DailyDirt: Just Like Clockwork
Techdirt. 2016-01-27
Summary:
Current robotic developments are impressive, but about 200 years ago, mechanical watches and clockwork mechanisms were at the height of miniaturized, complex technology. Watch complications (the functions other than the time in hours and minutes) have continued to grow in complexity with thousands of parts and dozens of time-related functions, but these features can't quite compare to the millions of "apps" that are available now. Check out a few of these clockwork examples and stop complaining about needing to recharge your battery every night. 
- Parmigiani Fleurier is a watch making company with a 'Restauration' workshop -- restoring intriguing mechanical devices such as a singing bird pistol from 1815. If you don't know what a singing bird pistol is -- it's the most expensive gag gift ever. It looks like a gun, but when you pull the trigger, a little clockwork bird pops out and whistles at you. This particular pistol was restored in painstaking detail, and we're lucky there was no DRM to prevent anyone from taking these things apart and fixing them. [url]
- The Ethiopian Caterpillar is another automaton from 1820. Only six of them are known to exist, and if they weren't encrusted with jewels, they'd be even more creepy looking. [url]
- The only pair of singing bird pistols known to still exist in working condition were sold at auction a few years ago for nearly $6 million. And if you're wondering how the birds actually sing, there's a miniature system of bellows and whistles that are driven by clockwork to produce the sounds. [url]