Through his mastery of complex mechanisms and movements, Pierre Jaquet Droz became the uncontested master of automata that were also genuine works of art : songbirds, fountains, and musical watches to name but a few.
He was also the creator of “L'Ecrivain” (The Writer - 1775) : a unique automaton and a true piece of art; its six-hundred-piece mechanism was extremely complex, much more intricate than those of other automata. It could be set to write any text of up to forty letters or symbols on a smooth piece of paper, as if on a typewriter. Two other automata, “La Musicienne” (The Musician) and “Le Dessinateur” (The Draftsman), were designed by his two sons, whom he trained from their earliest years. Today, these creations can be admired at the Neuchâtel Museum of Art and History in Switzerland.
The Time Writing Machine: more information
