The Silver Swan (800th upload) by Fred255
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Description
This is my 800th upload but I'm not going to make a song and dance about it. That will come with my 1000th. Sorry the quallity of this photo is not to good, the swan is behind glass and I was not allowed to take a photo. I waited for the guard to leave that part of the gallery.
The highlight of any tour at the Bowes, has to be the performance of the Silver Swan. Far from being a static exhibit, the swan is an early example of an automaton and beneath the life size silver exterior is a complex mechanical device that controls all the swan's movement, linked to music box. The mechanism itself is believed to have been made by John Joseph Merlin and was originally designed to operate as a 'coin in the slot' entertainment machine. However, in order to preserve the original workings, the coin slot has been removed and a member of staff at the museum will operate the swan only twice every day. Housed on the top floor of the museum a crowd normally gathers ten minutes before each performance at Noon and 3pm, with a hush decending on the room so the music box can be heard to best effect.
The swan itself was bought in 1872 by John Bowes for 5000 French Francs, about
Comments (11)
stuart83
It;s still a good capture for the amount of time it would have taken to set up properly, congrats on 800 uploads Stuart
Littlejock
Lovely swan and great pic fo your 800th. My congratulations for this amazing subject.
nikolais
rainbows
A wonderful image, dear David!! How I would love to see this :-) Thank you for information too. Congratulations on 800 uploads. I raise a glass to the next 800 ~ not now!! ;-) too early. Later... tonight :-) Hugs my friend. Diane. PS. no ebots today....yet!
auntietk
Congratulations on your 800th! You may not make a big deal of it, but WE certainly will! :) This is a great image - I don't mind the glass, it's part of the experience of looking at the swan. Thanks for sneaking this shot! This is a fascinating thing to see, and the information is much appreciated.
Janiss
Oh genious.. splendid reflections... excellent!
BibbyBear
There are some captures that have to be taken with such things as glass, wire, gences or cages in the way, some should never really be presented in the gallery, but others, and this is definitely one of them, most definitely should be shown for all to appreciate. An amazing design and a very good capture considering you were "sneaking" the shot (naughty boy!! LOL!) Great shot and excellent commentary too. Congratulations on your 800th upload!! WOW - perhaps I should surrender now at 100?? xx
RobyHermida
Lovely!
alhak
lovely shot and history - happy 800th
Hoppypops
Great photo!
tennesseecowgirl
Interesting, I had not heard of this before. Nice write up.