How did these birds get into this lightbulb?

Found this on the web.  I'm wondering if it is a diorama or a photoshop image.  I would guess the latter, but it's still pretty cool looking.

80 year old Belgian Elephant Automatan

Source:  Auction site 1st dibs.

This isn't really an automata in the strictest sense as automata are defined as non-electric self operating machines.  This one has a wire, as can be seen in the photo, so must be electric.  Never the less, its very cool looking. 

Butcher Shop Dioramas

Who would have thought butcher shops would be a popular concept for diorama makers?  I saw the above dioramas in one of daily inspirations on Hollister Hovey.  Then I googled "diorama + butcher"  to see if I could get better res images anywhere and came across the two scenes below, as well as several other butcher dioramas.  Today the butchers rule this blog! 

Altiers de France

Railroadline

Ecclectic Metal Toys from Auction Site Vectis

Found these nice toys/vignettes on UK based auction site Vectis.  Most are beautiful but some are also quite weird/creepy.  First the nice ones:

Now for the somewhat creepy ones, starting with elves - they look positively evil, like the ones suburbanites place on their lawns.  These are supposed be for kids?

This looks like a pretty lonely stark scene for a toy.    A little kid swinging on a tree that has twisted branches and no leaves.  You can imagine that gate banging in the wind to the tune of creaking hinges. 

Now for the Just Plain Weird:

 Mr. Turnip Toilet Soap  (a television favorite apparently)

Adolph Hitler's mountain retreat in Bavaria.  Seems a little less weird when you see that it was built in the 1930's, long before Hitler's demise.  

Photograph of the real thing:

Calling all tourists, sportsmen, invalids and settlers

I find these books and the paper cut out to be quite beautiful -   something you cant get from your Kindle.  I also find one of the descriptions to be pretty odd although I'm sure it didn't seem so at the time.  The 1915 Guide to South and East Africa (shown below) says it is "for the use of tourists, sportsmen, invalids and settlers."  These are all from a Smithsonian site called The Art of African Exploration.

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