Rudheath Research Institute of Toy Mechanics

Novelty Whistles

2007-07-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

2007-07-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

More Whistles

2007-07-18T14:42:00.001-07:00

Whistles

2007-07-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Flickr

2006-01-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Toy Sewing Machine

2005-05-08T04:18:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 82
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A small toy sewing machine I have had for years.
It has no bobbin, so it just loops the thread through in a chain stitch.

Toy Sewing Machine

2005-05-08T04:16:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 88
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Detail of mechanism.

Toy Sewing Machine

2005-05-08T04:15:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 85
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

View of the simple mechanism at the back, which lifts and drops the needle.

Toy Sewing Machine

2005-05-08T04:14:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 83
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Close-up of the needle and sewing base.
MADE IN ENGLAND

Toy Sewing Machine

2005-05-08T04:11:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 87
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

View to allow you to see the base...
Bent over flaps of tin hold it together.

strange metal objects - 84

2005-05-08T04:09:00.000-07:00

strange metal objects - 84
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Close-up of the grown-up size cotton reel you use on the tiny sewing machine.

Spud Gun

2005-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

spudgun
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

The more upmarket Lone star "spudmatic" as it says on the handle.
This one is not only a spud gun, but also is a water pistol AND has a bit at the back to put cap in.
There is even a hole at the back with imbost instructions to "OIL HERE"
Some people believe giving children toy guns is bad and non pc..But I had a cowboy cap gun as a child and I loved it...I can't imagine a childhood with the smell of spent caps.
and I have not shot anyone .......YET!

Spudgun

2005-02-10T07:23:00.000-08:00

spudgun2
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A more futuristic shaped spud gun.

Spudgun

2005-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

spudgun3
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

I found 3 of Archie's spud guns in the garden..all work on the same principle on air forcing a plug of old potato out of the hole at the end.
They fire really well,and Archie has managed to fire many a plug of potato into the upstairs toilet window.

Spudgun

2005-02-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

spudgun 4
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Close up of spud gun handle showing the
"Crime Fighter"stamp...

magnetic cat

2005-01-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

magnetic cat
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A Xmas present from Jilly and Roger.
Hard to decide which Blog to put it on..it could be classed as a strange metal object.
A wire bendable cat with magnetic feet, thus enabling a number of configurations.

Wind up Toy

2004-12-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Wind up Toy
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

a recent purchase..
A new slant on the clockwork toy.
The big red key winds up the spring.
All the toy does is to zoom around making sparks.

Wind Up Toy

2004-12-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Wind Up Toy
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

close up of the clockwork mechanism.

Drumming man

2004-12-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

DSC00347
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A view of the drumming man ffrom above.
The drum is the lid off a tin of boot polish.
When the toy is pushed along the ground the man drums on the tin.

Close up

2004-12-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

DSC00350
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Simple wire cam of the drumming man.

Wire Drumming Man

2004-12-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

DSC00351
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

CLose up of the drummer..showing the wires that make his arms move up and down when the toy is pushed along.

Wire man on a horse

2004-12-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

Wire man on a horse
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Side View on the wire man on a horse.
It has a long wire handle, so you can walk along pushing it.

Wire man on horse

2004-12-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

Wire man on horse
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A push along man on a horse toy from South Africa.
The man appears to gallop along on the horse shaped thing.
Made of wire and stuffed material.

monkeysaw

2004-11-24T09:09:00.000-08:00

monkeysw
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A very simple toys made from cardboard and thin strips of wood, held together by staples.
When you move the wooden strips backand forth the monkeys appear to be sawing the log.

Grind Stone nose to it

2004-11-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Grind Stone nose to it
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Quite a modern tin toy.
with a label on the bottom that says.
"THIS IS NOT A CHILD'S PLAYTHING.IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH TOY SAFETY REGULATIONS.AND IS FOR ADULT COLLECTORS ONLY."
To make the man grind the knife you turn the small handle on the red wheel.
The man seems to move his foot up and down on the pedal to operate the grinding wheel.

Detail of Grindstone

2004-11-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

Detail of Grindstone
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

When you turn the wheel the man appears to move the knife around on the grind stone.

Detail of Grind stone

2004-11-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Detail of Grind stone
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A close up of the grind stone and elastic band "fan belt".

Tin Sparrow

2004-11-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

Tin Sparrow
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A side view of a wind-up tin sparrow and its box.
It has a built in key to wind up the spring.
Non of the mechanisms can be seen.
you wind it up ..release it and watch it jump around in a very haphazard way,
the clockwork motor sort of vibrates..and the tale shakes.
MADE IN CHINA

Tin wind-up Sparrow

2004-11-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

Tin wind-up Sparrow
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Top view of bird and box.

Butterfly

2004-11-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

Butterfly
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Small paper and wire butterfly.
Simple hand made construction.

Butterfly with packet

2004-11-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

Butterfly with packet
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A paper and wire butterfly powered by elastic band.
I found this in a card shop in Northwich, it is meant to be wound up and then placed inside a card , the poor unsuspecting recipient thus gets a nasty shock when the card is opened..
the butterfly flies out!
This is an old trick done in a new way.
printed on back..
Rewind me 40x. I fly!
Remontez-moi 40x. Je vole!
and a web site address
http://www.magicflyer.com

Elastic Powered Buterfly

2004-11-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Elastic Powered Buterfly
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

Archie demonstrates the winding up of the elastic band to power the butterfly.

Ghost Buster

2004-10-31T08:28:00.000-08:00

DSC00320
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

One more for Halloween..
Happy Haunting
A Mechanical ghost buster.
which works on a simple lever mechanism.

Ghost Buster

2004-10-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

DSC00321
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

When you push the arm down on this one the hair lifts and the eyes pop out.

Ghost Busters

2004-10-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Ghost Busters
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

We have a set of 5 of these figures that either turn into monsters or their eyes pop out of their heads.
I thought this would be a good choice as we are near Halloween.

Ghost Buster Screams

2004-10-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Ghost Busters
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

When the Ghost Busters arm is pushed down his head pops up with a silent scream..his tie also shoots in the air.
All the mechanisms are hidden in the plastic body.

Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible

2004-10-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Due to college work and family doings I still havn't got round to taking any photos..
SOON......

More in October

2004-09-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

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)

2004-09-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Flapping Bird Mechanism(Detail)
Originally uploaded by a1scrapmetal.

A detail of the joint.
Simple folded tin tabs.

Flapping Bird (from below)

2004-09-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Rudheath Research Institute of Toy Mechanics

2004-09-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Due to a spelling error I have re-launched the Research Institute of Toy Mechanics.
This extra Blog will contain toys with mechanisms, simple and complicated.