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Maillardet’s automaton- a mechanical invention that wrote, drew sketches and stored data

The inventor of this clockwork wonder was unknown until November 1928. It is on display at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and operates during performance and demonstration. A truly fascinating mechanism, able write poems and sketch drawings.

The Franklin Institute received a badly damaged machine which had suffered heavy fire damage. The machine resembled a seated boy in tattered clothes with a pen in its hand.

The Brock family that donated the parts on that faithful day in 1928 knew that the brass boy was able to write and draw pictures. They also claimed that it was made by Maelzel, an inventor from France.

The "Draughtsman-Writer" automaton by Henri Maillardet
The “Draughtsman-Writer” automaton by Henri Maillardet.

After figuring out the clockwork, the institute repaired, reclothed, and restored the machine to its proper working order. To the staff’s shock and amazement, it began to draw and write with the capability of a human being with flawless motion. When the mechanized boy finished the last recorded poem, it wrote “Ecrit par L’Automate de Maillardet”, which meant “written by Maillardet’s automaton”.

The brilliant machine was formerly known as “Draughtsman-Writer”. It was built by Swiss clockmaker Henri Maillardet in the 18th century. During this era, the public was generally fascinated by clockworks and complex mechanisms that could imitate human abilities.

An automaton on display at the Swiss Museum. Photo Credit
An automaton on display at the Swiss Museum. Photo Credit

The mechanical inventions were called “automata”. Watchmakers were making automatons of their own using them as examples of their craft and innovation.

Before it’s final destination at the Franklin Institute, the mechanical boy was well traveled. Maillardet was happily exhibiting his glorious invention throughout Europe, England, and Russia, astonishing crowds along the way. Luckily for the institute, it could have been destroyed, stolen, or lost during its long trips. Its intact existing is still a wonder.

Maillardet’s invention undoubtedly stands out from the other automatons for its capability of storing read-only memory, similar to today’s computers, as seen from the three poems and four sketches. He also made another automaton that was able to write Chinese letters and was used as a gift for a Chinese emperor from King George III of England. Reportedly, Maillardet probably auctioned the invention in Philadelphia to pay off his debts.

The way automatons worked, their coordinated motions and the clockwork’s blueprints were all a well-kept secret among the clockmakers. It took an excruciating amount of time to figure out the basic functions of Maillardet’s machine, as it was undoubtedly the finest example of automaton clockwork and a pinnacle of a high-quality craft.

A photograph of an artwork drawn on April 29, 1835 in Boston by an automaton believed to be built by Henri Maillardet (1745-1830) and later owned by Johann Nepomuk Maelzel (1772-1838). The photograph was taken by the Massachusetts Historical Society (date unknown) as part of their collections.
A photograph of an artwork drawn on April 29th, 1835, in Boston by an automaton, believed to be built by Henri Maillardet and later owned by Johann Nepomuk Maelzel (1772-1838). The photograph was taken by the Massachusetts Historical Society (date unknown) as part of their collections.

 

It is amazing to see the machine in its full splendor even after 200 years. Its fundamental driving mechanism that used cams was at the base of the machine. It contained brass discs with curved edges that were driven by the motor, with three “fingers” smoothly following along the curves.

This is a scanned image of a print made by Theodore Lane (1800 - 1828) and published in 1826 by Charles Smith (1800 - 1852). The print depicts the Automaton Exhibition at Gothic Hall in Haymarket section of London. The scan of recto type was presumably done by The Trustees of the British Museum on an unknown date.
A scanned image of a print made by Theodore Lane (1800 – 1828) and published in 1826 by Charles Smith (1800 – 1852). The print depicts the Automaton Exhibition at Gothic Hall in the Haymarket section of London. The scan of the recto type was presumably done by The Trustees of the British Museum on an unknown date.

Using wind-up motors, the complex coordination of the curves, edges, and levers was a true marvel of precision. It stored the very same poems and images and they added up to approximately 300 kilobits of storage.

The motions were not jerky or sudden, yet, smooth and startlingly lifelike. Even the eyes and head motions were controlled by other cams, which proved the clockwork’s impeccable precision and added to its lifelike behavior.

The automaton would pause its writing at a certain moment, gaze in the distance as if contemplating how to draw the sketch.

Maillardet's automaton was fully clothed during the period when it was exhibited. Now it is stripped in order to show the clockworks in motion. Photo Credit
Maillardet’s automaton was fully clothed during the period when it was exhibited. Now it is stripped in order to show the clockworks in motion. Photo Credit

We have another story on a similar topic: Tipu’s Tiger: A life-sized wooden musical automation made around 1793

A brilliant synthesis of art and science, Maillardet’s automaton is regarded as a true wonder of a clock worker’s skill and labor. It stands out because of the inventor’s attention to detail and the endeavor to make it as lifelike as possible. Maillardet could have easily settled for a head and eyes with a motionless, fixed position. Instead, he chose to create a replica of life, a glorious attempt to revive Collodi’s fables.

Brad Smithfield

Brad Smithfield is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News