Robots from the 1800s – Automata – Mechanical wonders!

I never imagined that i would have a chance to sit down with this brilliant man who builds props and illusions for EVERY FAMOUS MAGICIAN you have ever heard of. When he is not building miracles for TV and Vegas shows – his passion is restoring and creating Mechanical wonders called Automata!

We worked the Magic Castle in Hollywood the same week that John Gaughan was performing with his Automata characters. It was an amazing performance – and we chatted at the castle and then he invited us to visit his legendary workshop.

We talked for 2 hours about his original trapeze automata – Antonio – which is an original piece made from Robert Houdin! We also talked at length about his 40 year quest in reproducing one of the most famous Automata of all time – THE TURK! Believed to be the inspiration for the modern day computer – this Automata – would play CHESS with people AND DEFEAT THEM.

Have you seen the movie HUGO? That was a movie about a writing Automata – and in the video you will see that Gaughan has built an Automata that looks like Houdini and he even will give you an perfect Houdini Autograph! Have you ever encountered a real vintage automata – please share your story in the comments below!