Wooden Heirloom Automata:
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Each of the following automatons are individually handmade to order in Seattle, Washington. Each are hand carved from wood with brass & steel parts and painted with an historically formulated milk paint.
To enquire about pricing and completion time:
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Singing Bird
The Singing Bird is my version on an old-world theme. The Bird has six movements and sings a simple bird song. It features a wooden worm gear that operates a star gear and eight cams. Each cam operates a lever that controls one of the bird's movements and its song. The song is created from leather bellows that blow air through a brass whistle who's pitch is varied by a plunger operated by its own lever and cam.
The Singing Bird measures: 6-1/2" wide x 6-1/2" deep x 24" high. The stand is teak, the exposed mechanism cherry, and the bird and base are milk-painted basswood. The branch is paper mache with water colored, rice paper leaves. Glass eyes, brass & steel pins and screws.
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Singing Bird on Wall
The Singing Bird on Wall is directly fastened to the wall. The mechanism is at waist height and the bird just above eye level. It has seven movements and sings a simple bird song. A wooden worm gear operates a star gear and nine cams. Each cam operates a lever and cables pull each one of the bird's movements. The song is created from leather bellows that blow air through a brass whistle who's pitch is varied by a plunger operated by its own lever and cam.
Because this piece needs to be installed & adjusted rather than simply shipped, I am reluctant to sell it outside the Seattle, or Western Washington region where I can personally oversee its installation.
The mechanism measures: 6-1/2" wide x 7-1/2" deep x 12-1/2" high. The bird with perch is approx. 6" high. The mechanism's frame is pine with an ebony handle, the moving parts are maple with brass & steel pins, straps and hardware. The bird is milk-painted maple & basswood with glass eyes and brass & steel pins & screws.
The Singing Bird on Wall is directly fastened to the wall. The mechanism is at waist height and the bird just above eye level. It has seven movements and sings a simple bird song. A wooden worm gear operates a star gear and nine cams. Each cam operates a lever and cables pull each one of the bird's movements. The song is created from leather bellows that blow air through a brass whistle who's pitch is varied by a plunger operated by its own lever and cam.
Because this piece needs to be installed & adjusted rather than simply shipped, I am reluctant to sell it outside the Seattle, or Western Washington region where I can personally oversee its installation.
The mechanism measures: 6-1/2" wide x 7-1/2" deep x 12-1/2" high. The bird with perch is approx. 6" high. The mechanism's frame is pine with an ebony handle, the moving parts are maple with brass & steel pins, straps and hardware. The bird is milk-painted maple & basswood with glass eyes and brass & steel pins & screws.
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Butterflies
The butterfly's wings flap loosely. The Crank operates a geared-up piston that shakes them rapidly up & down making the wings flutter. A second gear turns both butterflies.
The Butterflies measures: 6" wide x 6" deep x 27" high, the base is 9" high. The stand is pine and the mechanical parts are maple with brass & steel hardware. The base's top and butterfly's bodies are milk-painted basswood. The wings are steel & brass with water-colored kozo paper.
The butterfly's wings flap loosely. The Crank operates a geared-up piston that shakes them rapidly up & down making the wings flutter. A second gear turns both butterflies.
The Butterflies measures: 6" wide x 6" deep x 27" high, the base is 9" high. The stand is pine and the mechanical parts are maple with brass & steel hardware. The base's top and butterfly's bodies are milk-painted basswood. The wings are steel & brass with water-colored kozo paper.
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Dragonfly
When cranked, the large gear brings the flywheel up to speed. A smaller gear, an offset shaft, and two rods rapidly push & pull the wings up & down in opposite directions. When the crank is let go, the gears uncouple allowing the momentum of the flywheel to continue driving the Dragonfly's wings for a few minutes.
The Dragonfly measures: 5" wide x 5" deep x 28" tall, the base is 10" high. The flywheel is concrete. The stand is teak, the mechanical parts are cherry & maple, and the base's top & dragonfly's body are milk-painted basswood. The wings are stainless steel & brass soldered and coated with thick shellac (a resin secreted by the female lac bug). The smaller lines are oil paint rubbed into the cracks of a clear crackle medium.
When cranked, the large gear brings the flywheel up to speed. A smaller gear, an offset shaft, and two rods rapidly push & pull the wings up & down in opposite directions. When the crank is let go, the gears uncouple allowing the momentum of the flywheel to continue driving the Dragonfly's wings for a few minutes.
The Dragonfly measures: 5" wide x 5" deep x 28" tall, the base is 10" high. The flywheel is concrete. The stand is teak, the mechanical parts are cherry & maple, and the base's top & dragonfly's body are milk-painted basswood. The wings are stainless steel & brass soldered and coated with thick shellac (a resin secreted by the female lac bug). The smaller lines are oil paint rubbed into the cracks of a clear crackle medium.
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Chirping Bird
The Chirping Bird is a simpler version of the Singing Bird. When cranked, the Bird's tail flips as it stands up, its throat moving as it chirps. The sound is produced by miniature bellows that blow air through a small brass whistle.
The Chirping Bird measures: 7" wide x 3-1/2" deep x 8" high. The stand and mechanism are made from madrone. The bird and base are milk-painted basswood. Leather bellows, brass and steel pins and screws.
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Crow
The Crow has the feel of an early american toy. When cranked, the Crow stands up, raises his head and caws twice. The bellows blow air through a wooden "crow call".
The Crow measures: 6-1/2" wide x 6-1/2" deep x 17" high. The stand is teak, the mechanical parts cherry and the Crow is milk-painted basswood. Leather bellows, brass & steel pins and screws.
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Chicken Head
When cranked, the Chicken's Head snaps back and forth, comb & wattles moving behind.
The Chicken Head measures: 4-3/4" wide x 4-3/4" deep x 18" high. The base is pine with maple gears and levers. The head is milk-painted paper mache. The pole and handle are brass, with brass washers, steel pins & screws.
When cranked, the Chicken's Head snaps back and forth, comb & wattles moving behind.
The Chicken Head measures: 4-3/4" wide x 4-3/4" deep x 18" high. The base is pine with maple gears and levers. The head is milk-painted paper mache. The pole and handle are brass, with brass washers, steel pins & screws.
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