Complex Automata – Trying to Find Information

Complex Automata – Trying to Find Information

This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 22 June 2025 at 17:36 by Martin Kyte.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Author

Posts
22 June 2025 at 10:14 #804080
James Alford
Participant
@jamesalford67616
A while ago, I found some footage on-line of some complex automata, but I have lost the bookmarks. I have been looking again, but in vain. I was wondering whether anyone can help at all?

One site had an older-style recording of a cabinet or case containing a large alchemist or sorcerer. I believe that case’s doors opened and the figure carried out a spell or experiment. The was some sort of narration, but it was not in English, so I have no idea what it was about.

The other was more modern with a lot of detail. I believe that the artist was American and automata included 1920s Berlin night club style figures and scenes, a Prussian officer’s head and torso and some sort of spooky scene, similar to Pepper’s Ghost.

Does this ring any bells at all with anyone or was I merely dreaming?

James.
Advert

22 June 2025 at 11:18 #804103
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Not sure about the ones you refer to but there are a number of complex automata in the Chateau Azay Le Rideau in the Loire Valley. We visited in 2018. Very impressive and some quite spooky.

Short video here (best viewed full screen for detail):

https://www.pietso.fr/oeuvres/Piet-sO-et-Peter-Keene/les-enchantements-d-Azay/enchantements-Azay-le-rideau-us.html

Colin
22 June 2025 at 17:33 #804124
Martin Kyte
Participant
@martinkyte99762
Simon Schaffer did a program on complex automata on BBC2 back in 2017.
22 June 2025 at 17:36 #804126
Martin Kyte
Participant
@martinkyte99762
Looks like YouTube have recordings
Author

Posts

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Please log in to reply to this topic. Registering is free and easy using the links on the menu at the top of this page.

Code of Conduct

Latest Replies

Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

- Topic
- Voices
- Posts
- Last Post
- Complex Automata – Trying to Find Information
  Started by: James Alford in: Miscellaneous models
- 3
- 4
- 22 June 2025 at 17:36
  Martin Kyte
- Bench vice 1 2
  Started by: Chris12 in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 23
- 34
- 22 June 2025 at 17:30
  Dalboy
- Old Tower PCs any useful bits?
  Started by: Andrew Tinsley in: General Questions
- 5
- 5
- 22 June 2025 at 16:18
  Martin Connelly
- Octopus … Is there method in this madness ?
  Started by: Michael Gilligan in: The Tea Room
- 15
- 20
- 22 June 2025 at 15:41
  Macolm
- Workshop Practice Series – Books
  Started by: flatline in: Beginners questions
- 4
- 4
- 22 June 2025 at 15:26
  duncan webster 1
- Sieg C1 lathe autofeed and screw cutting 1 2
  Started by: Rob Athome in: Beginners questions
- 15
- 39
- 22 June 2025 at 13:49
  Bazyle
- Setting the top slide to turn a Morse taper
  Started by: John Purdy in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 15
- 17
- 22 June 2025 at 10:42
  Ian Owen NZ
- First cuts with the lathe 1 2
  Started by: Chris12 in: Beginners questions
- 20
- 50
- 22 June 2025 at 08:47
  Nicholas Farr
- The Perpetual Demise of the Model engineer
  Started by: Luker in: Model engineering club news
- 11
- 17
- 22 June 2025 at 08:36
  Howard Lewis
- Miniature Boring bits
  Started by: Vic in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 11
- 16
- 22 June 2025 at 08:17
  Diogenes
- Motorised Adept No. 2 Shaper
  Started by: William Ayerst in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 8
- 18
- 21 June 2025 at 20:06
  Howard Lewis
- Digital Leadscrew Lathes
  Started by: Chris Taylor 3 in: General Questions
- 6
- 11
- 21 June 2025 at 18:25
  Dell
- Help needed to price a Myford lathe going for sale
  Started by: Mick Durkin in: Help and Assistance! (Offered or Wanted)
- 11
- 15
- 21 June 2025 at 16:17
  Chris Crew
- Need help choosing a lathe chuck 1 2
  Started by: th1980 in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 21
- 34
- 21 June 2025 at 15:33
  th1980
- ER25 Collet holder @ 2MT w/ 3/8″ BSW drawbar?
  Started by: William Ayerst in: Workshop Tools and Tooling
- 14
- 23
- 21 June 2025 at 15:14
  Charles Lamont
- Harold Halls Workshop Projects book?
  Started by: Bo’sun in: Workshop Techniques
- 8
- 11
- 21 June 2025 at 12:28
  Howard Lewis
- De winton quarry loco 71/4 new member.
  Started by: jimclassics40 in: Introduce Yourself – New members start here!
- 3
- 3
- 21 June 2025 at 10:19
  noel shelley
- TurboCAD Snaps and Dimensioning?
  Started by: Nigel Graham 2 in: CAD – Technical drawing & design
- 2
- 2
- 21 June 2025 at 08:50
  Nick Wheeler
- The Latest INDEX to Model Engineer & Workshop (Also past issues of MEW) 1 2
  Started by: David Frith in: Model Engineer & Workshop
- 7
- 38
- 20 June 2025 at 22:24
  David Frith
- Help Please: IT Not Engineering
  Started by: Nigel Graham 2 in: The Tea Room
- 7
- 14
- 20 June 2025 at 21:29
  Nigel Graham 2
- What Did You Do Today 2025 1 2 … 6 7
  Started by: JasonB in: The Tea Room
- 32
- 155
- 20 June 2025 at 21:10
  Nigel Graham 2
- How to sharpen expanding reamer blades & how to adjust them?
  Started by: Grindstone Cowboy in: Beginners questions
- 5
- 6
- 20 June 2025 at 18:49
  Grindstone Cowboy
- Milling in the lathe – Vertical slide 1 2
  Started by: Chris12 in: Beginners questions
- 12
- 31
- 20 June 2025 at 18:44
  Roger B
- Rod Sproson – Contact Details
  Started by: Neil Wyatt in: Help and Assistance! (Offered or Wanted)
- 1
- 1
- 20 June 2025 at 14:38
  Neil Wyatt
- A new benchmark for cheap tat ?
  Started by: Michael Gilligan in: The Tea Room
- 4
- 10
- 20 June 2025 at 12:50
  Howard Lewis

Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

View full reply list.

Latest Issue

July 2025

Buy Latest/Back Issues

Newsletter Sign-up

Latest Replies