Sheep Shearing Man Automaton

Finally I completed this project which I planned to begin two years ago but never got to it until recently!

A 1995 ad for this mechanical sculpture reads:

“SHEEP SHEARER
This has been a favourite in the shop since the shop was a small boy. It’s designed by Ron Fuller and made by Matthew Smith. The sheep is shearing the man who bobs up and down, just avoiding the scissors. Until the fateful ninth turn when he is decapitated (to put it politely). Luckily, his head is on a string. 23cm high, 21cm wide. Price £375.00. (Source: CMT News No. 20 Dec. 1995)”

Mechanically, this piece is no less complicated than the Lion Tamer and has four mechanisms, one of which is a slow motion cam. I studied all the pictures and video clips available on the sheep shearer before I began but ran into many teething problems to say the least. I did benefit from the many close-up pictures received from the generous Matt Smith, who had made hundreds of this automaton in the 90s or so. Like many woodworking ventures, patience was critical in this one.

To see the piece in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8zgtGkMf3k

P.S. My initial “M” is represented by the driving gear in the logo.

-- The time I enjoy wasting is not time wasted