Automaton
Muster geschutzt
Category
Toys
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood and metal.
Measurements
Picture - 270 mm (width); 350 mm (height); 95 mm (depth), Key - 40 mm (length), Toothed circle - 25 mm (diameter), Strip of metal - 90 mm (length), Block with spring - 27 mm (width); 15 mm (depth), Musical mechanism - 70 mm (width); 50 mm (height)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662322
Summary
A clockwork musical picture of a boy playing a piano being instructed by an elderly man standing by his side. The scene is set in a room with a window through which three small children are looking, one with a fishing net. The left arm and head of the child and the left arm of the man and his head are movable. The picture is set in a wooden box which has a brown wooden frame. This is attached to the box by two hinges in the right-hand side and a hook on the left-hand side. The bottom of the box has a sliding cover which opens to reveal the operating mechanism. It consists of a metal circle with metal pins around the edge which are attached to further small metal rods. A purple printing ink stamp, on the wood, reads 'Patent Muster geschutzt' There are five loose metal pieces: a key, a rod with a toothed circle at one end, a strip of plain grey metal, a block with an curled spring set into the base and part of a musical box consisting of a metal bar, set with very small teeth, and a 'comb' attached to a base with further metal pieces. Stamped on the base is '3304'. Total number of items is 6.
Makers and roles
Muster geschutzt , maker