Perhaps the most famous among the clockmakers of his time, Pierre Jaquet-Droz was a maker of antique clocks during the late eighteenth century. He stayed in London, Paris and Geneva for long periods of time, where he dedicated his life into building and designing “automata” or animated dolls. He did so to be able to help finance his firm, which was then starting to make watches, clocks and mechanical birds. His works were celebrated by many, as they depict an era where beauty was acknowledged most by creating timeless works of arts --- most of which were still very much preserved until the present time.
During his time, his works were admired and acknowledged not only by the masses and commoners alike, but also by the important people of his time. Kings, Queens and emperors of countries such as India, China, Japan and most parts of Europe were fascinated by his works.
A multiplicity of those people regarded his creations, as well as the tons of devices that he created, as one of the oldest examples of what is now known as the computer. The Writer, famously regarded as the first “android”, was made of six thousand pieces and had been created with a device which could form a programmable memory. It was also made with a read-only program and a pen made of quill, for output. What was more astonishing was, his works were created a few decades earlier than that of Charles Babbage, by whom the idea of a programmable computer was said to have originated.
Also, it was said that his “automata”, was recognized by some as one of the best type of human mechanical problem solving. Today, three of these “complex” automata, which are said to still be fully functional and working properly, are kept at Neuchatel Art and History Museum in Switzerland. These dolls are most commonly known as the Jaquet-Droz automata.
He once created a clock which was surprisingly capable of these extraordinary movements: whenever the clock would strike, the shepherd would play six tunes on his flute, after which the dog would approach the man and frown at him for doing such. The King of Spain was very much delighted to have seen it, but he was more surprised when Droz told him to touch one of the apples which could be seen in the shepherd’s basket. He did so and was astonished when the dog (in the clock) barked so loud that the King’s dog that was also present in the room began to bark as well. A Negro could also be found in the clock, upon which the King asked what “oclock” it was. The Negro did not reply, which surprised the King, among others. Droz then explained to the King that the said Negro had not yet learned the Spanish language. All the Courtiers present in the room hastily thought it was the work of witchcraft --- to Droz and the King’s amusement --- and hastily fled the room.