there was baron von kemplen in germany, who made a famous chess playing automata that travelled the world, and played end games of chess against very famous individuals, including napoleon. >> this violin-piano combination is just incredible, and one of my favorites. just imagine how difficult it must have been to design a machine consisting of two different instruments that play songs in harmony with one another! >> can you please show us how some of these musical devices work? >> sure, i'd be pleased to. this first piece is very similar to what mr. guinness started his collection with that his mother bought in paris, france -- it's a pop up singing bird. you move the little lever to the side. >> i've brought some other component parts on the larger size automata. this is similar to the type of clockwork motor you'd find on the inside of the body, or inside, hidden in the base compartment. there's a spring driven motor that you wind up, and the governor controlled the speed, and you'd have shafts turning different cam. and these cams are cut pieces of brass that show different profiles.