In order to access the mechanism responsible for the motions of the smoking gentleman, his clothing had to be carefully removed and his papier-mache body opened. In preparation of a treatment proposal and condition report I assessed each component of the clothing, papier-mâché, head, and hands as I undressed the smoker. The papier-mâché head was in [...]
Category: Automata
The Gentleman Smoker – An Introduction
While in my last term at West Dean I restored a Vichy Huntsman Smoking Automaton. This is a clockwork figure that when operated smokes real cigarettes! As you can imagine, this is quite the party trick. I like to think of old men sitting in their fancy oak parlors with a glass of scotch and [...]