Paul Spooner : Mechanical Joke Maker

[@avahsieh4645]

"Why do you make these jokes?" Paul: "Because I am completely unsuited to make anything else." The line makes me smile. Paul is so witty and funny. It would be lovely and palatable to see his crafts to be adapted into illustration books or slice-of-life short film.

[@BradHollowniczky]

There is an extensive gallery of Mr. Spooner's creations in Baltimore, MD at the American Visionary Art Museum which specializes in works by self-taught outsider artists. It's a wonderful museum and Mr. Spooner's are amongst my favorite works in their collection.

[@urbanobjects]

Bradley Lyndon thanks for the comment. The AVAM is one of my all time favorite museums. I believe there is a permanent show there of a bunch of Cabaret Mechanical people’s work and featuring Paul’s. Perfect venue for it. Thanks again!

[@BradHollowniczky]

I live in Lancaster PA and work at a place called Arch Street Center. It's a drop-in day center for adults with mental illness. I helped secure a grant for art-based field trips, supplies and activities a few years ago and our first trip was to the AVAM. It was a big hit with our members who attended. As you know there's a permanent exhibit of works by artists with mental illness. Those works particularly resonated with our people and a couple of them have since begun to hone their own artistic skills. They still talk about the mirror-encrusted fart machine! It was a memorable trip and the AVAM is a magical place. Cheers!

[@urbanobjects]

Bradley I love how that museum so deeply moves so many people. I first visited in the 1996 while doing the ACC craft show. The museum altered their hours so artists from the show could visit after hours. To be with so many artists in a space filled with art that we all deeply understood was profound. We were all geeking out at every turn. Friends who do meticulous embroidery work were standing gobsmacked in front of the incarcerated artists works that were seen using found sock thread. I was stopped in my tracks by the single carved figure of a man from a fallen tree. It was a self portrait done by a man who had been in a sanitarium for years. Haunting. On a return trip I saw an exhibition of Judith Scott’s work. She was a twin with Down’s syndrome who lived a horrible life in an institution. She was discovered late in life by her sister who rescued her from that place and moved her to San Francisco to a loving facility. She showed no interest in the activities at the place for a while. Then one day she started gathering materials. She wrapped objects obsessively with yarn creating larger and larger forms of mummified objects. Once she started she was unstoppable. She was focused and in the zone for years. Her work for me represents that artistic fire that lives within each of us. Continue doing the good work you do. Thanks for the comments.

[@BradHollowniczky]

Aaron Kramer I love my job and I love that I can share my own strengths and interests with my members. The wood sculpture self-portrait you mention left one of my members absolutely gobsmacked. This is a big, burly guy who doesn't like to show his real emotions and hides behind a lot of bluster and jokes. It was a true epiphany for him. Sounds like you've had an epiphany or two there yourself! That must habe been a wonderful experience being there with a group of artists amd seeing what untrained folks with an intense desire to create can come up with using only the barest of found materials. I am hoping we can do a follow up trip this spring or summer. We've done some other galleries and museums but I would really like to share that place with more of my people. Cheers!

[@quantumleap359]

Paul is a clever little boy trapped in a grown man's body! What a treasure! Thanks for posting.

[@urbanobjects]

Quantum Leap perfect description!

[@adjenkinsuk]

In a world where everything is consumer driven, plastic, disposable rubbish this is true art. The detail, care and feeling put into this work is astounding. Paul you are very much a genius. You mention Picaso, you are a modern day Picasso or DaVinci in my eyes.

[@urbanobjects]

He really is. Thanks for watching.

[@kjamison5951]

I saw a TV programme on his work years ago. He made a model of a guy sitting in a bath, eating spaghetti. He wasn't happy with the initial bite so he re-engineered the cams to make the model chew a few times. Brilliant!

[@urbanobjects]

The spaghetti eater is a crowd favorite.

[@jasonsoulie1337]

Agreed. That sketch book was a real thing of beauty it reminded me of DaVinci drawings and his codex. Dude is brilliant

[@josepereirasalazarfilho2424]

Como posso começar nesta arte que me encanta desde criança por favor me dê uma resposta

[@kamikaze2613]

@@josepereirasalazarfilho2424 dibujar está todo en ti. solo tienes que ir a buscarlo. Estoy en el mismo lugar que tú y es muy desmoralizador a veces cuando veo el arte de otros asombroso en comparación con el mío. creo que eso nunca se detendrá porque obliga a los artistas a mejorar constantemente

[@Flash-Strike]

@@josepereirasalazarfilho2424 Desenhando, tendo um serrote curto quadrado, Faca de desbaste de madeira, furadeira com broca de madeira, mesmo manual serve, caneta sharpie, linha forte, dois arames um fino e um muito fino para amarrações etc. Começa fazendo uma caixa de manivela que dentro tem o coração, UM arame em dobra este vai acionar seu BRAÇO de transferencia, esse braço aciona tudo que estiver acima da caixa, como o braço de força de uma locomotiva à vapor. Ideal é separar duas horas por dia todo dia para a pratica, ou de acordo com a vontade. Boa SORTE DEUS abençoe

[@michaeldoster4847]

The sausages were an udder disgrace! Lol. Amazing, amazing patience! If I tried to do something like that, there would be broken bits everywhere! What an absolutely amazing feat! Thank you for sharing this! God bless!

[@carmelpule6954]

I can appreciate this gentleman's mind and skills as I tried to do some automata toys myself. First I wish to congratulate him on his design sketchbook on which he keeps records of what he does or intend to do. What strikes me most is his wish to create very complex sequences which tells a full stories. I definitely can appreciate his need to build prototypes which as he says do not always work as he want it to work and that takes time. In fact I can admire this man in that the time he spends in thinking the action must be a long time and his finishing is so good that too must take a long time to achieve, I like his sculpting and when he showed a model of a young girl sitting beside a silly boy scout , on looking at their faces, this gentleman must have a very good idea of society both in how the mental and physical actions of people go about. I really do not know how he makes a living out of this as the time involved to do these models are so long and so he must have some very understanding customers. He is also an expert in woods as I can see the selection of the woods and its harness is fitting very well the sequence required and not all woods are suitable for certain functions. Such movements, and such linkages should be used in schools to teach all the associated subjects as mathematics and physics and movements through cranks, levers , gears, cams . He has a full educational system for which he works do hard and it is a pity that schools are not filled with such sequences which are a representation of the universe around us. No contents of a book can equal to the reality that this man depicts. Sir may I offer my congratulations for your work, you must be a very dedicated person to spend all that time thinking about the linkages and the timing to produce an action. It seems to give you peace of mind and your happy eyes show it so clearly

[@user-ij7mg1wf1p]

Carmel Pule' Very well said, this man is truly skilled, and enjoys every minute of the process.

[@urbanobjects]

He is an amazing illustrator. When he draws you can see that he is working out the engineering as he goes. He carves with a simple knife. A whittling savant. And you are right, when he develops a "story" it must have a beginning middle and end then reset and do the whole sequence again. Often it is done using cams that are the program. But looking at his mechanisms just dumbfounded me. I am not an engineer but the subtlety and complexity just astounds. Then he puts it all together in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. Yes a true genius in my book.

[@RD9_Designs]

My son had to make such a machine in school... they were named after an artist who made such machines, or at least drew the schematics, but I forget the artist's name.

[@erinhankie2338]

These are amazingly incredible works of art. How wonderful!

[@susanfarley1332]

His work is delightful! i love mechanical jokes. i also love visual puns.

[@galactikbutterfly]

I love x1000 this man’s art

[@drdassler]

I love them. Thank you for creating such satisfying art. It's a very rare talent.

[@ercost60]

Absolutely perfect and marvelous. Truly fabulous work from a too-modest artist of wonderful temperament.

[@studiosandi]

I'm so glad you were able to be an artist with your life❤

[@urbanobjects]

Thank you Sandi. I'm not sure if you mean me or Paul. But either way I am honored to have had a long career and along the way have become friends with a group of similarly minded individuals who's work I love to celebrate because I personally feel connected to it. My interviews are all over the place based on what maybe I just spoke with the artist about prior to turning on the camera, to deep in the weeds analysis of a particular process to the often asked question, "how do you make a living". Thanks and check out some of my other interviews on this platform as well as Vimeo. vimeo.com/showcase/3814665

[@studiosandi]

@@urbanobjects I was drawn to your channel because of Paul. He is wonderful and you did a great job interviewing him. I look forward to more of your videos and the future. And I am super glad that you have been able to live your best creative life!💜💚🧡

[@profrat]

Thanks to you and Paul for making this splendid interview. Mr Spooner is responsible for practically every surface in my house being covered with some kind of automata made from his amazing books (plus many others which are great but haven't quite got the Spooner touch), and thus my extensive dust collection. A really inspirational man.

[@ShelliLoop]

i would love to see your collection too!!!

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

Fantastic, love his sense of humour. I love making things and totally agree with him about doing commissions. I hate doing them as I also hate making the same thing twice. Love his work.

[@bulasturubula3660]

This man is a genius.

[@Hkarl85]

True maker and absolutely amazing style, it's looks drawn so I look it as a mechanical cartoon I would love to own one of his works

[@suzanne_atkinson]

his sketchbook is amazing, i'd definitely buy a replica of that

[@notinservice1278]

This is imagination kids learn from this guy amazing work keep up the work God bless you.

[@robertblackburn752]

I worked in the DT dept in a school in Leytonstone and we would set the year 10 students a mechanical toy project. Paul Spooners work was a source of inspiration for the students when designing their toys. Some of the resulting pieces were amazing. Great fun! This guy is a legend.

[@JasonSuterOssum]

What ingenious and hilarious creations. The interview was fantastic, you really get to see Paul's mischievous sense of humor that he puts in the designs, thanks for sharing!

[@urbanobjects]

You're welcome. Can I ask where you first saw this video online?

[@JasonSuterOssum]

Aaron Kramer It popped up in recommended videos on the side, which is weird because I had been looking at supersized 3D printed lego, but I'm glad it did.

[@urbanobjects]

Jason Thanks for letting me know. There are several other makers from the Falmouth are that I have interviewed. Check them out.

[@JasonSuterOssum]

Thanks, I have just been watching a few of them, always inspiring to see what other makers are up to, it can trigger all sorts of ideas. Now I'm pondering doing some 3D printable automata myself... the closest I have done is my blooming flower lamp: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGbLk5eQiZVshqM

[@gforcefoamy]

hey my great grandmothers last name was Spooner. i have been doing this same type of work myself along time now but i invent mostly toys that use electronics, alot of remote control types. tons of fun but i cant stop. after seeing this video i think we must be related lol. i recently got a 3d printer and now my prototypes are so nice and i can make them much faster now using it. id highly recommend for you to get one also as your ideas are wonderful. keep creating! wish i could visit someday id love to see you shop in person!

[@censusgary]

Paul Spooner’s drawings are beautiful.

[@oriel9347]

I like to think people have been making these for millennia. A true art, with mr spooner you can see how specific the characters are to the artist.

[@urbanobjects]

His “style” is often stripped of unnecessary ornament. It’s a 3D cartoon. Question for you, did you see this video in the “suggested” videos or did you find it on a website? I shot this a while back but recently it has been getting a lot of attention.

[@KJensenStudio]

Paul Spooner is a genius, but don't don't tell him, or he might get all sassy and stop making these little wonders. I may be in love with his brain, really. Thanks so much for sharing him with us!

[@urbanobjects]

He really is a National Treasure. He had a TV show in the 70’s where he explained things that were mechanical. Machinations I believe. Question for you, did you see this video in the “suggested” videos or did you find it on a website? I shot this a while back but recently it has been getting a lot of attention.

[@KJensenStudio]

@@urbanobjects it was suggested, probably because I watch a lot of Theo Jansen's Strandbeest videos, kinetics and the like. I'm glad you are getting more views. Did I subscribe yet? I don't remember, let me just go see....

[@KJensenStudio]

@@urbanobjects Why yes! Yes I did. 🙂

[@theressamurphy2996]

what a wonderful mind🎉

[@archerc4828]

These are beyond doubt works of art.

[@DulceN]

This is fantastic, this man has a brilliant mind. 💕

[@attilathehamster6774]

Brilliant. I'll bet you Singer never saw their treddle becoming a scroll saw. Paul should consider releasing his sketchbooks, I'm pretty sure they'd spark an idea in someone's head. We need more like him.

[@judyappel4652]

❤️❤️❤️ I am absolutely amazed and I look on with great wonderment.... your wonderful and a true craftsman! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Lumibear.]

Brilliant! Oh I laughed at the last one.

[@maximalder5190]

Amazingly incredible works of art !!!

[@urbanobjects]

Question for you, did you see this video in the “suggested” videos or did you find it on a website? I shot this a while back but recently it has been getting a lot of attention.

[@susanfarley6433]

The mechanicaljokes look more like Art to me. They move , they bring a smile and they have a definite style to them.

[@urbanobjects]

I definitely consider them art.

[@philipmierisch6518]

Hi Paul. Not many people would recognize the recycled parts you have used in the machine at 5.37. The front panel is from a pipe organ (correct?). I know because I used to build and restore them😊. Very clever mechanisms you build😊

[@RadioForYahweh]

Remember when toys were made with love? i don't. I'm 26 I grew up in the lead laced cheap China toy era. but I'd seen many documentaries and he's a rare find. I respect his love and passion. we need more people like him.

[@joshuamartin4547]

Most of my projects are "quick builds" which end up taking many hours, but I can only bring myself to start a new project if I at least TELL myself that it's just gonna be a "quick build". It helps me to get the whole process into my mind and build motivation and inspiration to build something awesome, regardless of the time taken.

[@urbanobjects]

He is an inspiration to soooo many. Keep working.

[@foxo4992]

‘I think that I have a very short attention-span...’ - says the man who makes these incredibly intricately calibrated wonders!

[@ralapeit0]

Wow.. I've seen his work online but never dig his name up. What a guy!!! Amazing work and great sense of humour lol

[@urbanobjects]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ramonhamm3885]

I love your work! That endless sausage maker, so strange! 😁

[@MSNERVANA]

Splendid interview with an amazing artist

[@urbanobjects]

Thank you. I have done a series of interviews over the years with all kinds of makers. My favorite artists are the ones who produce Automata. They are a special breed of artist who does the mechanical and the aesthetic.

[@karenmusa3052]

Omg Im in heaven wstching this. ❤❤

[@roehle9962]

What a wonderful guy!

[@Engelhafen]

Great mind and great artist

[@wild-radio7373]

What a delightful video! :) 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡

[@tj84vinnie]

Amazing and beautiful love the butcher one

[@mehrdokhtsadri7207]

Your work is extremely lovely and beautiful!

[@cipriantauciuc2931]

Its very good artist for me. I love this real and sensitive man

[@ElementofKindness]

I love how this guy's mind works!

[@gixxer1114]

true craftsmanship ..very funny toys

[@sudarshanjuyal]

Wow.... Simply amazing....

[@MiM-IpohCity]

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

[@BuhdaPunk]

When I was very young late 60's early 70's my grandparents had a donkey that sat on the coffee table and when you pushed its head down it lifted its tail and dispensed a cigarette from its butt. Of course being juveniles both my cousin and myself, we learned if you slammed its head down you could shoot a smoke turd quit far. and got in a ton of trouble when we lit one and shot it out as a flaming Donk turd. Well we did this at least until we broke its neck. Then he just looked like Eeyore, he was heavy made from metal and wood and had a saddle that flipped up to load the offending tobacco turds. I have not been able to find one and I have been looking since the 1980's. After seeing this I am wonder if this is one of Mr. Spooner's creations?

[@urbanobjects]

That’s a fun story. But I don’t believe it’s Paul’s work. I have seen other similar mechanical cigarette dispensers and even ones that come out the butt.

[@urbanobjects]

They do still exist. www.mercari.com/us/item/m88124292499/?gbraid=0AAAAADR9UGcqaXqd19HdzxMaBiZ24QJM3&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adgroup=141827811544&network=g&device=m&merchant_id=174519242&product_id=m88124292499&product_id=303751648073&gbraid=0AAAAADR9UGcqaXqd19HdzxMaBiZ24QJM3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1tGUBhDXARIsAIJx01nUG4QsWLZxt7s28j7TuhnPSmh1HDcPI-QYKfgJV7YHqnhEUyYisPMaApjYEALw_wcB www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-USA-Battery-Operated-JACK-ASS-Cigarette-Dispensing-Machine-FOR-PARTS-/275315735994?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

[@urbanobjects]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJOoqX6sap1qoM0

[@BuhdaPunk]

See a lot of the ear ones in plastic and metal but not like the one we had. It was bigger and the saddle flipped open. If my memory is correct it was leather or some kind of Hyde. Pretty sure the body was hardwood and head was pot metal. You could fit an entire pack in the payload of its back. tail was shaped like a number 7. not sure if it came like this or someone repainted it, but eyes were crossed and it had a tongue.

[@BuhdaPunk]

@@urbanobjects I see a lot of these but ours was a lot bigger and had a leather saddle, crossed eyes and a weird shaped tail like a number 7.

[@victoriaylibertad]

I love it! It is dorable!!

[@kuki7500]

I want say something on my comment to this Man but only one come in to may head is Respect!

[@benjaminrosales1154]

LOVELY!!!! A TRUE ARTIST!! I HOPE HE SELLS GOOD HIS PRODUCTS!!!

[@michaeldoster4847]

And an awesome sense of humour!

[@urbanobjects]

Michael Doster he does. He just turned 70 yesterday.

[@susannorman4483]

Love his work!

[@izsabellenorby1490]

So cool! I love the Egyptian push up guy!

[@simpleman283]

The boyscout getting dumped is classic, always be prepared for the dumping, no tears...

[@isotac7789]

How I envy a man who chose this career path, instead of a sure thing.

[@adondriel]

I love the Hershey's chocolate wrapper in the background! I live an hour away from hershey, always astounding when I see someone so far away with hershey's. :D

[@Watame100points]

Awesome works! They are So cute!

[@dozer1642]

I've been a lumber jack deep sea diver all this time and I've always wanted to carve witty joke dioramas.

[@invictus3663]

Dozer1642 no

[@claireagravante5123]

Wow."""""so nice and beautiful 🤗👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍

[@secondswell]

Is that one of Ron Fullers pieces at 9:32 the circus strong man?

[@urbanobjects]

secondswell it is Ron Fuller. They are friends! Also before he died Peter Markley and Paul were very close.

[@cactusrose55]

What a funny man! Cool video.

[@bluzshadez]

That guy should be an Engineer! A Jig Saw with a sewing machine base! Genius!

[@TheRedRanger6676]

bluzshadez band saw

[@GreatBowlsAfire]

Punk Rock_Film no, sorry... its a jigsaw. bandsaw blades are looped... like a...... band.

[@joehinnendael4151]

Bluzshadez saw

[@abeclarkatp2595]

Scroll saw.

[@satibel]

that's quite a common thing among hobby woodworkers I know. Probably because treadle powered jigsaws were a thing and hobby woodworkers don't have much money and can convert a sewing machine into a jigsaw.

[@petergambier]

Thanks for posting this up Aaron, ever since I was in the automata shop in Covent garden it kindled my interest in these visual jokes. Paul Merton made a series where he travelled around China and interviewed an interesting man who made things from electronic scrap. Does Mr Spooner still take commissions? I too have become a fan.

[@daveschlegel3326]

great work !!! that's all any one could say about your work its great

[@schylerreis5227]

I love this!

[@bettyespada3156]

Mis felicitaciones hermoso trabajo nunca Vi algo así

[@aspirant5872]

A creative genius.

[@alanrothnie1410]

Just Magical❤❤❤

[@vulcanswork]

Just fantastic.

[@randalllaue4042]

Wish could see the sketch book!

[@Colin399]

Love your work.

[@philipmierisch6518]

Wondering if you are related to William Archibald Spooner the inventor of the spoonerism! The 2 Ronnies used to say spoonerisms with such skill😊

[@grbgeslnger24]

An underrated craft

[@clannyst]

A very talented man

[@trulyinfamous]

This seems like the kind of stuff Adam Savage would have in his house.

[@bebobism]

Asking him about marketing was pretty funny. Obviously this man isn't even remotely interested in getting rich , look at his surroundings and the remark about the chairs. Love this guy , just doing his thing and keeping it 'real' .

[@srfrg9707]

Ancient Greeks did a lot of mechanical shows like theses. Amazing.

[@psoup.42]

I'm I the only one that didnt figure out the jokes tied to these beautiful creations?

[@spacetimeworm]

This man is brilliant!!

[@urbanobjects]

He is a National treasure. Question for you, did you see this video in the “suggested” videos or did you find it on a website? I shot this a while back but recently it has been getting a lot of attention.

[@spacetimeworm]

@@urbanobjects It was suggested to me

[@spacetimeworm]

@@urbanobjects Great work, thank you! Liked and subbed!

[@urbanobjects]

@@spacetimeworm did you get there after watching an exploratorium video?

[@spacetimeworm]

@@urbanobjects No, I'm a carpenter, and I'm always looking for cool new things to build. I guess maybe that's why it was suggested.....

[@pheidosify]

These are kinetic sculptures.

[@strukturwalzen]

Wow - that's amazing !!!! Great thanks for sharing ;O)

[@raybrown5322]

fantastic !

[@finster101]

Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@urbanobjects]

You are welcome. Can I ask where you saw the video first. Seems like a lot of people suddenly saw it.

[@Hellefleur]

Aaron Kramer For me it's in my home page. Recommended for me.

[@urbanobjects]

Hellefleur It popped up in someone else's feed too. I must be part of a new algorithm. Thanks for watching.

[@finster101]

Yeah same for me. It was suggested on the side and looked interesting.

[@catclark9488]

God I love his brain!

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

Very much enjoy fine crafts and mechanical skill.

[@JFRphotography]

10:10 Really? Nice! Looks like "Chorizo Santarrosano" indeed. Very famous in Colombia.

[@sofhispalis]

Geppetto! Good job!

[@rcillustrations9075]

Brilliant!

[@garychap8384]

PMSL with the robot at the end... that's just so SO wrong ; ) I love it!

[@bizmarkie9112]

I love this guy.

[@Sofiarivassculptor]

Paul is e genius, do you make ebooks or books or DVDs

[@urbanobjects]

I have several tutorials on my KZbin channel as well as my Vimeo. vimeo.com/aaronkramer Here is a list that has been compiled of some helpful book by the Facebook group Automata/Automaton facebook.com/notes/953827848382536

[@RealSalica]

I would love to meet this artist . I love his work .

[@claudiamendoza2211]

10:18 👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽💛💙❤ the colombian sausage is our very national chorizo (not hot spiced as the spanish one)

[@lindamon5101]

I think im in love!