The water-clock of the drummers, which differs from the Musical robot band in that it lacks a flute-playing
doll and instead has two
trumpeters, consists of seven wood-jointed male figures, including the aforementioned trumpeters as well as two dolls playing
cymbals and the rest playing other
percussive instruments.
[50] The mechanism in this specific automaton serves as a
clock by producing a musical output once every hour, illustrating
Al-Jazari’s ability to create multi-faceted automata that functioned on a practical and entertainment level. The motion of the
automaton is initiated at daybreak by another male doll, who stands at the edge of the
frieze element of the design, moving across until he reaches a specific point at which a carved
falcon leans forward dropping a ball from its beak onto a cymbal.
[51] All mechanical aspects of the automaton are then driven by water and a series of pistons and cables. Each hour water drains out of the main
cistern to cause another bucket to tip over driving a
water wheel that is connected to the musicians. The automaton is described to ‘perform a with a clamorous sound which is heard from afar’ and could play several different tunes.
[52] Like many other automatons by Al-Jazari, this was created to entertain guests at the royal palace.