MB&F Sherman
From R2-D2 to the Terminator, who doesn’t love a good robot? Apparently the good folk at MB&F certainly do—as you can probably tell from their recently unveiled time-telling automaton, Sherman. Crafted by Swiss clock manufacturers L'Epée 1839, Sherman was developed by MB&F in an effort by its founder Maximilian Büsser to recapture elements of his childhood. Like many young boys, he wanted his very own robot to call friend—although the mechanics inside Sherman aren’t exactly child’s play.
Based on a L'Epée 1839 in-line eight-day movement, Sherman only needs to be re-wound once a week for accurate time-keeping. His whole body is entwined with the clock’s inner workings: the mainspring barrel bridge also supports his tracks and movement spacers double up as shoulders. In fact, the plates and bridges of the clock make up Sherman’s whole body, allowing the clock-bot to tell the time via an hours and minutes display on his chest.
He’s not just a static decoration, either. Sherman’s transparent domed head reveals a whirring mechanical brain—the regulator that controls the clock’s accuracy—and his rubber tracks are fully functional, allowing him a decent amount of mobility. His arms can also be manipulated into all sorts of positions, while his quirky hands can hold small items.
A numbered edition, Sherman is limited to 200 palladium, 200 gold-plated and 50 diamond-set pieces—so there’s no reason to fear a robopocalypse just yet.
