Comments on: Elaborate Mechanism Works and Works to Do Nothing Well (Feb, 1954) http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:01:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Paul http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1093592 Paul Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:57:12 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1093592 It's mechanical and does nothing. Kinda like a robot politician. It’s mechanical and does nothing. Kinda like a robot politician.

]]> By: Timothy McCoy http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1084400 Timothy McCoy Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:14:37 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1084400 There use to be an club here in silicon Valley, California called the "Zitzenclopper Society." Their avowed purpose was to make some sort of mechanical or electro-mechanical machines that did absolutely nothing. They had a yearly meeting usually at some engineering trade show, where they would display their current projects. I think this machine is an early example of their work, or possibly the machine that started it all. I don't know if they still exist, but seeing everything is now electronic it is sort of moot. There use to be an club here in silicon Valley, California called the “Zitzenclopper Society.” Their avowed purpose was to make some sort of mechanical or electro-mechanical machines that did absolutely nothing. They had a yearly meeting usually at some engineering trade show, where they would display their current projects.
I think this machine is an early example of their work, or possibly the machine that started it all.
I don’t know if they still exist, but seeing everything is now electronic it is sort of moot.

]]> By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1080451 jayessell Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:00:18 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1080451 Re: Prime Evil I think it was someguy on someplanet who was doing something to generate energy but IT WENT HORRIBLY WRONG and the The Doctor arrived in the nick of time*** and stopped it. At the end of the last chapter of that episode, in order for the guy not to threaten the planet/galaxy/universe again, The Doctor suggests he look into capturing the kinetic (he called it 'kynetic') energy of the planets. Not sure if he meant 'rotating on axis' or 'orbiting the sun'. As Earth weighs 6 septillion tons (including people) <i>math should tell us if that's a million years of 1980s world energy consumption without making the days too long. ***Had he attended the pre-production meeting and explained WHY it would GO HORRIBLY WRONG I guess it wouldn't have been a good episode.</i> Re: Prime Evil

I think it was someguy on someplanet who was doing something
to generate energy but IT WENT HORRIBLY WRONG and the
The Doctor arrived in the nick of time*** and stopped it.
At the end of the last chapter of that episode, in order for the guy not to threaten
the planet/galaxy/universe again, The Doctor suggests he look into capturing
the kinetic (he called it ‘kynetic’) energy of the planets.
Not sure if he meant ‘rotating on axis’ or ‘orbiting the sun’.
As Earth weighs 6 septillion tons (including people) math should
tell us if that’s a million years of 1980s world energy consumption
without making the days too long.

***Had he attended the pre-production meeting and explained WHY it would
GO HORRIBLY WRONG I guess it wouldn’t have been a good episode.

]]> By: Prime Evil http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1080447 Prime Evil Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:13:11 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1080447 RE: Jayessell You might be thinking of "The Deadly Assassin," but I'm not sure. If that's the case, then it's not what you're thinking of. In "TDA," the Doctor's homeworld of Gallifrey had a black hole set against the mass of the planet in an eternally dynamic equation, which is WHAT MAKES TIME-TRAVEL POSSIBLE, at least for the Doctor. The Master, the Doctor's archnemesis, wanted to tap that energy for himself. He'd destroy the planet in the process, but hey, at least he'd get a new lease on life. As for the thing itself, it looks like something I'd want for my own room. I *love* things with millions of gears clicking away. RE: Jayessell

You might be thinking of “The Deadly Assassin,” but I’m not sure. If that’s the case, then it’s not what you’re thinking of.

In “TDA,” the Doctor’s homeworld of Gallifrey had a black hole set against the mass of the planet in an eternally dynamic equation, which is WHAT MAKES TIME-TRAVEL POSSIBLE, at least for the Doctor. The Master, the Doctor’s archnemesis, wanted to tap that energy for himself. He’d destroy the planet in the process, but hey, at least he’d get a new lease on life.

As for the thing itself, it looks like something I’d want for my own room. I *love* things with millions of gears clicking away.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1076572 Firebrand38 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:40:54 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1076572 Also <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=OEkEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA92&ots=GnTFDnTOtA&dq=Lawrence%20Wahlstrom&pg=PA93#v=onepage&q=Lawrence%20Wahlstrom&f=false" rel="nofollow">another article</a> displaying the designer along with his design Also another article displaying the designer along with his design

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1076571 Firebrand38 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:30:07 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1076571 For Stannous: I located where you can purchase the newsreel on DVD just go <a href="http://www.usdbookstore.com/ePOS?this_category=124&store=102&item_number=40000060994&form=shared3%2fgm%2fdetail.html&design=102" rel="nofollow">here</a> For Stannous: I located where you can purchase the newsreel on DVD just go here

]]> By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1054622 jayessell Sat, 10 May 2008 01:24:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1054622 I don't think it was meant to be a Perpetual Motion Machine. It's what we would call Kinetic Art. One of the Dr. Who episodes (Tom Baker era?) suggested tapping The kinetic energy of the planet. Was there a crackpot plan to build huge gyroscopes at the equator to capture the power of its' spin? I don’t think it was meant to be a Perpetual Motion Machine.
It’s what we would call Kinetic Art.

One of the Dr. Who episodes (Tom Baker era?) suggested tapping
The kinetic energy of the planet.
Was there a crackpot plan to build huge gyroscopes
at the equator to capture the power of its’ spin?

]]> By: Axel http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1054621 Axel Sat, 10 May 2008 00:41:42 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1054621 It reminds me of a "Perpetuum mobile sculpture" made by norwegian artist Reidar Finsrud, it has a circular ball track similar to this one, suspended by som peldulum arangement. He claims it has been running continuously since april 1996. Http://www.galleri-finsrud.no/sider/mobile/mobile.html has some pics and a video clip, there are also some links but many of them are dead. I've never seen a good explanation of it, I wonder if it's based on some "Foucaults pendulum" principle. Like that the earth's rotation causes the pendulums to precess (change direction of swing), and that the machine is able to absorb a tiny amount of energy from this to keep the ball rolling. But you have to remember that he presents it as a work of art rather than an actual perpetuum mobile, it may be some tricks involved. It reminds me of a “Perpetuum mobile sculpture” made by norwegian artist Reidar Finsrud, it has a circular ball track similar to this one, suspended by som peldulum arangement. He claims it has been running continuously since april 1996. www.galleri-finsrud.no/sider/mobile/mobile.html has some pics and a video clip, there are also some links but many of them are dead.

I’ve never seen a good explanation of it, I wonder if it’s based on some “Foucaults pendulum” principle. Like that the earth’s rotation causes the pendulums to precess (change direction of swing), and that the machine is able to absorb a tiny amount of energy from this to keep the ball rolling. But you have to remember that he presents it as a work of art rather than an actual perpetuum mobile, it may be some tricks involved.

]]> By: Danimal Goes to ITP » Useless Technology http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1048169 Danimal Goes to ITP » Useless Technology Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:29:45 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1048169 [...] the idea of technology that serves absolutely no useful purpose. So, I was happy to stumble upon this thing, an “Elaborate Mechanism Works and Works to do Nothing Well”, from 1954. Awesome. And [...] [...] the idea of technology that serves absolutely no useful purpose. So, I was happy to stumble upon this thing, an “Elaborate Mechanism Works and Works to do Nothing Well”, from 1954. Awesome. And [...]

]]> By: Davies Family http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-1047309 Davies Family Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:25:56 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-1047309 This is our grandfather. He also appeared on a popular TV show "I've got a secret" in 1953 or 54. We were hoping to find a copy of the TV appearance or information about the machine's whereabouts. This is our grandfather. He also appeared on a popular TV show “I’ve got a secret” in 1953 or 54. We were hoping to find a copy of the TV appearance or information about the machine’s whereabouts.

]]> By: Chainsaw Fencing Champ http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-859872 Chainsaw Fencing Champ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:29:12 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-859872 Hey, it's like the internet. Hey, it’s like the internet.

]]> By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-142018 jayessell Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:16:52 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-142018 It went 'zing' when it moved, 'bop' when it stopped, 'whirr' when it stood still; I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will. It went ‘zing’ when it moved, ‘bop’ when it stopped, ‘whirr’ when it stood still; I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will.

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/comment-page-1/#comment-139701 Stannous Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:23:01 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/04/23/elaborate-mechanism-works-and-works-to-do-nothing-well/#comment-139701 This was featured in newsreels, LIFE and Time mags and even commented on as a sign of our spiritual-less times in Catholic Digest in 1953. I was hoping to find a copy of the newsreel on youtube but no luck. This was featured in newsreels, LIFE and Time mags and even commented on as a sign of our spiritual-less times in Catholic Digest in 1953.
I was hoping to find a copy of the newsreel on youtube but no luck.

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