Jack the Smoking Head, Sales Automaton

This automaton appears to be unique. It was intended for use as an advertisement, sitting in the shop windows of cafes or tobacconists smoking either a cigar or a pipe, while the eyes moved back and forth above. It demonstrates the extent to which mechanical figures subtly pervaded many aspects of nineteenth century life, with this and other examples being used for public advertising – something which happened on both sides of the English Channel.

Mechanical evocations of life subtly insinuated their way into many aspects of nineteenth century living. Advertising automatons were a particular speciality in France (and the automata museums in Lyon and La Rochelle are in large part devoted to them) – but as far as can be established, this is the only example surviving from the UK. And, while many 19th century automatons involve creatures, monkeys or humans smoking (sometimes in a rather grotesque way) the smoking is always part of a range of different features, whereas here it is the main activity happening.

A lit cigar or pipe could be places in the automaton’s mouth, and a saltpetre slow-fuse could be used to help keep it alight as the eyes above moved back and forth. The mechanism and hole in the top of the head suggests that the driving force came from above – perhaps from a clock with a pendulum appropriately positioned above.

The automaton has with it a letter dated 1882, outlining its sale to a coffee shop in London, and explaining how it works.

This automaton appears to be unique. It was intended for use as an advertisement, sitting in the shop windows of cafes or tobacconists smoking either a cigar or a pipe, while the eyes moved back and forth above. It demonstrates the extent to which mechanical figures subtly pervaded many aspects of nineteenth century life, with this and other examples being used for public advertising – something which happened on both sides of the English Channel.

Mechanical evocations of life subtly insinuated their way into many aspects of nineteenth century living. Advertising automatons were a particular speciality in France (and the automata museums in Lyon and La Rochelle are in large part devoted to them) – but as far as can be established, this is the only example surviving from the UK. And, while many 19th century automatons involve creatures, monkeys or humans smoking (sometimes in a rather grotesque way) the smoking is always part of a range of different features, whereas here it is the main activity happening.

A lit cigar or pipe could be places in the automaton’s mouth, and a saltpetre slow-fuse could be used to help keep it alight as the eyes above moved back and forth. The mechanism and hole in the top of the head suggests that the driving force came from above – perhaps from a clock with a pendulum appropriately positioned above.

The automaton has with it a letter dated 1882, outlining its sale to a coffee shop in London, and explaining how it works.

This automaton appears to be unique. It was intended for use as an advertisement, sitting in the shop windows of cafes or tobacconists smoking either a cigar or a pipe, while the eyes moved back and forth above. It demonstrates the extent to which mechanical figures subtly pervaded many aspects of nineteenth century life, with this and other examples being used for public advertising – something which happened on both sides of the English Channel.

Mechanical evocations of life subtly insinuated their way into many aspects of nineteenth century living. Advertising automatons were a particular speciality in France (and the automata museums in Lyon and La Rochelle are in large part devoted to them) – but as far as can be established, this is the only example surviving from the UK. And, while many 19th century automatons involve creatures, monkeys or humans smoking (sometimes in a rather grotesque way) the smoking is always part of a range of different features, whereas here it is the main activity happening.

A lit cigar or pipe could be places in the automaton’s mouth, and a saltpetre slow-fuse could be used to help keep it alight as the eyes above moved back and forth. The mechanism and hole in the top of the head suggests that the driving force came from above – perhaps from a clock with a pendulum appropriately positioned above.

The automaton has with it a letter dated 1882, outlining its sale to a coffee shop in London, and explaining how it works.

This automaton appears to be unique. It was intended for use as an advertisement, sitting in the shop windows of cafes or tobacconists smoking either a cigar or a pipe, while the eyes moved back and forth above. It demonstrates the extent to which mechanical figures subtly pervaded many aspects of nineteenth century life, with this and other examples being used for public advertising – something which happened on both sides of the English Channel.

Mechanical evocations of life subtly insinuated their way into many aspects of nineteenth century living. Advertising automatons were a particular speciality in France (and the automata museums in Lyon and La Rochelle are in large part devoted to them) – but as far as can be established, this is the only example surviving from the UK. And, while many 19th century automatons involve creatures, monkeys or humans smoking (sometimes in a rather grotesque way) the smoking is always part of a range of different features, whereas here it is the main activity happening.

A lit cigar or pipe could be places in the automaton’s mouth, and a saltpetre slow-fuse could be used to help keep it alight as the eyes above moved back and forth. The mechanism and hole in the top of the head suggests that the driving force came from above – perhaps from a clock with a pendulum appropriately positioned above.

The automaton has with it a letter dated 1882, outlining its sale to a coffee shop in London, and explaining how it works.

This automaton appears to be unique. It was intended for use as an advertisement, sitting in the shop windows of cafes or tobacconists smoking either a cigar or a pipe, while the eyes moved back and forth above. It demonstrates the extent to which mechanical figures subtly pervaded many aspects of nineteenth century life, with this and other examples being used for public advertising – something which happened on both sides of the English Channel.

Mechanical evocations of life subtly insinuated their way into many aspects of nineteenth century living. Advertising automatons were a particular speciality in France (and the automata museums in Lyon and La Rochelle are in large part devoted to them) – but as far as can be established, this is the only example surviving from the UK. And, while many 19th century automatons involve creatures, monkeys or humans smoking (sometimes in a rather grotesque way) the smoking is always part of a range of different features, whereas here it is the main activity happening.

A lit cigar or pipe could be places in the automaton’s mouth, and a saltpetre slow-fuse could be used to help keep it alight as the eyes above moved back and forth. The mechanism and hole in the top of the head suggests that the driving force came from above – perhaps from a clock with a pendulum appropriately positioned above.

The automaton has with it a letter dated 1882, outlining its sale to a coffee shop in London, and explaining how it works.