imadgets in america

Our Cruise ship arrived in the new world, we swapped to four wheels and now are zagging our way from east coast to west coast of the US, joining the dots marked by items of interest in as logical a manner as highways will allow. What are these items of interest? For my mother it is glass artists to supply our gallery. For me it is mechanical marvels. I hope to find that which can captivate me, inspiration, a better understanding of the direction I may like to go with my own mechanical creations and pick up a few tips from these experienced old workshop dwellers I meet. The first stop was the Morris Museum in Morristown New Jersey which holds I a large collection of clockwork automatons and mechanical musical instruments. The Automatons were equizitely made with  brass cams, and steel frames hidden beneath painted paper mache bodies which were cast within plaster molds. The star was probably the clown who lost his head to magically reveal it beneath a box. I found pleasing though the simpler wooden hand carved whistling man with a wind up tune whistling mechanism. There is something beautiful about hearing the ratcheting clicks as the key winds their uncovered demo automaton. The brass paddles of the spring regulator then start spinning silently but steady and the cam follower's glide up and down to push rods which cause an expressionless face to turn and a hand to wave as if possessed by an antique phantom. What aspects observed from this exhibition might I like to incorporate into my own work? Definitely an exposed winding, cam and musical mechanism which could perhaps be made more sculptural and ornate as to be seen as a feature rather than hidden. I was suprised at how nicer finish was possible with the paper mache showing this can be an elegant sculpting medium. The carved wood also has a nice authentic appeal.  There were a few practical objects which incorporated music mechanisms such as a chair which played when sat on and a coat hook triggered when a coat was hung. I like this idea of attaching an automaton to a device of function. Do visit this museum if you have time for a day tip out of new york city. Captivating and some creepy. On the way towards but probably not exactly what I would plan to create as my legassy.