Help with automata please

[xy mosian]

Hi All,
I am beginning to develop an interest in Automata, animated models often powered by hand. Having trawled the web I find that I would like more places to research. Not 'How To's' more 'This is how I got around problems', or even a forum or two. The places I have found so far are:-

http://www.craft2eu.net/index.php?id=336&L=1
http://www.fi.edu/pieces/knox/automaton/home.htm
http://www.wandasowry.co.uk/
http://janzalud.tripod.com/index.htm
http://web.mac.com/plowndes/Contemporar ... Index.html

That last site of Philip Lownes is really very good but I would like to see more.
The question, do any of you happen to have an interest in Automata? Could you offer any information to extend my meagre research?

Thanks in advance.

xy

 

[BMac]

YouTube has loads of videos. I am very interested in this area too so thanks for posting those links.

Brendan.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I assume you are aware of the Automata museum in York?
Just checking
S

 

[xy mosian]

Hi BMac, yes UTube is good for seeing results, and being put off, I'm looking for more 'in the workings stuff'. Nice to hear of someone with a similar interest Back to trawling through Philip Lownes blog for now.

Steve, Thanks, Yes I had heard of the Automata Museum in York. Sadly it is permanently closed. Sold to the Japanese I believe. Heh Ho

xy

 

[AndyT]

Shame about the York museum. An old mate used to build automata and I remember how thrilled he was to get some of his pieces put on show there.

Remembering that there used to be a permanent exhibition in Covent Garden, I found this site:

http://www.cabaret.co.uk/

Nothing on display in London any more as far as I can see, but the site is huge, with links to loads of contemporary makers - Tim Hunkin, Paul Spooner, and many more.

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Andy, By you've given me something to look at, thanks: I think . Seriously I missed that one thanks again. Tim Hunkin that's a name from the past, he used to do a 'Secret life of ... ' cartoon strip in one of the Sundays.

xy

 

[adidat]

the place in lower covent garden was great, as mentioned above it was called cabaret. one thing i remember well was a wooden bar man that would make a pouring motion over a glass then slide the glass to you at the other end of the bar.

all for 20p

adidat

 

[xy mosian]

adidat, was that coin operated, that is by the weight of the coin? Or perhaps a coin operated electric switch? I can see this whole thing taxing my brain, not only ways to make automata work but different ways to shape wood.

xy

 

[RogerS]

Not sure if it's classed as automata but did you see that beach contraption on Wallace and Grommit? Or Festo's flying penguins or manta ray? Some brilliant engineering concepts.

 

[adidat]

no this one was a full size bartender so electric motors where involved, must have been 8 years ago, but i remember it now. the whole hand and fingers where made of wood and they all moved. the figure had a dinner jacket on i think with a wooden torso.

adidat

 

[xy mosian]

Roger, I missed the Wallace and Grommit, but of those you mention I have seen the flying penguins before. So beautiful! I almost don't want to know anything about how, or why, they work. It would spoil the effect somehow. There are some brilliant engineers about, long may it continue.

Adidat. I hadn't realised the size of your bartender. At full size it would need to be motor driven. I cannot get over the dedication required to see something like that through from start to finish. Whether all the problems are roughly sorted before starting, or whether they are sorted as they turn up.

As a little aside, I have been staggered by the puppets used in the 'War Horse' stage show. Brilliant. Now how to automate?

xy

 

[RogerS]

xy here's the link to my favourite 'the strandbeest/ by Theo Jansen...

http://www.hotsvideos.com/video/290/BMW ... c-Sculptor

and a link to the BBC clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bzj33

He has developed them to the stage where they can detect (no electronics!) if they move into water and can retrace or change direction.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Two of the most beautiful I have ever seen were in a ballet-dancer's house somewhere in London. I can't remember why I was there (!) but these automata were corner mounted. One was a lion and tamer. As you wound the handle, the tail waved menacingly, the lion opened his mouth and the tamer put his head inside. Then the lion snapped his mouth shut but the tamer got out just in time. It was wonderful. About 20" high, I'd say.

The other was a music hall scene. Can-can dancer on stage with a leg that twirled and boobs that bounced up and down. In the orchestra pit the conductor conducted, the trombonist tromboned and the violinist violined and one of them had eyes that moved in and out in time with the afore-mentioned boobs. Great fun.

If you are ever in the East Midlands there is a maker at Staunton Harold. At least, there used to be, it's years since I went.

S

 

[xy mosian]

Steve, thanks for the information. As for the automata you've seen. They sound fascinating.
Can can dancer? Obviously not just the mind that boggles. :lol:
xy

 

[wills-mill]

Robert Race does a fantastic course at West Dean College that I did as a bit of a summer holdiay some years back. One of the key things is to allow for some slop and movement in the jointing of your figures, this gives a slightly random and natural movement, rather than a very regimented and mechanical action.

http://www.robertrace.co.uk/

 

[xy mosian]

Wills, "One of the key things is to allow for some slop and movement in the jointing of your figures", can't see that being a problem for me What a good excuse for not beating myself up over poor joints etc. Thanks for the link, it is interesting to see someone using unusual art in automata.

xy