The only magazine about Automata in the world. Published online with optional print editions 6 times a year. The articles are written by makers and specialists who cover every aspect of making and collecting automata. Below is the article on The House of Automata in the latest edition. I have added the Index page at the end to show the full range of articles. Online subscription is very affordable and a rewarding way to join the worldwide community of Automatists. Click herefor the Automata Magazine Website.
Little Tich came to us in a very sad and bedraggled state. He had been stored in a damp garage for many years and was dead on his feet at a precarious angle. The mechanism was rusted and broken, the original suit and hat were almost completely eaten by moth and his famous big boots no longer fit for the stage.
You can see the trails and tribulations of his dramatic restoration on Salvage Hunters – The Restorers Series 5 Episode 4 First on Wednesday 20th April on Quest TV UK and stream on Discovery Plus UK.
The famous Little Tich refuses to go on stage in this stateMuch happier after his time on the bench at The House of Automata
Salvage Hunters – The Restorers, Series 5Wednesdays 9pm on Quest TV, channel 12 and on Discovery Plus.
Michael and Maria are on TV with two spectacularly eventful automata restorations.
Episode 2Wednesday 6th April 2022 we tackle a large clockwork Acrobat Automaton who comes to us in a terrible condition. After a painstaking restoration he is returned to his former glory, looking spectacular whilst performing his incredible one handed handstand atop his ladder, towering above Drew Pritchard!
Episode 4Wednesday 20th April 2022. This time we are challenged to give Little Tich, a ‘huge’ star of the Music Hall back his mojo. With some extremely tricky restoration needed to his mechanism and clothing, this Automaton tests our skills, our patience and our marriage!
Don’t worry if you miss it on Wednesday, you will find it repeated throughout the week and then just when you least expect it… in perpetuity!
Virtually – via Zoom – a link will be sent to your email address prior to the event
Maria and Michael Start run The House of Automata from the Highlands of Scotland. As restorers and dealers in antique automata for over 30 years, they are the European specialists in these enchanting and surreal objects.
As well as an insight into how they were used and some secrets of restoration, this presentation will introduce some highlights from their large personal collection of automata. Demonstrations of mechanical singing birds, musicians and impressive acrobats, to pieces featured in film and TV productions such as HUGO and the terrifying monkey from The Woman in Black.
There will also be insights into how working together as a family team, much like the 19th Century makers in Paris, makes caring for and restoring these objects of wonder possible.
This is an online talk via Zoom. Please click on the following link to book your tickets – David Parr House.
Numbers for the talk are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
A link for the event will be sent via email on the day of the event. All our events are UK time and our events are live and personal, so will not be recorded.
All money raised from our talks goes towards maintaining David Parr House – thank you for supporting us.
Restoration of a 130 year old Magician automaton features in episode 10 of series 3 and is described as a “world class” restoration. The Magician was made by Phalibois of Paris and features a clown with a disappearing head!
Episode 2 details our restoration of a spectacular 4 foot high Drumming Bear.
The bear came as a box of bits from a previous failed restoration. The body had been covered in a layer of fibre glass which needed to be painstakingly chipped off. The fur was alive with insects and the drum was missing. Its a remarkable automaton and is the size of small person.
The world famous Atlas Obscura from New York have interviewed the The House of Automata for Show & Tell. The show goes to their huge subscriber base with a 99% thumbs up rate! You can see it by clicking the LINK HERE.
The restoration was particularly delicate. The gesso had separated into plates with raised edges and we wanted to keep the original paint. So Maria softened the gesso and pressed it flat. She then filled the cracks and painted just the filler. The end result was quite pleasing.
The music played is Je Veux Vivre from Romeo and Juliet by Gounod.
Thursday 16th April at 4pm. On Instagram. A fleeting half hour in a Magical world of of Mechanical Life. Weekly on Thursdays for as long as the Pandemic Lockdown lasts in the UK.
This Thursday (16th April) will feature Maria ………. showing Workshop techniques to replace a missing head and Michael telling the surprising story of the Birth of Automata with rare pieces performing along the way.
Live Instagram is best viewed on a phone screen by pressing the clown face icon on our Instagram page at 4pm british summertime (that is gmt +1 hour). We will go live one minute before 4pm.
The webcast stays viewable on Instagram for 24 hours and from then on our popular Youtube channel
