The Automata / Automaton Blog

Isis Impossible Titanium Puzzle

2009-11-12T06:46:00.002-05:00

Invented by a magician and manufactured from high-grade aluminum (not sure where the 'titanium' name comes from) the Isis puzzle is a mechanical puzzle with an interactive twist. Solving the physical...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Video profile of New Zealand automata maker

2009-11-11T06:30:00.002-05:00

Blair Somerville is an automata maker in New Zealand. Here is a nice video profile of him from a New Zealand news station. He really comes across like a warm, playful, and creative person. Here is...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Death+Resurrection: In the Chamber of Reflection

2009-11-10T06:23:00.001-05:00

Marvel at Thomas Kuntz's self-portrait based on a classic automata motif: the severed and restored head. The entire piece -- including the cams, levers, and actuating devices -- were hand-cut from...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Karakuri: Make Moving Mechanical Paper Models

2009-11-09T06:48:00.002-05:00

Here is a book on how to make paper automata by Keisuke Saka. From the book description: Detailed explanations, accompanied by diagrams, explain the physics behind how karakuri move and operate, so...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

The Complete Modern Blacksmith book

2009-11-08T11:52:00.005-05:00

I recently gave this book to a friend for his birthday. An anthology of three out-of-print books, this book is a great value. The book covers much of what you might expect from a book with this...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

5 ft tall wall-mounted rolling ball sculpture - 3 tracks

2009-11-07T09:57:00.003-05:00

Check out this large wall-mounted rolling ball track with three distinct courses for the balls to travel. Excellent work!

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Two Maillardet Automaton drawings on eBay

2009-11-06T12:00:00.003-05:00

I was recently contacted by a woman who found two drawings while going through her late mother's photos and keepsakes. As it turns out, they were penned by none other than Maillardet's Automaton, now...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

The White Series by artist Casey Curran

2009-11-05T08:59:00.003-05:00

Take a few minutes to soak in this new series of wire-based automata by artist Casey Curran. The 11 kinetic sculptures were created around the idea of cultural detritus serving as a basis for...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Large wooden spider automaton

2009-11-04T06:30:00.001-05:00

Check out this automaton of a spider by Tim Douglas. Crafted of oak and walnut, the automaton beautifully depicts the motions of a spider.

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Zombie Shooting Gallery mechanical toy

2009-11-03T06:16:00.001-05:00

This would have been better to post before Halloween, but it's still a great mechanical toy. A new spin on an old shooting gallery game. From the zombie shooting game description: Take aim with the...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Mini HoverDrone - the smallest flying R/C toy yet

2009-11-02T06:21:00.001-05:00

Take a look at this very small flying toy... From the toy description: With a diameter not much larger than a silver dollar and a single propeller on the bottom, the HoverDrone somehow manages to...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

"The Beholder" - creepy mechanical sculpture

2009-11-01T11:25:00.002-05:00

Check out the wonderfully unsettling effect of organic and robotic elements in this kinetic sculpture made with found objects by Nemo Gould. See more of Nemo Gould's work on his web site.

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Ingenious marble manipulating machine

2009-10-31T06:56:00.000-04:00

From the clever mind of Osamu Kanda: take a look at this hand cranked marble-moving machine. It looks as though the blocks on top can be reconfigured to cause the marbles to follow different...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

8 new sculptures from kinetic artist Nemo Gould

2009-10-30T06:34:00.002-04:00

Kinetic sculpture artist Nemo Gould has announced that he has 8 new sculptures to share on his website -- one of which is shown in the video above. Visit Nemo Gould's website to see his 8 new...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

'The Machine' - mechancial animation short film

2009-10-29T08:08:00.003-04:00

Check out the Machine, a stop motion animated film short from director Rob Shaw. The director informs me that the work was highly inspired by mechanical theatre. It shows! See more films by Rob Shaw...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Classic monsters paper automata series

2009-10-28T06:08:00.002-04:00

Just in time for Halloween, Flying Pig Paper Animation Kits has an entire series of paper automata featuring classic monsters. The series was designed by artist Ng Wing Him. The paper automata...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Skeleton Band Automaton by Wanda Sowry

2009-10-27T06:17:00.001-04:00

Check out this excellent new motorized donation box automaton by artist Wanda Sowry! See more automata by Wanda Sowry on her web site.

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Techno Gears Marble Mania Genius Set

2009-10-26T06:33:00.000-04:00

The new Genius edition of Marble Mania construction set includes 500 pieces of marble track components allowing you to build five independent tracks that all lead back to one of two marble lift...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Another nice wooden clock, this one frameless

2009-10-25T06:57:00.000-04:00

Here is interesting clock with a (mostly) wooden mechanism designed and built by Adrian Iredale. He says this design was inspired by Clayton Boyer. I am going to have to step up and make one of...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Gnome picture automaton from around 1890

2009-10-24T10:14:00.003-04:00

Here is a wall-mounted animated picture depicting a group of gnomes. The automaton was probably made by Schoenhut of Germany and dates back to before the turn of the century. It measures 35cm wide by...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Swiss singing bird music box clock automaton

2009-10-23T12:50:00.003-04:00

Here's an attractive, fairly recently made miniature singing bird music box by Swiss manufacturer Reuge. From the eBay listing: Offered for sale is a singing bird music box made in Switzerland by...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Sculpture and automata by Kelley C. Jones

2009-10-22T09:57:00.004-04:00

Check out the lively colors and distinctive characters created by artist Kelley C. Jones. From the artist's web site: "Kelley's 'idea explosion' are intricate, moving sculptures that are inspired...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

LEGO palette handling automation set up

2009-10-21T11:57:00.003-04:00

This nifty programmed LEGO contraption rotates two sets of blocks around a square track (similar to palettes in automated factory set ups) without mixing the them. [ Thanks Keith! ]

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

The automata of Sophie Catherine Naylor

2009-10-20T09:25:00.003-04:00

Here is a video of a creative automaton done by Sophie Catherine Naylor. She just graduated from Loughborough University having studied illustration and animation. She specialized in automata during...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.

Roullet & Decamps pipe-smoking automaton

2009-10-19T13:28:00.004-04:00

Automata that appeared to smoke were a common theme around the turn of the century. Here is a smoking automaton made by the famous firm of Roullet et Decamps. From the eBay listing: This ca. 1880...

The Automata / Automaton Blog is for people who find mechanical automata fascinating. You will find information about tools, techniques, automata artists, exhibits, and the history of automata.