Museum of Automata, York, 199x

[@Deeptunester]

I've never seen something so beautiful and so terrifying in my life.

[@zee30000]

That pfp, is that from Wario?

[@Deeptunester]

@@zee30000 Yes it's the shopkeeper from Wario Land 4

[@zee30000]

@@Deeptunester thank you

[@Pixelayedfae]

Dude same but low-key still wanna go there

[@spok9180]

I said same about a young Nancy pelosi

[@homojo2011]

I was lucky enough to live in York in the late 80's / early 90's, and this place was a part of my childhood. We went many many times because, like with most children, as a child I never tired of doing the same thing over and over and over, it must've drove my grandma insane the amount of times she took me there. And it wasn't cheap either, especially for folk as relatively poor as my grandparents, looking back now I imagine she must've been saving for weeks in the build-up to our trips there. My sister hated it though, many of the exhibits used to scare her silly. I'm so glad that a video of this place has survived, thank you.

[@kirstenwalstedt1620]

How wonderful!

[@MariaTorres-hc5uq]

Guard, and preserve, that memory as if it was made of pure gold and precious stones. Best regards from Lisbon Portugal.

[@letssmile3564]

that's beautiful

[@springsogourne]

Which was your favourite?

[@godfrey_of_america]

So when did it close up? I see that there is a Museum of Automata in France. I wonder if it is a successor institution of sorts.

[@dan-ho1zz]

I don’t know why I’m so upset this place closed, I live on the other side of the ocean I’d probably never get there if it was open now

[@gabrieldee345don5]

I is not there anymore...

[@wurly164]

dan the American treasure tour in PA has things like his

[@dan-ho1zz]

wurly164 woah what part of pa

[@KJensenStudio]

awwww, I didn't know it closed. What a shame. Where did all these cool automata go then, Pennsylvania? I was so excited to see a working Hero of Alexandria model too.

[@wurly164]

@@dan-ho1zz eastern PA near king of Prussia

[@katygilday6985]

I could watch this video over and over and be endlessly fascinated. imo, the automata of today do not compare to these works of creativity and art.

[@nephildevil]

Imagine the terror of having to spend the night in this place and the automata come to life.

[@txsraappraiser]

You have to put those dolls on a high shelf so they cant crawl down

[@twinkelry2410]

Fnaf 2

[@constancemiller3753]

We had 'dolls' on the 3rd floor of the museum I worked in. I was given instructions to shut the lights off from outside the room and say "we are all leaving, goodnight" before calmly decending the stairs at closing. Sounds silly.... till you did it. never turn you back on them.

[@KINGBublepop]

@@constancemiller3753 Sounds Fake. Say more.

[@ryohn5468]

That arrow creeps me. Think of the 1981 movie the Funhouse.

[@VNightmoon]

It's really nice to see a lot of the Black papier mache automatons were built to look human (like the banjo player at 10:19) instead of caricatures, especially considering the times they were built in. That's almost as impressive as the machinery.

[@markosterman419]

My wife and I just said the same thing

[@DieBarenklaue]

it was a dark dark time for background music

[@WhatStef]

LOL

[@badmoonrisin4700]

That's what they will be saying about 8-bit music in 100 years!

[@jaygee256]

To those that have posted that they would like to visit this museum, I've read that this place, unfortunately, closed down about ten years ago. A Japanese man (possibly a tourist just happening upon it by chance) bought the entire collection and had it crated up and removed to Japan. I don't know whether it was for a museum that would be open to the public, or if it was for his own personal collection and enjoyment. All these automata (in their movements) are the basis of modern robotics (and minaturisation), both of which the Japanese have a particular interest in, after all.

[@titapetiotas]

:(

[@Poodleinacan]

Awwwww. That's pretty unfortunate.

[@charliet7124]

aw, blast

[@OfficialMyxomatosis]

I have said on some other clips of Automatica - there are a few places in France that have original pieces. They are listed/called Poupées de Automats. The original is in Monaco. Their website says permanently closed. Hmm. It was 20 years ago when I went.

[@divaden47]

Typical for one man to remove from the public for his own selfish enjoyment >:(

[@houseofmagicuk1]

my 'Uncle' Jack's ( Jack Donovan) collection was bought before his death for 1.2 mill by the robertsons but the Museum closed in 1996, and the collection is now in in a vault owned by Hitachi in Japan. Putting it in York was a dumbass idea as if it were sited in London it would have survived. A great tragedy to automata lovers in the west as many were very rare and will unlikely be seen again. Quite a few of Jacks automata and other things, which he sneakily held back from the robertsons are on display at the house of magic in london to this day. RIP Jack Donovan, he was a great man and much missed.

[@wizzwamf]

it wasn't a bad idea to me it was my first look at automata not in the books but in sheer glory of nearly able to touch it , it was beautifully set I could see each piece lit and working no more oh its only something that's just a black and white picture in a book,the dumbass is in the holding of it in a vault by hitachi , what a waste a collection not displayed is a wasted thing no one learns from it but the collector, and these are beautiful pieces worthy of higher than a vault,jack and his wife were extreme talents of a totally different era of restoration that surely has to be handed down to a new generation I loved the princely toys programme for bbc in my eyes both jack and his wife are amazing people I wont forget

[@houseofmagicuk1]

russell wylie Totally agree and was maybe harsh saying 'dumbass' but I was moved at the time seeing Jacks 'boys' (as he called them) again on the vid. He was pleased they were all kept together and exhibited so well in York, yes the museum was very well done but such 'out there' items need a way bigger catchment to survive. I went up on the train with Jack and Kay his missus for the grand opening. It makes me sad that the Robertsons sold the collection and they ended up in a vault in Tokyo. Jack had no use for the money but he was getting too old to look after them. Anyway they were all at 92 Portobello Road, London W11 in Jack's antique shop for decades before that for anyone to see working live, not in glass cases with videos.

[@hjd832]

I wonder if we could find out who it was bought by ? Surely if it's not on display anywhere it needs rescuing.....Oh for a lottery win !

[@shonagriffiths8907]

I worked at the museum. It was a wonderful place. The owner had business difficulties which had nothing to do with the museum. It was a casualty of these difficulties rather than the other way round. It was a wonderful place. I am very sorry to hear Hitatchi just boxed it up and stored it as an asset. We thought they were going to open a museum in Japan, It is such a pleasure to see the museum video here.

[@grimfpv292]

Really sad. This is part of our cultural heritage.

[@heru-deshet359]

I wish this would go on tour to museums in America. I would certainly pay admission to see it.

[@coliander4180]

If this toured America, some idiot would shoot it.

[@Chad-Giga.]

One of the best use of automata in movies, which has always stuck with me ever since I saw it as a kid, was the fortune teller automata in the movie "Big"

[@ilikeralphfiennes]

the lute ! such a gorgeous and tiny piece of masterful craftmanship

[@LorrieSmithSTOPANIMALCRUELTY]

I love old automatons, so this video was just wonderful!

[@ianedmonds9191]

There's something about the ingenuity mixed with the art and sheer whimsy that makes them really special. Like doing something really hard for the sake of it. Love them. Luv and Peace.

[@TheKingRobot]

They are amazing! Reminds me of us, kinda😆

[@AvixkThePig]

Pretty cool from a distance, those close-ups are unsettling though.

[@AutomatonOne]

What a treasure this Museum was. I am sure that even though this is no longer there that these incredible pieces are safe in a private collection somewhere in the world. That makes this presentation all the more valuable. It is my high pleasure to restore, though far less significant examples than these, as often as I can find and afford them. I also enjoy learning from others with a similar calling.

[@raym1811]

Automata - terrifying children for over 400 years.

[@alerey4363]

fascinating humans since the dawn of the species

[@Lemuel928]

Until Fate Grand Order.

[@sirkooshiar]

This is the mechanical Animation. Some of them even have a scenario. That's amazing

[@couchphotography8861]

I must have gone to this museum around 1995, hadn't realised it was closed. York was lovely, had a great time, especially on the ghost walk! The automata collection was unique, I actually remember seeing some of these, quite amazing. The forerunner of the industrial revolution in some ways, and in 1770 the first programmable machine, the boy writer.

[@wolvespunk]

When I was a kid in the early 90s my cousin and I would go to stop with our grandma in Yorkshire every summer. We always used to spend a day in York and we would go to this museum. Very nostalgic watching

[@Chad-Giga.]

I thought I had seen all the films on automata! So thrilled to find this film thanks to the algorithm!

[@leaflee2066]

My Mother worked there for a long time and use to buy my son some lovely Christmas presents from there.

[@aukua5512]

The moon automaton almost reminds me of the 1898 film " The Astronomer's Dream". Since it have a similar face.

[@Muswell]

I remember, when I was a kid, amusement arcades used to have automotons in glass cabinets. You'd stick a penny in & watch the scene. I always remember The Haunted House or Haunted Castle. The grandfather clock would open & reveal a skeleton, a floorboard would rise up revealing a dead body, a man would sit upright in bed when a ghost appeared in the wardrobe etc etc. Anyone else remember those?

[@thehouseofautomata]

The Museum closed in 1996, and the collection is now in Japan. Many of the antique automata can also be seen in "Princely Toys" the superb BBC film of the Jack Donovan collection, a well known London Dealer.

[@laswan5]

I also was just lucky enough to stumble across this wonderful video as I live in the United States. I have a fine appreciation for this. I absolutely love this!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Bless You!

[@Elfos64]

With the advent of 3D printing, I'm kind of surprised Automata haven't made a comeback. Also, American Photoplayers, those things they used to give musical tracks to silent films. Only a handful of those left in the world, and even fewer people who know how to use them. I'm betting a sufficiently complex automata could operate a Photoplayer.

[@munnerlyn3]

Would love to visit the museum. Thanks for sharing.

[@spanishgypsy1618]

This brought back really fond memories of a family holiday to York in either 1991 or 92. Our son was a toddler then and loved it, turning all the handles and pushing buttons. What a shame its now closed! A great loss.

[@kirstenwalstedt1620]

Why did it close?

[@skeeterburke]

it's videos like this that keep me glued to KZbin. thanks.

[@user-gb1kq2zm5u]

Don't know if that's a good or a bad thing!

[@hairsquig8079]

I come back and watch this every year. Simply beautiful.

[@stephaniescarlett7887]

at 11:35 er so- i am blown away by the realism and the fact that these "toys" are so well preserved a function so cleanly...just amazing!!!

[@nellieoneil5245]

Such beauty and genius. Also pure nightmare fuel!

[@perrymclaughlin7425]

Ahh. The Museum of Automata; fueling children's nightmares for years.

[@video4rainydays]

I got a chance to visit it when i was 11! it was awesome and creepy at the same time :D

I have a doll museum in my country. It also have some automatas. The story of this doll and automatas collection is sad and sweet at the same time: the original owners were the Castellano sisters and they donated their collection to the museum because they are old ladies and they were afraid of dying because they didnt want their dolls to be separated after their death. One of them died a like two years ago :C Their collection is so beautiful and so creepy hahaha Im a doll collector but even I was scared of being inside the museum alone. Seriously, it was only me and my friend at the museum. And there was a music box playing. It was like an horror movie but so cool at the same time lmao

[@aguilacalva2625]

Wow! True wonders of mechanical ingenuity and beauty 👍👏👏

[@shahxad6533]

It almost seem impossible . I love the dedication these people had .

[@bshays21]

I would love to own one of these. I used to have a little plastic keychain, when it was opened you'd feel the gears going. Inside was a kitten playing with yarn.

[@ianedmonds9191]

I was in york a few months back and visited the castle museum. I know I didn't walk past this to get to the museum. One of my best memories of my teens was getting to visit a museum of automaton in La Rochelle in France as part of School Trip/Foreign Work Experience thing. Blew my mind completely. Shame this is not there now. Luv and Peace.

[@OlgaHruleva]

Давайте надеяться что эти сокровища вернутся людям !

[@jupiter9974]

i kinda wish i was able to see any of these in person when i was younger

[@wildphoenix1984]

I went here years ago! Was terribly sad to hear it had closed :( Thanks for uploading this, it allows me to show my partner what was so awesome about the museum :)

[@Muswell]

So what happened to all of the exhibits?

[@Pbav8tor]

Thank you. They all remind me of the Antikithera device!

[@jorgecruzseda7551]

What beautiful and wonderfull works

[@cyndibear5]

Absolutely amazing! Thanks for bringing this to us.

[@Daud76]

Amazing automans! I will be visiting the UK in June this year. This museam will definitely be on my tour list.

[@Daud76]

@thanks Thank you for letting me know. If it still stood, it would have been a very long drive from where I will be staying in the UK. So I probably would not have visited.

[@bowtie3963]

Reminds me of some of the machines at House On The Rock.I love that place!!!

[@johnferguson4089]

The ingenuity and production of these pieces is astounding. They are wonders of the mechanical age when artisans spent countless hours perfecting these pieces. Thank you so much for this video.

[@Maite1960]

I visited several times many years ago and was very disappointed when it closed because it was such an unusual and fun and fascinating museum!!!! very unique theme for the city of York. It was a great loss to the city when it closed. I was googling when I found this video and I'm so thrilled that all these years later, I can finally "revisit", even if only virtually!

[@user-wb4cl7wm7n]

Just googled and yes it closed in 1996 which is a shame especially for Jack Donavan who had been approached by a Japanese potential buyer for the Archer and he had declined stating that he wished to be buried with it. The entire collection was purchased from the Museum some where offered for sale by Sotheby’s in 2001.

[@hjd832]

Fabulous !.....So sorry we didn't hang on to this and expand it ! Wouldhave been worthy of Lottery funding...

[@telemachus53]

I just read from the comments that this museum has closed - for all kinds of spurious reasons. I was just planning a visit to.

[@dickkrejsa9716]

Illustrious! Amazing! Brilliant! It shows the creativity of man during that era. I'm glad this video survives.100 years from now, will we see videos of men making computers, robots, vacuum cleaner robots, and vehicles flying to the moon and/or Mars? I would have loved to see this museum.

[@davidsed69]

Thanks so much for sharing this !! Its greatly appreciated by Automata enthusiasts like me who are not in the UK and have never been able to visit the museum !

[@SteevDragon67]

Very clever and ingenious devices! I especially love the clockwork ones!

[@debbielove7577]

Just loved this museum when we visited from Scotland. When I lived in York this place was a favourite stop off. Still love (and make) automata to this day :-) Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@DEADEYESTUDIO]

"hey how are you, good sir?" *takes off knight helmet, winks awkwardly and does a tongue flick* "yeah.....same" seriously tho this is awesome. really cool to see what was made back then.

[@keithnaylor1981]

A video to treasure! Such beauty, such expert workmanship is amazing to watch. Very moving! There are too many awesome creations here to watch in one go!

[@momurphy7417]

Absolutely loved them all💚

[@Robothut]

The best Automaton video on You Tube ! Thank you for posting!

[@bouyant8659]

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.. THANK YOU FOR SHARING

[@TheVamppir8]

Brilliant, went there once. It was shut before I finally moved to York. Often think of my visit. Thanks for the video was an amazing place. Also went to Penny Arcadia in Pock also gone, that was the most amazing place I have ever been in my life.

[@TomHaneyArtwork]

Amazing examples - and very inspiring! Thanks for posting this.

[@pnamajck]

thanks for sharing the video on automatons … the diversity was thrilling as well as entertaining!

[@4greenfieldseire654]

brilliant workmanship,, beautiful...thank you

[@marialeonildecaetanoleodor1715]

Que relíquias maravilhosas. Ainda bem que existem os museus para preservar coisas tão lindas. A riqueza de detalhes das peças impressiona. Parabéns pelo canal.

[@icemansmom00]

Thank You for this.Amazing

[@JazTimeJewelersTustin]

Its amazing what you can do with clockwork if you put your mind to it. Too bad no one is making this kind of things. Although it reminds me of this Kinetic-Artist with the walking things on the beach.

[@raykent3211]

JazTime strandbeest, for anyone wondering.

[@rogerscottcathey]

The Hero steam engine doesn't work by virtue of the gas jet impacting anything external, it is the impact inside the tube on the bend of the pipe that impels it.

[@paulinedraper980]

Stunning!

[@sassycat1360]

Really enjoyed this, thanks for posting. Subbed to your channel as your content is fantastic!

[@user-vy3zy7eb8m]

Отличный музей!!! Прекрасные механические игрушки, шкатулки! Есть что посмотреть!

[@deborahsuewho7667]

Literally wonderful.

[@nigelcarren]

Damn... just when I thought I was getting pretty good at making miniature metal marvels... I see this!! BRAVO, and thank you for this fantastic upload. 🏆

[@jaygee256]

Wow! But I'm feeling a bit of a fool I lived in Harrogate, less than 20 miles away, when this pace was open and I didn't know anything about it. Next best thing is this vid.

[@gabo3984]

Que trabalho espetacular, maravilha 😍😍👏🏻👏🏻

[@adamwordsworth6732]

Thanks for this video. I was reminiscing, telling somebody about this. I went here as a kid and its a big shame it closed.

[@eligras]

Fantastic! Lovely.

[@txsraappraiser]

This is a great documentary.

[@silvaright]

Those automatas remind me of goosebumps (the books), they are both scary and hypnotizing.

[@JuzefaWingedCat]

Thank you, was very nice to watch!

[@gilligancharliebrown399]

Thank you!

[@wizzwamf]

an amazing museum , the displays were lavish and the televisions played each automata, and lit the item up so you knew which piece was working,i remember i went to york and the whole museum was empty and a little sign said moved to japan, why is this now in a private collection or a museum, where everyone can see it ,,if not its a liberty as there is nothing in england now to match this ever again, but thanks for posting this its great to see the collection again

[@coltenmeyer2775]

Im getting into collecting these there just so amazing.

Wonderful little masterpieces

[@Lumibear.]

Oh I was lucky to get to see this place before it disappeared, great video, it inspired memories, lovely.

[@markcousins9337]

I applied for a job there in the early Nineties but never got it-and never went. I think it closed down shortly after that. I wish I had gone after watching this. 0904 number tells how long ago that was made!

[@lyndapaige7159]

These are so wonderful! It's a great video and I'm very happy that I had a chance to see it. It's a terrific record with such lovely examples.

[@AdenThie]

+Lynda Paige You might know. What happened to all of the Automata once it closed?

[@MooPotPie]

+Aden Thie The museum closed in 1996, and the collection is now in Japan.

[@AdenThie]

OHHH where in Japan?

[@dickmcshan9778]

This is both an educational and very entertaining presentation! Job well done! Cheers, Dick from Vancouver.

[@linrkirk]

Thank you for posting.

[@rosefalcone4844]

This is fascinating. Great video.

[@wolfgangboettcher3126]

Ready

[@user-wb4cl7wm7n]

Very nice to see these properly restored and displayed compared to the BBC programme 20 years before.

[@carolhouston8198]

Masters at work!

[@shahxad6533]

I was watching this documentary. And it motivated me to be a hard working mechanical Engineer.& Makes me love my field I Have only a year & half remaining until the degree.

[@minicar47]

Ik heb genoten van dit filmpje 👌👏🏻

[@kittyowlblu]

Wow I remember going to this museum it was brilliant!

[@milliefusion7340]

That was so much fun to watch this. We all need something new in automata these days.

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

Morris museum in New jersey has a wonderful collection to see and hear...🕊🇺🇲💕

[@danieldesousa7203]

I cannot understand how can I, a young of 21st century who see many robots, artificial intelligence with indifference , be scared and amazed with these ancient automatons!

[@-Gunnarsson]

I like the clockworks and stuff. Really awesome work

[@MsMaling]

Just incredible.