Wired Electro-Mechanical Sequencer

Yet another of Chris Shute’s wonderous models was his Mystic Mec automaton. Like many of his machines it follows a sequence. He’s done a wonderful explanation of how his sequencer works. (click the photo right to see it working).

John Nuttall shows the late Dr Stephen Lacy Chris Shute’s Mystic Mec

Meccanuity Exhibition 2011

Mec’s brain

Early Mechanical Sequencers

As I said on the Meccano Robots page mechanical sequencers have been around for a very long time. In  1938 Stanley Coates won the Best Meccano Exhibit at the World Meccano Fair. His Jacquard Loom wove ties that were programmed to say “God Save The King” on them. (click the photo right to see it working).

Sometimes precision timed sequencing is necessary. Bill Taylor’s Gargantua Crane (See Meccano Robots) for instance. This five channel device used paper tape and Electrikit wipers to trigger solenoids to jam differentials. In effect this is a very high gain mechanical digital amplifier. This is a still of Chris Shute’s rendition actually working (right).

Babbage Sequencer

Of course our world renowned Tim Robinson made his own rather rapid mechanical sequencer - don’t put your fingers anywhere near that !

(click the photo left to see it working).

Sequencer of a Jacquard Loom

Sequencer of robot crane.

Do now take a look at the section on Microcontrollers.

Electro-Mechanical Sequencer: Meccuino

I’ve now devised an all new programmable Sequencer which has its own description subpage.

(March 2022)

(click the photo)