Automaton Whistling boy by Karl Griesbaum

‘Whistlers’ were produced in many forms by this Company. The most common ones are of drunkards clinging to lamp posts. I suppose they only just scrape into the category of ‘automata’ because they do no more than turn their heads as they whistle. However, what they may lack in terms of animation is perhaps compensated for by the sardonic but amusing portrayal of our inebriate fellow men (why no women -could that have been funnier?).

This particular version is just the opposite. It’s a young boy, an urchin -whose clothing is tattered and worn, buttons missing and trousers patched. He whistles ‘I don’t have a wooden heart’ (as it‘s now known). His head is made of bisque porcelain. It’s the only example of this particular model that I have seen -it could be that someone has later re-dressed one of the other models?

The clockwork motors in these models are cleverly made to fit in the small spaces available -compact, neat and skilful! The original winding keys were made in the shape of a bird.

Griesbaum also made various singing birds, some in cages and others in miniature boxes.