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The Man Who Works The Automaton
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The Man Who Works The Automaton
The man who works The Mechanical Turk, a fake Automaton Chess Player, designed by Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen.
1769
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Media ID 23274822
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1760s 1769 Automaton Baron Chess Fake Invention Mechanical Player Turk Wolfgang Designed
EDITORS COMMENTS
This image depicts a man intently focused on the chessboard as he makes his next move, seemingly unaware of the curious onlookers gathered around him. However, what appears to be a mechanical chess-playing automaton, named The Mechanical Turk, is in fact a cleverly disguised hoax. Designed by the enigmatic Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen in the late 18th century, during the 1760s, this invention left audiences in awe and bafflement. Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen, a Hungarian inventor, magician, and showman, unveiled The Mechanical Turk to the public in 1769. The automaton, which was said to be able to play and even defeat human chess champions, was a masterpiece of deception and illusion. The man in the photograph is believed to be Johann Peter Hunsdorfer, the chess master who was employed by Kempelen to secretly operate the automaton from within. The Mechanical Turk was a complex mechanical device, with intricate gears, pulleys, and levers hidden inside a wooden cabinet. The illusion was created by having an assistant load the chess pieces onto the board, and then the audience would watch as the automaton made its moves. The true mechanism of the chess-playing 'machine' remained a closely guarded secret, adding to the intrigue and wonder. This photograph, taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, captures the essence of The Mechanical Turk's allure and the fascination it held for generations. The image invites us to ponder the interplay between reality and illusion, as well as the human ingenuity and creativity that brought this remarkable invention to life.
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