Wood harmonograph drawing machine uses gravity to create amazing patterned drawings

Joe Freedman at LEAFpdx has done it again. Check out his gravity-powered drawing machine! Dubbed the 'GatorGraph Drawing Machine', it uses laser and CNC cut wood parts and a couple of recycled 1 liter bottles to do its thing.

From the project description:

The power for the GatorGraph is provided by four 1-liter plastic bottles (not included) on a swinging pendulum. As they move back and forth the Gators produce what are called Lissajous curves. Where a Spirograph is bounded by a circle, the Lissajous curves are bounded by a rectangle. Changing the length of the pendulum alters the type of curve. The shape of the curve can be modified by using different hole positions on the rods.

Once assembled and set in motion, it is mesmerizing to watch. Better still, it creates amazing drawings! They expect to produce the first run in time for Christmas. Can you think of a better gift? I can't. Joe's products are always made with the best materials, fine craftsmanship, and incredible attention to detail.

Here is where you can support the project and get your own GatorGraph Drawing Machine.

---

Hansel & Gretel: a laser-cut shadow theatre book

While it's not kinetic or mechanical this is another cool project from Joe Freedman who brought us the Weird Gears box set, the PrimoGraf drawing machine, and The Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata. This latest venture is a laser cut book that can also serve as a shadow theatre. He's raising funds for the project via Kickstarter and only has a few days left.

It's a cool project in its own right. It would make an excellent gift, I think. Also, I believe that supporting any of Joe Freedman's projects is likely to lead to more mechanical goodness down the road! Here is the Kickstarter page for the Hansel & Gretel shadow theatre book.

---

See Bruce Campbell's automata art in 3D!

As promised, here is a 3D video featuring the work of Bruce Campbell. Still need glasses? It's not too late to get a FREE pair. Just send an email request for the 3D glasses to Leafpdx.

The 3D movie was made by Shab Levy. Thanks to Shab for his hard work!

Bruce Campbell's wireart automata are currently on display at Leafpdx Gallery in Portland, Oregon. As you will see, Campbell uses levers to articulate the legs, wings, tails and adds basic gearing to create multiple movements, speeds, and articulation within the same piece.

Here is where you can read Bruce Campbell's bio and artist statement.

To see the work in person visit the Leafpdx Gallery:
Leafpdx Gallery
1720 NW Lovejoy St. (entrance on 18th Ave. at Lovejoy)
Portland, OR 97209
Wednesday–Saturday 12:00–6:0

---

Book: Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata

I am pleased to inform you of a great new find entitled Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata. This book covers most of my favorite subjects: the magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, history, magic, automata and mechanical toys!

'The Sette of Odd Volumes' was a group of book collectors in Victorian era London. They published transcripts of the after dinner lectures that they presented to each other. Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata presents two of these lectures in a single volume.

About the first book on magic and Robert-Houdin:

William Manning was a club member who gave an after dinner talk on his recollections of the great magician Robert-Houdin. When Manning was a young boy he met the great magician and befriended Robert-Houdin's sons. His 'recollections' about Robert-Houdin were later published as a small book. Reading it today, over a hundred years after the speech was originally given, one is still struck by how forward thinking Robert-Houdin was and how down to earth. He developed many famous magic acts that are still performed today. Originally trained as a clockmaker, Robert-Houdin built all his own automata and magic props.

About the second book on automata:

Manning's talk on Robert-Houdin prompted another member, Conrad William Cooke, to undertake a brief survey on the history of automata down through the ages. That talk resulted in the second wonderful book included here.

You can read more about the volume, see some of the illustrations, preview sample pages, and order your own copy on this site dedicated to the book Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata.

---

Patent for Greeting Card with Motion System

I've done a bunch of post this year about Hallmark's new line of hand-cranked animated greeting cards. First, there was the batch I bought and posted. Another gallery of animated cards came courtesy of a kindly reader. A video of one of the best cards also turned up. Thanks to Joe Freedman, The Automata / Automaton Blog was first to offer an online exclusive look at the inner workings.

Joe's thirst for knowledge uncovered another fascinating item: the patent for the animated greeting cards. Titled GREETING CARD MOTION SYSTEM WITH MODULAR DESIGN, the patent is full of diagrams...many depicting card designs I have yet to see on the store shelves. (Note: There are some new designs out for Halloween, 2008!)

Some automata of old were patented, but it must not have proved to be worth the effort. Many designs were not patented and the European makers of the last century copied each other with abandon.

Check out the full online version of the patent for the GREETING CARD MOTION SYSTEM WITH MODULAR DESIGN.

[ Thanks to Joe Freedman of The Sarabande Press! ]

---

Hallmark Hand-Cranked Animated Card Dissected

Not long ago, I posted about Hallmark's new line of animated greeting cards. I bought a few, but didn't have the heart to dissect them. Fortunately for us, master papercraft artist and Retroscope creator Joe Freedman wasn't squeamish. Here are some of his photographs showing the internal mechanism of one of the cards. All images courtesy of Joe Freedman of The Sarabande Press.

Thanks again to Joe Freedman -- creator of innovative dimensional graphics -- for these images.