Hi Jim, Thank you for the information and compliment on the automaton. The head, arms and legs are carved from wood which is covered with gesso and painted. I’ll take more photos to share with the gro

Thank you all for your suggestions. Now it’s up to me to get this ball rolling! This is the piece I’m repairing. According to the vendor from Antwerp, the piece is French circa 1920. I collect and exh

Gus, Thank you very much. I think that is a perfect and elegant solution. I’ll do a search tomorrow. Myron

Hello All, I have coated .30 picture wire I would like to secure permanently to an eye hook with some sort of clamp. There will be about 5# of pull on the connection. What would you suggest I use? The

Great gift idea. Maybe you and your girlfriend will collaborate on another automaton. The sandpaper solution is a good move. If you haven’t already, sign and date the piece.

Good stuff Jim. Thank you for the instructive photos. I look forward to using more magnets in the future. (Magnets and magnifying glasses were always a fascination in my youth!) (automaton); I used ma

Jim, The effect you are getting with your materials prep and paint experiments is simply stunning! I look forward to seeing Auger Lift #1 reassembled and working in another video. Ok, did you get out

I just ordered the book from “Ellen S. Bixford”. The book is $80 and shipping was $11.52. Google the author’s name and you will find her site. Good luck. Myron

Jim, Thank you for posting the highly informational video of Auger Lift #1. I look forward to seeing how you put the finishing touches on the piece. Have you thought about giving your figure fabric cl

LOVED IT!!! So much humor, funky movement and use of materials! Not tortured at all! Thank you for sharing this find. Myron

Andy I'm glad you liked the suggestion. You will still have "teaching moments" so your grandson will be happy with the piece in the end. How old is your grandson?

Ron, I’m sorry I used the wrong name in the heading. Also, I hope your shoulder upgrade goes well! Myron

Hi Andy, I was thinking about your project. I've done some with my grandchildren in the past, not an automaton but a barn, wood knife, playhouse etc. The thing that was the most gratifying was their i

Good Morning Lee & Jim, MagEyes. About $40.00. My. wife and I have been using them for years. Light weight and good magnifying. Myron Spain, 2008, drawing a cartoon. Brookline, 2006 My wife painting a

I collect and exhibit toy knife/scissors grinders and ephemera. Almost all of the toys feature flints in the “scissors and knives” that are being “sharpened” which gives off sparks when the grinding w

I’m sharing three work spaces that I use in my basement for all kinds of projects, large and small. Currently the automata have captured my project/passion time. The photos of my workspaces are not cl

Jim, I am so pleased you checked in to see and hear Pat talk about her work. The Pucker Gallery is a perfect place for her work and I hope some of the folks on this forum can make it to the gallery, p

Dear friends and practitioners of automata, Please join the folks at Pucker Gallery to see and hear Pat Keck & company, talk about her work. Reminder: Pat Keck is on the cover this month’s AUTOMATA MA

The motivation for all my automata projects have been to celebrate an important occasion of a family member or friend. I did not know I was making “automata” until recently! They were toys with moveme

Hi Jim, Your math is as good as your work :>) Is attaching photos to the forum as easy as it is to attach them to an email? Please advise. Thanks. I’ll take some shots tomorrow, Tuesday, and post them