The Fisherman

In 2002 Falmouth art gallery asked me to make a simple collection box in which the automata would be driven just by the weight of a coin dropping down. Usually I use electric motors to power my automata so this was quite a challenge.
I came up with the idea of making a dancing fisherman on a rocking boat. When a coin is inserted into the slot it rolls down a ramp and hits a flap protruding from the bottom of the boat. This causes the boat to rock. A linkage from the boat moves a crank which is attached to the back of the fisherman. which makes him dance.
The scene in the background is of Falmouth harbour, and was taken from an old postcard.
I named the fishing boat Dora after my lovely daughter.