18th September 2007
Automata & Mechanical Toys
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Automata video clips ~ Jacques de Vaucanson
In 1738-9 the legendary creator of automata, Vaucanson created the amazing mechanical duck for which he has been remembered for nearly 300 years. At this time it was almost a magical creation and involved hundreds of moving parts.... Not only that but the workmanship was astonishing. The original automata has disappeared but a re-creation (made by Frédéric Vidoni ) is housed in a museum ( Le Musée des Automates des Grenoble ) in Grenoble, France. The ‘Duck’ was remarkable too in duplicating all of the wing bones of a duck and actually simulating digestion of grain fed into the beak and resulting in ‘pellets’ emerging at the other end. During ‘The Enlightenment’, a period of both artistic and scientific revolutions, the idea that humans could be ‘replaced’ by such devices as these, created a cultural revolution. The mechanisation of labour was also creating a stir and such Automata as these that duplicated animal and human behaviour became a considerable ‘fad’
.... and a few more animated modern creations .........
Vaucanson also created a life -sized flute player that played several different tunes when operated. In 1740 he was asked by the French Govern-ment to mechanise the weaving industry to improve
efficiency. His proposals
caused riots
in the streets
efficiency. His proposals
caused riots
in the streets
& other creators