Automaton is derived from two Greek words signifying self-movement, and is usually applied to machinery constructed to represent human or animal actions; 'automatic' used of an apparatus, implies that it does its work with little or no guidance or interference from man, as in a telegraphic 'automatic transmitter.' The construction of automata has occupied the attention of mankind from very early ages. Archytas of Tarentum is reported, so long ago as 400 B.C., to have made a pigeon that could fly. Hero of Alexandria describes in his book upon pneumatics a number of automatic contrivances which depend upon well-known principles. Other ancient writers record similar devices; but it is difficult to understand how these could have been made at a time when technical knowledge was at a low ebb. Many of them doubtless were simple tricks to impose upon the superstitious and credulous. One of the most perfect automata was one constructed by M. Vaucanson, and exhibited in Paris in 1738. It represented a flute-player, which placed its lips against the instrument, and produced the notes with its fingers in precisely the same manner as a human being does. In 1741 M. Vaucanson made a flageolet-player, which with one hand beat a tambourine; and in the same year he produced a duck. This was a most ingenious contrivance, the mechanical duck being made to conduct itself in every respect like its animated pattern. It swam, dived, ate, drank, dressed its wings, &c. as naturally as its live companions; and, most wonderful of all, by means of a solution in the stomach, it was actually made to digest its food! Brewster says of this duck 'that it was perhaps the most wonderful piece of mechanism that was ever made.' This statement is qualified by Robert Houdin, the celebrated conjuror, into whose hands Vaucanson's 'duck' was placed for repair. He found that the so-called 'digestive process' was brought about by a vulgar trick altogether unworthy of its author, who was without doubt a clever mechanic. M. Droz, a Swiss, made for the king of Spain a sheep that bleated, and a dog which guarded a basket of fruit. If any of the fruit was taken away, the dog barked incessantly until it was replaced. He also made a singing-bird, which was ultimately quite eclipsed by another made by Maillardet.
The 'Piping Bullfinch,' first exhibited at the London Exhibition of 1851, was a very perfect example of those automata which imitate the movement and song of birds. This piece of apparatus was a box of the size of a large snuff-box. Upon touching a spring, a tiny bird sprang from it, fluttered its wings, and trilled the true pipe of the bullfinch. The sound in reality came from the box, which contained a small pipe which could be shortened and lengthened by the action of a piston, so as to give different notes. It was controlled by a lever, which was actuated by studs on a small clockwork barrel, the necessary wind being furnished by bellows. It was indeed a very elaborate adaptation of the same principle which actuates the mechanical cuckoo in the well-known Swiss clocks. And in this connection, famous complicated clocks like that in the cathedral of Strasburg deserve mention.
Most of the automata which draw or write have probably been adaptations of the pantagraph principle, and have in recent years been eclipsed by the writing telegraph of Mr E. A. Cowper. This, of course, is not an automaton, but it is mentioned here as a marvellous proof of what can be accomplished by electrical means. The system was worked for some months on the South-western Railway, between Waterloo and Woking stations, a distance of 26 miles. Messages written at one of these stations were reproduced in the handwriting of the operator at the other. Houdin, the famous conjurer, made a writing and drawing automaton, which made a great sensation when exhibited in Paris. It was set in motion by clockwork. Faber's talking machine, exhibited in various cities some years ago, has been classed among celebrated automata; but it has no claim to this distinction, for it was worked by keys and pedals. It very imperfectly reproduced speech by mechanical means. Kempelen's chess-player was long regarded as an automaton, but it is now known that a crippled officer—a famous chess-player—was concealed within the figure, and that he used this means to escape from Russia, where a price had been set upon his head.
Of late years all previous efforts in the making of automata have been surpassed by Mr J. N. Maskelyne, who may truly be said to have commenced a new era. The first one, 'Psycho,' was introduced to public notice in January 1875. This is a seated figure of light construction. During performance it is doubly insulated by being placed on a glass cylinder, which stands upon a small movable platform, furnished with porcelain castors. This arrangement at once negatives the idea that it may be worked by electricity. The figure moves its head, and from a rack in front of it chooses the cards necessary for playing a hand at whist, which it plays in a masterly manner. It will also work out calculations up to 100,000,000, showing the entire total of each calculation in a box in front by opening a sliding door. It acts without any mechanical connection with anything outside it, and yet is so much under control that it executes all orders intelligently. The nature of this control is so secret that, although Mr Maskelyne's assistants are aware that certain operations produce certain results, they are quite ignorant as to the principle upon which the automaton works. Zoe (1877) is another automaton which owes its creation to Mr Maskelyne's ingenuity. This is also a sitting figure—insulated, and having no mechanical connection with anything else. During performance there is placed in front of it a sheet of drawing-paper, upon which it traces the likeness of any public character which may be chosen by the spectators from a list of 200 names. Mr
Maskelyne has also constructed other automata, which play upon musical instruments, and perform other surprising feats. 'Automatic machines,' by which on his 'dropping a penny in the slot' the passer-by is provided with sweetmeats or other articles, have been of commercial importance since 1890; they are worked by mechanism somewhat resembling clockwork. Another variety is the penny-in-the-slot gas-meter, in which the insertion of a penny ensures a supply of so many feet of gas.
See Brewster's Letters on Natural Magic; Houdin's Memoirs and his Secrets of Conjuring; Hutton's Mathematical Recreations.