The first robots of the eighteenth century
Robot automatons of the Pierre Jaquet-Droz family
Creator of the first robot automaton Pierre Jaquet-Droz (Jaquet Droz), was born exactly three hundred years ago, in 1721, on a small farm Sur-le-Pont, located in the vicinity of the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland).
The representatives of the older generation of the family: Brant de Grieren, Sandoz, Robert, instilled in young Pierre an interest in high-precision mechanics and watchmaking, which grew into a real passion.
Mid 18th century! Pierre Jaquet Droz is passionate about watch mechanics. Gradually integrates automatic modules and mechanisms of music playback into its products.
He brings his watchmaker's art to perfection.
But the highest degree of skill manifested itself in three dolls: Calligrapher, Artist and Girl-musician. Their presentation took place at La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1774.
Indeed, these robotic computers are impressive.
Robots for attracting attention.
The funny thing is that the creation of automatons was for Jacquet Droz just a way to attract the attention of wealthy people in order to increase the demand for the watches he creates. And he succeeded with success.
Thanks to his creations, Jacquet Droz was introduced to the leading royal courts of Europe, Russia and China.
For their time, androids are real masterpieces that attracted the attention of connoisseurs of fine mechanics.
Automatons are three incredible androids, developed and assembled by Pierre himself, his sons Henri-Louis and Jean-Frédéric Leschot, in the years 1768-1774.
Among these stunning dolls is a musician girl named Marianne.
The music that emerges under her graceful hands is not a record, it is not played by a music box. The doll presses with her fingers the keys of a specially designed instrument for her - a miniature organ of 24 pipes.
Moreover, like a real musician, she follows the movements of her hands and fingers with her eyes, balancing on a bench, and supports her torso.
Marianne, consisting of 2500 parts, "breathes". You can watch her chest move.
Artist Henri Is an automaton assembled from 2000 parts, 70 cm in height, created by the master in 1773.
The doll can accurately draw four drawings: a portrait of King Louis XV; the royal couple - Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; a dog with a signature, translated from French as "my doggie" and a small composition in the form of Cupid riding a chariot drawn by a butterfly.
The mechanism of the doll consists of a system of cams that control the movement of the hand in two dimensions. They are also responsible for lifting the pencil. Anri "fidgets" on the chair and periodically blows dust off the pencil.
Calligrapher Charles Is the most complex automaton, completed by Pierre in 1772.
The doll, 70 cm tall, consists of 6,000 elements. Charles can write 40 letters spread over 4 lines. Changes in letters are due to a unique device.
The text can be programmed on a toothed disc in the doll's lower back, replacing 40 wedges corresponding to different letters of the alphabet. The rotating disc is connected to three mechanisms responsible for the direction of movement of the doll's hand and the degree of pressure of the pen on the paper.
According to one of the hypotheses that exist today, it was the boy-calligrapher who first used the word "android" in his notes, which is supposedly derived from the name of Henri-Louis Jacquet-Droz.
The calligrapher looks like a diligent little intellectual boy. The doll follows the text with its eyes, which it prints on a sheet of paper with a quill pen. The robot periodically draws a new portion of ink, and gently shakes the pen so as not to put a blot.
Today it is difficult to imagine what it means to create a mechanical doll capable of writing in 1770? How long it took for the author, how much patience and resourcefulness!
Today, the Swatch Group, the successors to Jaquet Droz, who bought it back in 2000, can create a similar doll for you. The production of an automaton up to 80 cm tall will take a year, depending on which face, torso and dress you want to see. But be prepared to shell out a tidy sum for the doll.
It is striking that all three of Pierre Jaquet-Droz's androids are still operational.
You can see unique dolls in the city Museum of Art and History of the city of Neuchâtel (Switzerland). We get to this event only by appointment, on the last Sunday of every month.
The curator of the museum will make dolls especially for you.
In the title photo - Curator of the Museum of Art and History of the city of Neuchâtel.
Photos are taken from open sources on the Internet.
With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina
https://www.instagram.com/tatakalinyshka/
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