The Archer Automaton. Diss, England: David Secrett, 1978. Finely crafted wooden automaton in the form of a seated archer. When the mechanism is activated, he reaches for an arrow from the stand at his side, grips it, notches it into the bow, pulls the string, and fires the projectile. The figure then repeats the action three more times. Approximately 10 x 13 x 17", with removable screen surrounding the base, in which are held the brass gears and wooden cams. One of approximately 30 manufactured, this being ?A-B." Signed and numbered by the maker.Included with the automaton is an ALS from the maker to the former owner regarding the history of the archer and details about its construction, and two photographs of a Japanese archer automaton taken by Secrett in 1974 when he was introduced to the concept by being asked to repair the automaton pictured in these two snapshots. A handwritten list of cam functions by Secrett is attached to the automaton and a typewritten transcription of these has also been included.Secrett crafted a small number of these mechanically complex androids after repairing a Japanese Karakuri automaton. (He also constructed automatons that smoke cigarettes, play the lute, and perform other functions, and one hallmark of his work was constructing these figures with almost a complete lack of screws or nails.) This model, crafted from yew wood, has been recently serviced and repaired, and is in good working condition, though as is the case with all of Secrett's archers, the fallibility of the mechanism is inherent, and the mechanism requires regular attention and maintenance.