Features of note:

Here are a few of the features of the automata piece that may not be obvious from watching the videos or looking at the photos.
  • If you watch closely you can see Jim, the excavator operator shaking after he strikes the pipeline and sees the oil.
  • The handle is a wooden replica of a small crescent wrench. Normally I try to theme the handle but I came up short on ideas for this one and when back to an old standard for me.
  • This piece was purposely designed with the mechanisms more hidden. As most of the mechanism is fairly routine there is nothing particularly interesting to show off.
  • There is a representation of a buried pipeline running through the baseplate of the piece. It's vertical section guides the spewing oil.
  • The wooden weight which loads the rear lever has lead weight in side.
  • There is a lead weight added in the counterbalance arm of the excavator boom which renders the boom almost weightless to the mechanism.

Shrouded in Mystery!

Automata photo showing mock engine on back of wildebeest in the
As I was assembling the piece I considered that an unobstructed view from the front distracted from the "surprise" of the bubbling oil so I added a shroud on the front and end of the piece. I admit that it is not particularly pleasing to look at but I think that hiding the leak added to the piece.

The Labouers

That's a replica of me on the left. Fred, well he's fictional, but at least he is wearing his safety vest!

Specifications:

Dimensions: 12" tall X 14" wide X 8.5" deep. (30.5 X 35.6 X 21.6 cm)
Weight: 4.5 lb. (2.0 kg.)
Number of Pieces: 322 
Materials of Construction: Frame - Poplar, and Birch Plywood,  Cams/Gears - Birch                             .                                                  Plywood,   Workmen - Basswood                                                  
Conquergood Creative
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