The Silver Swan

This musical automaton is much loved and over the last century has become the icon of The Bowes Museum. The Silver Swan dates from 1773 and was first recorded in 1774 as a crowd puller in the Mechanical Museum of James Cox, a London showman and dealer. The swan is life-size and is controlled by three separate clockwork mechanisms. It is still in working order, though it is operated only once or twice a day because of its age.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• swan
• bowes
• museum
• silver

[remyposees]

for the same kind of nice display see the peacock clock of St Petersburg also designed by James Cox and still working but only once a year to preserve its mechanism, so that why i posted the video showing it working

[robfromorlando]

I'll bet Walt Disney was inspired by The Silver Swan to create his famous "audioanimatronics" figures...

[TheVDRun1988]

very cool.

[bcgrote]

That is neat! A good reason to get back to the UK for a visit!

My Furby doesn't even get used twice a day, so this thing is amazing, and VERY well maintained! What a lovely thing!