The House of Automata

The Automata Exhibition

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:23:35 +0000

A complete and interactive automata experience at the Nairn Museum. Back to this beautiful venue by popular demand! We are exhibiting the very best in Antique and Contemporary automata. Twice weekly demonstrations of the rarer pieces, contact us for dates and times of these.

*The twice weekly talks have been very popular and we have had to turn away those who arrive late as there has been no more room, so please arrive early if possible.

The House of Automata

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:36:35 +0000

The wonderful name AutomatomaniA is to be phased away this summer to become “The House of Automata”. The name that has served us well for nearly 20 years has become a casualty of the digital age when correct spelling has become vital to internet durability. We actually lost our website last year due to an ISP human spelling mistake. AutomatomaniA will still respond to internet searches but the new name is “The House of Automata”.
www.thehouseofautomata.com

Artists Commission

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:17:58 +0000

Built to a commission for a well known visual artist in England these brass Bell Clappers will be housed in glass domes and operated in a vacuum. The Clappers are designed to strike at exactly two minute intervals.
The pair are built from from brass bar and plate using traditional horological techniques and are powered by electric motors.

Big Man Walking

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:09:02 +0000

We have just returned from some work on the mechanics of Scotlands famous “Big Man”.
Next out at the DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL ON 29TH MAY 2010
The photos show him stripped off of his body work and revealing his extraordinary mechanism.

Vichy Automaton

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:40:43 +0000

A Vichy automaton smoker from Paris in “as found” condition. The hands show signs of previous repair with plaster bandage, but the head is untouched and in beautifully original condition. The finished restoration will be really impressive.

The Workshop

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 08:15:18 +0000

Our workshop is hidden away in the forest, so visitors often have trouble finding us. However….we never get lonely!

A photo taken by our Web designer on one of his hunting forays into “The House of Automata”. The workshop usually has two or three different jobs on the bench at the same time, along with a queue of six or seven automata waiting for attention. Then … there are the BIG projects inching their way forward! More details & photos by clicking on the “Workshop” tab along the top of this page.

Dennison Working Model

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 09:07:39 +0000

The Chinese Torture by Dennison, English c.1920.
A classic coin slot automaton by this highly respected maker. A moving tableau in a large cabinet known as the “Working Model”. Subjects included executions of all sorts and scenes such as “Drunkards Dream” and “The Haunted House”. The photos show restoration in progress of the 5 chinese torturers.

Steampunk

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:12:09 +0000

Last Saturday we went to the North of Scotland’s first Steampunk Party held at a local theatre nightclub. An afternoons preparation at the workshop and here I am modelling my musical fairy spring wings that helped me fly up to my airship! Round my neck I sport a clockwork necklace and Michael wore a time machine top hat and carried a Victorian vibrating ray gun to protect us on our adventures!
For those who don’t know what Steampunk is, it’s an Art/Fashion that uses oodles of clockwork and mechanism. There are lots of pictures, films and forums on the internet so sally forth and check it out!

Detail of Laughing Sailor

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:42:15 +0000

Hugo Cabret

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:39:48 +0000

‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ is a thrilling book by Brian Selznick and soon to be film for young people about an automaton. Based on some true events it is a best seller in America and recently won the Caldecott medal.