Rudheath Research Institute of Toy Mechanics: September 2004

More in October

I have used my limit on Flickr, and so this is the last post until October.
Just as well, as I will be very busy at work, the new students turn up tomorrow.
I have toys ready to add to the site ...but until October you have only the clicking Cowboy for company on this blog.

The Clicking Cowboy

The Clicking Cowboy
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

the front view..(tip head to see it up right.)
I have always been baffled why the cowboy appears to set in the English Autumn country side...
It certainly isn't the setting we saw them riding around in the movies.
Held together by 3 rivets and 3 tabs.

Reverse of Clicking Cowboy

Reverse of Clicking Cowboy
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

The back view showing the simple clicking mechanism.
The mechanism is made of printed off- cuts of the toy.
the flat steel clicker, clicks and moves the bar which causes the cowboy to go up and down.
harder to describe than it actually is.

Cap Bomb

Cap Bomb
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

As Michael has pointed out..this isn't really pc. But I am a believer that if you play with guns as a child, you may not feel you have to "play" with them as a grown-up.
I always had cap bombs and cap guns as a child and I wouldn't dream of owning a real gun...or bomb..!!
This Cap bomb ,in the shape of a flat hand grenade, has a strong spring.
The bar is pulled over and held in place,briefly, by the red sucker.
A fresh cap is put in place..and you just have time to run away before the sucker loses its grip and allows the bar to snap back.
BANG.

Dog and Bone

Dog and Bone
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A plastic dog with a swivel head and opening mouth.
Complete with a metal bone on a string.
If you hold the bone up to the dogs mouth two magnets,one in the dogs mouth and the other being the bone,make it look like the dog is trying to bite the bone.Its head follows the bone around.

Tin Flapping Bird

Tin Flapping Bird
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

The Flapping Bird at rest.
All made from tin apart from a paper and card bellows.

Flapping Bird Mechanism(Detail)

Flapping Bird Mechanism(Detail)
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A detail of the joint.
Simple folded tin tabs.

Flapping Bird (from below)

Flapping Bird (from below)
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

View from under the bird.
Showing clearly the paper bellows being held on by small tin tabs.

Flapping Bird Bellows

Flapping Bird Bellows
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A detail of the paper bellows on the tin Flapping Bird.
The bellows causes the bird to squeak,not a very bird sounding noise.
This detail also shows the vertical bars that lift the tin wings (one either side).

Crab on the move

Crab on the move
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Photo of the Crab in action.
The thin black cotton thread can been seen.
The crab moves forwards not sideways.

The Crabs Mechanism

The Crabs Mechanism
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

This mechanism is based on the old "tank" that you could make from a cotton reel,elastic band,lump of candle wax and a stick.
The Cotton reel is replaced here by a cylinder of plaster...an elastic band runs through the centre.
When you pull the end of the cotton, the reel spins thus twisting the elastic band.
Allow the cotton to be re-wound by the twisted elastic and the crab scuttles forward.
the elastic bands around the reel are for grip on the floor.