title: Automata and Mechanical Toys
author: Rodney Peppe
description: No other craft so brilliantly captures the magic of turning a handle, icking a switch, or pulling a lever to see the unexpected come to life. <b>Automata and Mechanical Toys</b> is a book for anyone drawn to simple, entertaining mechanics. The book features 21 leading makers, each with a distinctive style. With 160 color photos and 100 delightful examples of the craft, the book is a feast for collectors and enthusiasts. A substantial section of the book is devoted to making automata mechanisms, ideal for novices or those wishing to learn new techniques. Illustrated, stepbystep instructions explain how to make a bearings box, which separately houses all the main mechanisms used in automata. The box can then be converted to any mechanism you choose. Rodney Pepp is a winner of the British Toymakers Guild Toy of the Year Award; he has had exhibitions of his work at the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum of Childhood. He is also the author of <b>Rodney Pepps Moving Toys.</b>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  Automatthew's Friend
  
  
  
  
  
  By Stanislaw Lem
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A certain robot, planning to go on a long and dangerous voyage, heard of a
  most useful device which its inventor called an electric friend. He would feel
  better, he thought, if he had a companion, even a companion that was only a
  machine, so he went to the inventor and asked to be shown an artificial
  friend.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "Sure," replied the inventor. (As you know, in fairy tales no one ever says
  "sir" or "ma'am" to anyone else, not even to dragons, it's only with the kings
  that you have to stand on ceremony.) With this he pulled from his pocket a
  handful of metal granules, that looked like fine shot.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "What is that?" said the robot in surprise.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "Tell me your name, for I forgot to ask it in the proper place of this fairy
  tale," said the inventor.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "My name is Automatthew."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "That's too long for me, I'll call you Autom."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "Autom's from Automaton, but have it your way," replied the other.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  