Loading...It is with great pleasure today that MB&F is presenting ‘Kelys & Chirp’: a walking turtle and his singing bird companion, both fully mechanical creatures. This new co-creation was developed by our trusted friends from REUGE, the mechanical music specialists, along with a new friend: Nicolas Court, one of Switzerland’s most talented automaton experts.
Those who know me personally, are aware how much I love automatons and how much I covet artisanal skills that are rarely treasured. This is a wonderful example of a mechanical masterpiece.
Press Kelys’ tail and he will start to gently walk across the table, in an amazingly realistic turtle-like gait. After a few seconds, another surprise: one of the scales on his back opens and his friend Chirp pops out, wings flapping and singing loudly. Her melody finished, Chirp dives back into the shelter provided by Kelys’ shell and he continues his walk, unfazed.
This zoological surprise hides incredible mechanical know-how from our friends Reuge and Nicolas Court. Chances are you’ve heard of REUGE before; founded in 1865, they are the last remaining high-end music box and singing bird manufacture in the world. We had the pleasure of creating three otherworldly “MusicMachines” with them.
Nicolas Court is perhaps lesser-known, but an absolute mechanical genius – it is extremely challenging to create an automaton like Kelys the turtle. Running on the modest power supplied by the Singing Bird mechanism, Nicolas and his team managed to create a system that puts the 1,4kg in motion thanks to low ratio gearing, while the turtle-like walk is achieved via elliptical gears and a complex cam system. As if this was not enough, there is also a friction clutch security system that detects the edge of a table or desk, stopping Kelys before he drops… and another security system to protect Chirp!
Kelys & Chirp’s 480 components – the equivalent of a minute repeater! – lie testament to the complexity within.
Enough said.
Here comes a short video to give you a behind-the-scene glimpse of the mechanical magic going on at Reuge and Nicolas Court, and to see Kelys & Chirp in action (and in musical action as well).
Offered in 4 limited editions of just 18 pieces each in blue, yellow, green and ochre.
Details:
Kelys & Chirp is available in 4 limited editions of 18 pieces each in blue, green, yellow and ochre
- Materials: rhodium plated brass, stainless steel and 18K white gold
- Number of components: 480
- 100% hand assembled
Chirp: singing bird
- Materials: 18K white polished gold, eyes in sapphire
- Number of components (bird alone): 30
Number of components (bellows): 90 - Mainspring: twin-cam spring barrel
- Power reserve: 3 cycles of turtle walking and bird singing
- Bellows: double bellows system (bi-directional air pushing)
- Security mechanism: if the bird or cover are pushed down while bird is singing, the bird automatically retreats
Kelys automaton tortoise
- Material: grained and polish finishing, rhodium-plated brass, eyes in black onyx gems
- Shell: 12 leather scales with individual polished edges
- Mechanism for turtle automaton is driven by the Singing Bird movement
- Number of components: 100
- Gear train: elliptical gearing enables the turtle to advance with a realistically non-regular gait
- Security friction clutch
- Circular stainless steel winding key located on tortoise’s belly
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
- Dimensions: 24 cm (length) x 16 cm (width) x 8 cm (height without bird open)
- Weight: 1.4kg (approx.)
- Speed: average tortoise speed: 0.03 m/s (0.06 mph)
Retail price is CHF 49,000 + VAT.