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Product Description
Product Description
Automata and mechanical toys delight children and adults alike with the beauty of their design and the excitement of their movement. This book explains how the mechanisms work and celebrates many leading makers. The book covers the history of automata and mechanical toys, including the early inventors from Hero of Alexandria, through the mechanical marvels of the 18th and 19th centuries, to contemporary automata. Also included is advice on how to get started; tools and materials required; and techniques together with step-by-step instructions and theme projects based on the author's 12 days of Christmas.
About the Author
Rodney Peppe is author-illustrator of over eighty children's books, and creator of Huxley Pig and Angelmouse for television. Rodney Peppe's Moving Toys was published in 1980, and this led to his toymaking. He rarely sells, but exhibits in one-man shows at venues including the V&A Museum of Childhood and the National Theatre.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
People are often puzzled about the meaning of the word 'automata', but they usually know what a 'mechanical toy' is, and many have fond memories of a favourite wind-up animal or human figure. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
People are often puzzled about the meaning of the word 'automata', but they usually know what a 'mechanical toy' is, and many have fond memories of a favourite wind-up animal or human figure. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Quality book. This guy has not just put together a few plans, and some nice shots. He's attempting to explain how to aquire the skills. He gives you the kick start. Sorts out the basics well, and then as any reasonable person knows - it's up to you.
I actually bought another book at the same time which also attempted to teach automata (same price). I won't name it. But put it this way, I only looked at it twice. I'm reading this book instead. It's good. He's not just a craftsman - he can write. If you want to know the basics - then get it.
I actually bought another book at the same time which also attempted to teach automata (same price). I won't name it. But put it this way, I only looked at it twice. I'm reading this book instead. It's good. He's not just a craftsman - he can write. If you want to know the basics - then get it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
59 of 61 people found the following review helpful
A Good Buy for Beginning Builders
25 Nov 2004
Format:Hardcover
Depending on what your interests are, this can be a valuable addition to your library. It is not for collectors, in my opinion, and most of the examples are on the "folk art" side: crude, kitschy, and sometimes even made of junk. There are profiles of a few builders who make complex automata demonstrating fine craftsmanship, such as the wonderful Keith Newstead and John Grayson. I would have preferred to have some detailed explanations of how some of their automata work, though. The REAL strength of this book is if you are beginning to make your own automata and would like to have a "kit" to experiment with. The book contains full sized plans for an experimenter's "kit" which is really nice. I have Robert Addam's "How to Design and Make Automata" and CMT's book, but they both only have crude drawings with no dimensions. I made photocopies of the parts and then used Xylene to transfer directly onto plywood and cut the parts out on a scroll saw, saving a great deal of time and giving me a nice litte platform for experimenting. This alone makes the book a must have for the beginning builder.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
A Must for Automata Enthusiasts!
9 Jun 2003
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is everything you could ask for in book on contemporary artistic automata.
Each chapter has a brief summary of the topic in question -- say tools and materials. Next, each chapter moves on to showcase the work of two or three automata artists with many pictures and a page or two of information about each artist.
The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. You can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and most especially, their finishes.
If you love automata, want to see more of them, and want to learn about some of the top automata artists in the contemporary scene, this book is a must-have.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Excellent book! Great color pictures and diagrams
10 Jun 2003
Format:Hardcover
This has got to be one of the best books on the subject of automata and mechanical theatre. There are lots of great color pictures and diagrams to build your own automata. Worth the money!
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