A tiny clockwork motor powers this 130 year old automaton magician. Based on an almost forgotten French Magician called ‘The Great Aldo’ who had invested in a realistic copy of his own head and used it to perform his ‘head off’ routine. In reality he probably didn’t have a double jointed neck but used a set of shoulder pads and a high collar to disappear his head downward into his costume. #secretsofautomata #magictrick | The House of Automata

3.6K views · 244 reactions | Magician with the Tumbling Rings. An ancient Illusion here performed by a clockwork automaton made in the 1880’s. The bisque head looks a bit like me as a child so I have a strange affinity for it. #magictrick #magician #linkingrings #pennandteller #roullet&decamps #illusion #houdini #magiccircle #magiccastle #davidcopperfield #automata #automaton #celebrity #showtime #itsmagic #rings | The House of Automata | Facebook

These components feature in an edition of 30 Magician Automata I'm building. Here I'm making spring-loaded brass arms that assist the operation of the trapdoor. This component comprises four parts that must be accurately manufactured to operate correctly. My homemade CNC machine cuts out the exact profile of the support, and additional parts and cut, drilled, formed and soldered together. I've been living my life for the last few months by the number 30. I have to be well organised in my process