Marble Machine Chronicle

Brilliant!

I wonder what they would sound like highly amplified....probably just louder eh? but with three or four of these things going it would sound like some sort of manufacturing facility .....very impressive ball action and the curves of the loops and flow dynamics awe inspiring.....flawless operation...A+

Amazing

Very cool.

That is amazing !

I am envious of any children that guy has had time to be involved with.

What a great way to practice the skills involved in those devices.

I am certain that these could be marketed, and in Aus there was a similar type of device constructed of clear perspex used in an advert for a sugar coated spherical chocolate with multiple colours being mixed and then decanted for "fun".

I suppose his next "elevator" will use a jet of compressed air to shoot the balls through the air.

What a genius!!!

The component nature of these suggests a marketing opportunity like that for Meccano or Erector sets. They are all clever and intriguing; I especially liked the ones with random aspects.

I look at these machines and I'm fascinated by them - but then I think, Why? What is it about these things that makes me watch, makes me want to reach through the screen and tinker with them myself?

One of the minor story-lines in the Harrison Ford movie 'Witness' was the interaction between his character, John Book, and the widow's son. John Book made a toy similar to one of these and gave it to the young boy. The audience was as amazed with the toy as was the boy.

Here someone has made the same toy as an homage to the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrmyvlbInVk