I was lucky enough to live in York in the late 80's / early 90's, and this place was a part of my childhood. We went many many times because, like with most children, as a child I never tired of doing the same thing over and over and over, it must've drove my grandma insane the amount of times she took me there. And it wasn't cheap either, especially for folk as relatively poor as my grandparents, looking back now I imagine she must've been saving for weeks in the build-up to our trips there. My sister hated it though, many of the exhibits used to scare her silly. I'm so glad that a video of this place has survived, thank you.
It's really nice to see a lot of the Black papier mache automatons were built to look human (like the banjo player at 10:19) instead of caricatures, especially considering the times they were built in. That's almost as impressive as the machinery.
One of the best use of automata in movies, which has always stuck with me ever since I saw it as a kid, was the fortune teller automata in the movie "Big"
To those that have posted that they would like to visit this museum, I've read that this place, unfortunately, closed down about ten years ago. A Japanese man (possibly a tourist just happening upon it by chance) bought the entire collection and had it crated up and removed to Japan. I don't know whether it was for a museum that would be open to the public, or if it was for his own personal collection and enjoyment. All these automata (in their movements) are the basis of modern robotics (and minaturisation), both of which the Japanese have a particular interest in, after all.
I have said on some other clips of Automatica - there are a few places in France that have original pieces. They are listed/called Poupées de Automats. The original is in Monaco. Their website says permanently closed. Hmm. It was 20 years ago when I went.
We had 'dolls' on the 3rd floor of the museum I worked in. I was given instructions to shut the lights off from outside the room and say "we are all leaving, goodnight" before calmly decending the stairs at closing. Sounds silly.... till you did it. never turn you back on them.
There's something about the ingenuity mixed with the art and sheer whimsy that makes them really special. Like doing something really hard for the sake of it. Love them. Luv and Peace.
awwww, I didn't know it closed. What a shame. Where did all these cool automata go then, Pennsylvania? I was so excited to see a working Hero of Alexandria model too.
What a treasure this Museum was. I am sure that even though this is no longer there that these incredible pieces are safe in a private collection somewhere in the world. That makes this presentation all the more valuable. It is my high pleasure to restore, though far less significant examples than these, as often as I can find and afford them. I also enjoy learning from others with a similar calling.
my 'Uncle' Jack's ( Jack Donovan) collection was bought before his death for 1.2 mill by the robertsons but the Museum closed in 1996, and the collection is now in in a vault owned by Hitachi in Japan. Putting it in York was a dumbass idea as if it were sited in London it would have survived. A great tragedy to automata lovers in the west as many were very rare and will unlikely be seen again. Quite a few of Jacks automata and other things, which he sneakily held back from the robertsons are on display at the house of magic in london to this day. RIP Jack Donovan, he was a great man and much missed.
it wasn't a bad idea to me it was my first look at automata not in the books but in sheer glory of nearly able to touch it , it was beautifully set I could see each piece lit and working no more oh its only something that's just a black and white picture in a book,the dumbass is in the holding of it in a vault by hitachi , what a waste a collection not displayed is a wasted thing no one learns from it but the collector, and these are beautiful pieces worthy of higher than a vault,jack and his wife were extreme talents of a totally different era of restoration that surely has to be handed down to a new generation I loved the princely toys programme for bbc in my eyes both jack and his wife are amazing people I wont forget
russell wylie Totally agree and was maybe harsh saying 'dumbass' but I was moved at the time seeing Jacks 'boys' (as he called them) again on the vid. He was pleased they were all kept together and exhibited so well in York, yes the museum was very well done but such 'out there' items need a way bigger catchment to survive. I went up on the train with Jack and Kay his missus for the grand opening. It makes me sad that the Robertsons sold the collection and they ended up in a vault in Tokyo. Jack had no use for the money but he was getting too old to look after them. Anyway they were all at 92 Portobello Road, London W11 in Jack's antique shop for decades before that for anyone to see working live, not in glass cases with videos.
I worked at the museum. It was a wonderful place. The owner had business difficulties which had nothing to do with the museum. It was a casualty of these difficulties rather than the other way round. It was a wonderful place. I am very sorry to hear Hitatchi just boxed it up and stored it as an asset. We thought they were going to open a museum in Japan, It is such a pleasure to see the museum video here.
When I was a kid in the early 90s my cousin and I would go to stop with our grandma in Yorkshire every summer. We always used to spend a day in York and we would go to this museum. Very nostalgic watching
I also was just lucky enough to stumble across this wonderful video as I live in the United States. I have a fine appreciation for this. I absolutely love this!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Bless You!
I must have gone to this museum around 1995, hadn't realised it was closed. York was lovely, had a great time, especially on the ghost walk! The automata collection was unique, I actually remember seeing some of these, quite amazing. The forerunner of the industrial revolution in some ways, and in 1770 the first programmable machine, the boy writer.
This brought back really fond memories of a family holiday to York in either 1991 or 92. Our son was a toddler then and loved it, turning all the handles and pushing buttons. What a shame its now closed! A great loss.
The Museum closed in 1996, and the collection is now in Japan. Many of the antique automata can also be seen in "Princely Toys" the superb BBC film of the Jack Donovan collection, a well known London Dealer.
With the advent of 3D printing, I'm kind of surprised Automata haven't made a comeback. Also, American Photoplayers, those things they used to give musical tracks to silent films. Only a handful of those left in the world, and even fewer people who know how to use them. I'm betting a sufficiently complex automata could operate a Photoplayer.
I remember, when I was a kid, amusement arcades used to have automotons in glass cabinets. You'd stick a penny in & watch the scene. I always remember The Haunted House or Haunted Castle. The grandfather clock would open & reveal a skeleton, a floorboard would rise up revealing a dead body, a man would sit upright in bed when a ghost appeared in the wardrobe etc etc. Anyone else remember those?
The ingenuity and production of these pieces is astounding. They are wonders of the mechanical age when artisans spent countless hours perfecting these pieces. Thank you so much for this video.
I went here years ago! Was terribly sad to hear it had closed :( Thanks for uploading this, it allows me to show my partner what was so awesome about the museum :)
I was in york a few months back and visited the castle museum. I know I didn't walk past this to get to the museum. One of my best memories of my teens was getting to visit a museum of automaton in La Rochelle in France as part of School Trip/Foreign Work Experience thing. Blew my mind completely. Shame this is not there now. Luv and Peace.
@thanks Thank you for letting me know. If it still stood, it would have been a very long drive from where I will be staying in the UK. So I probably would not have visited.
My Mother worked there for a long time and use to buy my son some lovely Christmas presents from there.
4 года назад
I have a doll museum in my country. It also have some automatas. The story of this doll and automatas collection is sad and sweet at the same time: the original owners were the Castellano sisters and they donated their collection to the museum because they are old ladies and they were afraid of dying because they didnt want their dolls to be separated after their death. One of them died a like two years ago :C Their collection is so beautiful and so creepy hahaha Im a doll collector but even I was scared of being inside the museum alone. Seriously, it was only me and my friend at the museum. And there was a music box playing. It was like an horror movie but so cool at the same time lmao
I would love to own one of these. I used to have a little plastic keychain, when it was opened you'd feel the gears going. Inside was a kitten playing with yarn.
Just loved this museum when we visited from Scotland. When I lived in York this place was a favourite stop off. Still love (and make) automata to this day :-) Thanks so much for sharing this!
I visited several times many years ago and was very disappointed when it closed because it was such an unusual and fun and fascinating museum!!!! very unique theme for the city of York. It was a great loss to the city when it closed. I was googling when I found this video and I'm so thrilled that all these years later, I can finally "revisit", even if only virtually!
Just googled and yes it closed in 1996 which is a shame especially for Jack Donavan who had been approached by a Japanese potential buyer for the Archer and he had declined stating that he wished to be buried with it. The entire collection was purchased from the Museum some where offered for sale by Sotheby’s in 2001.
Thanks so much for sharing this !! Its greatly appreciated by Automata enthusiasts like me who are not in the UK and have never been able to visit the museum !
A video to treasure! Such beauty, such expert workmanship is amazing to watch. Very moving! There are too many awesome creations here to watch in one go!
Illustrious! Amazing! Brilliant! It shows the creativity of man during that era. I'm glad this video survives.100 years from now, will we see videos of men making computers, robots, vacuum cleaner robots, and vehicles flying to the moon and/or Mars? I would have loved to see this museum.
Brilliant, went there once. It was shut before I finally moved to York. Often think of my visit. Thanks for the video was an amazing place. Also went to Penny Arcadia in Pock also gone, that was the most amazing place I have ever been in my life.
Que relíquias maravilhosas. Ainda bem que existem os museus para preservar coisas tão lindas. A riqueza de detalhes das peças impressiona. Parabéns pelo canal.
"hey how are you, good sir?" *takes off knight helmet, winks awkwardly and does a tongue flick* "yeah.....same" seriously tho this is awesome. really cool to see what was made back then.
Its amazing what you can do with clockwork if you put your mind to it. Too bad no one is making this kind of things. Although it reminds me of this Kinetic-Artist with the walking things on the beach.
Damn... just when I thought I was getting pretty good at making miniature metal marvels... I see this!! BRAVO, and thank you for this fantastic upload. 🏆
I cannot understand how can I, a young of 21st century who see many robots, artificial intelligence with indifference , be scared and amazed with these ancient automatons!
an amazing museum , the displays were lavish and the televisions played each automata, and lit the item up so you knew which piece was working,i remember i went to york and the whole museum was empty and a little sign said moved to japan, why is this now in a private collection or a museum, where everyone can see it ,,if not its a liberty as there is nothing in england now to match this ever again, but thanks for posting this its great to see the collection again
This popped up as a 'next suggested' after seeing a link to a Marie Antoinette gift automaton video. I love seeing the 'makings of' the mechanicals in this film. Wonderful history!
I was watching this documentary. And it motivated me to be a hard working mechanical Engineer.& Makes me love my field I Have only a year & half remaining until the degree.
