and other apparatus including an artificial tongue (Levy 29).” The false head black boxes and masks the mechanics of the vocal process
I can find no video or audio of one. Maybe I'll make one.
Puppeteered taxidermy? Evil frog gremlins? Andy Devine?! This would have been my favorite kids show were I old enough.
What did they do to that cat to get it to just sit there and not chase the little fur meal spinning in enticing circle.?I need to give it to one or more of my cats.
The show existed from 1951 to 1960 to pitch Buster Brown Shoes. I guess it's better than sugared cereal. My research tells me Froggy was created by "Smillin'" Ed McConnell, the show's original host and creator, but I have no idea who built the stuff, or puppeteered it. Anyone else know?
"Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy"?!?!?!? Man, they got away with EVERYTHING!
Thanks Craig!
This is amazing! It satisfies my love for puppets and pop-up. The pattern is sold by a website called easycutpopup. They call it a "Bunraku Finger-key Puppet" and offer a couple of designs, including an Obama puppet. Now I know what I'll be doing in stead of taxes!
Here is the Samurai in action.
My wife bought me this at the Brooklyn Flee this weekend! It brought me such joy that I had to share it.
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The Famous Marx "Merrymaker". As you can see it is in near perfect condition. I love my wife! I am a very lucky man.
Here's the ad for it in the 1931 Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog.
Yes, the "catalog author" misstakes the conductor mouse for a violin player. How disrespectful!
This is the closest thing I have come across to a mass produced mechanical automaton, made in NYC no less! Remember when people manufactured things in New York City?
The song is Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" performed by the Beau Hunks. It seemed appropriate.
Doug North, Automata Maker
Enjoy some great automata action from Doug North!
More about him here!
Thanks Paul Spirito!