This collection comprises 21 automata created between 1994-2015. The automata of this collection were donated to the University of Michigan Law Library by an anonymous donor in 2023.
These automata were commissioned by Samuel "Sam" Zell (1941-2023), a billionaire known for his acquisitions of distressed properties and corporations. Zell had a tradition of distributing year-end gifts to his friends, colleagues, customers, and high-profile individuals. As a part of this tradition, Zell commissioned a series of automata to be distributed as year-end gifts. The components of each automaton were designed to represent Zell's perception of the business climate at the point of their creation, as well as predictions for the year ahead.
Prominent individuals and design firms involved in the construction of these automata included Michael Speaker, Chicago Model Services, Accurate Sound Corporation, Interior Specialties, Elwood Industries, Grant McCune Design, McCune Masterworks, and Synergy Design Concepts.