The science of automatism could be considered the forerunner of modern robotics. Automatons were the first machines to move in ways similar to humans, a sort of android resulting from a combination of woodworking, sewing and the most sophisticated micromechanics, or clockwork. The mechanisms developed for automatons were eventually put to practical use, though they were originally meant for fairs and amusement parks. The automatons at Tibidabo are grouped together in a fascinating museum which is now considered the most important in the world, with pieces dating back to the end of the 19th century. The collection is so significant that even Walt Disney once wanted to buy one of the automatons with a blank cheque. The museum is housed in a former theatre dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. It includes models with moving parts as well as working automatons that help to show the close relationship between the science of mechanics and amusement parks.