Shows various marvelous automatons from early 1800's brilliant craftsmanship from forgotten times. Each part had to be handcrafted and this programs shows how much effort goes into making an actual moving robot.
Swap-able mechanical memory that allows a mechanical robot to switch performance and output for drawing a dog and writing custom messages.
Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams
2013
Action / Documentary
Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams
2013
Action / Documentary
7.8Plot summary
Excellent one hour documentary narrated by Professor Simon Schaffer which explores the fascinating and rarely told story of automata, those intricate clockwork devices built hundreds of years ago with the intent to mimic and recreate life. Of particular interest are Jaquet-Droz's 'The Writer' (1774) and Merlin's 'The Silver Swan' (1773) which beautifully illustrate the degree of technical mechanical sophistication achieved by artisans over 240 years ago. There is also a funny aside: the record Prof. Schaffer places on the turntable at the end (columbia LX466, 1935 impression) is the Beethoven String Sonata Opus 132 and not the Symphony 7 so BBC used any old record and overlaid the sound track.
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Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 567.84 MB
1280*714
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
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Very interesting docu about the origin of automatrons, the 1st mechanical computers.
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Could have been excellent, but ruined by pretentious presenter.
This announcer, he is a "professor," went on and on and talking soo slowly. and ponderously, emphasizing each word for effect. Most of the video is just staring into his kisser. Professor, would you please just show us the clockwork items, they, and not you, are the stars of this show.