This carved wooden shoemaker is animated by turning a hand crank. When the crank on the right is turned, the figure grabs a nail, moves it to the shoe, and pounds it in. His head turns, too. All movements are controlled by the rotating grooved barrel under the floor. This is just one of many animated figures that Birk hand carved.
Birk Petersen created a vast array of projects over his lifetime, ranging from miniature engines to hand-cranked animations and more. He built functional miniatures like a 1/3 scale Gatling gun or a 1/4 scale Case steam tractor, but he also built mechanical creations for the fun and enjoyment of his family. When Birk passed away in 2015, his family graciously donated over 150 items from his collection for display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, where they are currently on display. We thank the Petersen family for sharing his extensive collection, which demonstrates the broad interests and many talents of Birk Petersen.