When we thought we had seen it all when it comes to Jaquet Droz, the brand wowed us one more time with the release of an object of desire unlike any other. If you thought it would be impossible that one day a mechanical machine would sign for you all your important documents with fresh ink, well, Jaquet Droz just decided to prove everyone wrong. This Jaquet Droz automaton is the ultimate luxurious toy for those that can have it all. By means of highly complex movements and driven by a set of cams that are handmade in order to produce a fluid, natural script, the Jaquet Droz Signing Machine duplicates its owner’s signature. Fully customized to the owners signature and specifications, this clever invention is what we call the king of all automata.
By means of highly complex movements and driven by a set of cams that are handmade in order to produce a fluid, natural script, the Jaquet Droz Signing Machine duplicates its owner’s signature. Fully customized to the owners signature and specifications, this clever invention is what we call the king of all automatons.
The history of Jaquet Droz and his automatons is very rich and part of the true heritage of this brand. Pierre Jaquet Droz was born in 1721 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. At age seventeen in 1738, Pierre opened his first workshop for clock making and produced a series of grandfather clocks with very sophisticated movements beyond anything that had been produced earlier. In 1759, he focused exclusively on making watches, clocks and automatons —a moving mechanical device imitating a human being that was a precursor to robots.
In 1774, he successfully completed three humanoid automatons —The Writer, The Draughtsman and The Musician— that were presented in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a year later in France to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. While those automatons were very advanced for their time, the complexity of the Signing Machine has no parallel. Four years of development were required to complete the project launched in 2014. The Signing Machine, unveiled for the brand's 280th anniversary, continues the centuries-old tradition of mechanical Astonishment begun by its founder in 1738.
This object that looks more like a very high end Denon cassette player from the 80s, the automaton comes to life after one moves a lever at the front of the box to release the pen that is folded into a small compartment.
Then after the pen comes out, the machine will start signing the name of the owner. In this case, the prototype of the Signing Machine signs the Jaquet Droz name with the same finesse and delicate slide that a hand signs a piece of paper.
And of course the pen features the two stars that are the symbol of the Jaquet Droz brand. Another incredible automaton that joins the Lady 8 Flower, the Bird Repeater, the Charming Bird and the Loving Butterfly. At the bottom you will find a video with the Signing Machine in action.
Sticker Price $367,500 USD. For more info on Jaquet Droz click here.
