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Amazing 18th-century Automaton in Russia
By Kevin Kline

Yes. I saw it last year on a special tour of the Hermitage Museum.
The mechanical music and clock curator played it for us.

It was purchased by Catherine the Great, in about 1785-1790, from the
workshop of James Cox in London.  It was restored a number of years
ago by Dr. Jan Jaap Haspels and his team at the Museum von Speelklok
tot Pierement in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

This piece is among the most complicated automata ever produced.

Kevin F Kline



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Key Words in Subject:  18th-century, Amazing, Automaton, Russia