Dear Collectors & Enthusiasts,  Please be aware that there is currently
a 'wave' of brand new, made-to-deceive old-looking automatons reaching
the international marketplace.  The few different variants of this
monkey 'hookah-like' smoker which we've seen are purposely constructed
so as to allow no internal inspection; rather, they are sealed-in
behind either a glass fronted picture box (as per our attached photos)
or within a fully enclosed glass case of 27" to 30" height.

We were lucky enough to receive the example show herein from a collector
here in the States who also was curious as to maker, dating, etc., and
whom is allowing us to use photos of their piece accompanying this
article and who desires to both forewarn or educate others out there
of what is taking place.  We've now received inquiries from collectors
here in the States, France and Switzerland regarding these pieces.

Don't be fooled, these are of completely modern fabrication, and
virtually all of them seen to date did at one time have a fairly large,
old-looking makers label glued to the rear panel.  We've only found
one example so far, from a collector in Europe, which still has the
ingenious yet fake label still attached (see photo), stating the maker
as "L. Lambert", the model "Marvo the Magic Monkey", and actually
incorporating a date "1879".

The reason most all the fake labels are being removed is that the
'faker' messed up a printed detail: Lambert's shop address is stated
as "13, Rue Portefoin" which is correct, but alas, Lambert did not open
his shop here until 1886 (as stated in "The Golden Age of Automata"
by C. Bailly), not 1879.  Secondary marketers are likely spying this
major oversight and removing any labeling.

In the shadow boxed, picture-like models, a variety of older framing
materials are used, but invariably the shadow box behind is constructed
of new pine sides and modern chip-board back, all completely covered
and all joinery sealed by glued craft paper then color faded or aged.
The fake Lambert labeling was also attached just above the rear-side
winding hole.

The winding hole shows a steel square arbor which would be wound by
a clock key, but in reality it is a steel transition piece which is
threaded on the interior side and outwardly square shafted.  It needs
to be threaded on the interior, because it mounts or mates to the
small, 1-tune, 18-note Sankyo musical movement in the monkeys chest
which drives the minor animation of the head turning (see close-up
pix).  Any other animation which takes place is in the eye of the
beholder and there is no other additional clockwork motor.

The head looks like a real shrunken monkey head but is really cast
plaster of Paris, as are the hands, then painted and aged.  As for
costuming, some slightly older materials are used including metallic
trimming, but the monkeys trousers are a modern synthetic.  There's
also a creative use for a large caliber ammo shell as the brass smoke
stack topping the 'bong'.  It has quartered markings: "S, 6, 17 and
S67".  Maybe somebody out there can identify the ammo origin or date?

It's one thing to make replica automata or new creations which are
obvious and/or clearly marked as to maker or date of origin, but
totally another when premeditated mis-labeling meant to deceive takes
place.  (This not being the first, but only one of the latest!)

A piece such as this plays upon the collector's psyche and one should
have pause for reflection, or even just a phone call to another
knowledgeable person for consultation or advice, before diving into
something that seems too good to be true, because we all know what
the answer to that usually is!

We are purely guessing at this point that these are sourcing from
France or England, but what we would like to see is one of our French
or English readers do a little searching to find out who exactly is
producing and "salting" these pieces around, and maybe with some
additional information about what other models have and are being made
today.  With best regards and Happy Collecting!

Jere and Steve Ryder - AutaMusique, Ltd.
(Mechanical Music Specialists)
2 Kent Pl. Blvd., Summit, NJ. 07901  USA
tel.: 908-273-1513 / fax: 908-273-9504

 [ I'll place the photos at http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/  -- Robbie