Maillardet's Automaton (the "Draughtsman-Writer")

["Janoff, Steven" <Steven -dot- Janoff -at- ga -dot- com>]

Fellow Whirligigs,

I came across this oddity while researching something today, and thought my fellow Tech Writers would find this interesting:

http://www.fi.edu/learn/sci-tech/automaton/automaton.php

Invented in London around 1800.

"During the 18th century, people were in a state of wonder over mechanism. The first complex machines produced by man were called 'automata.' The greatest and most fascinating mechanisms were those that could do things in imitation of living creatures. This Automaton, known as the 'Draughtsman-Writer,' is one such machine."

The videos are fascinating.

The drawing of the ship is pretty cool.  (Last link below shows this in greater detail.)

For my colleagues in the U.S., Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Steve

More:

http://www.fi.edu/qa99/attic10/sketch1.jpg

http://www.fi.edu/pieces/knox/automaton/home.htm

http://www.fi.edu/pieces/knox/automaton/images/sketch.GIF

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