If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, what then are we to make of something that shares only a few of the original’s design elements, operates in a completely different way, and has been scaled down to a fifth its size? Still seems like flattery to us.
Despite the changes, it’s clear where [Love Hultén] took inspiration for his miniature Marble Machine XS. Readers will no doubt see in it elements from [Martin Molin]’s original Marble Machine, the fantastic plywood and Lego musical contraption, along with his new Marble Machine X, the construction of which never seems to end. Like the originals, [Love]’s miniature version uses a lot of steel balls, albeit considerably scaled down, and it still uses a programming drum to determine where and when to drop them. But rather than strike real traditional instruments, the falling balls strike synthesizer keys, triggering a range of sounds through its built-in speaker. The whole thing is powered by a small electric motor rather than being hand-cranked and is small enough to sit on a desktop, a decided advantage over the mammoth machines to which it pays homage.
We have to say that as much as we love the hacksmanship of the original Marble Machine and the craftsmanship of its successor, the look and feel of [Love]’s machine just blows us away. We’re not sure what materials he used, but the whole hammertone paint scheme and Meccano look is a feast for nostalgic eyes.
Awesome!
I’m very interested in that little keycap organ!
Right! I saw that and my interest was instantly piqued. I get the marble machine homage, but that keyboard was novel.
see here: https://www.lovehulten.com/bivalvia.html
how could you miss linking to the guys homepage? his other projects are awesome! https://www.lovehulten.com
Wow, those are awesome! Thanks for sharing the link!
awesome, beautiful. It is visually beautiful. It is engineering beautiful. It is audibly beautiful. smart. fun. delightful. I am in awe of the patience and detail.
It’s very pretty. It sounds terrible (especially compared to the Marble Machine that it “pays homage to”). The video is tedious.
I’m sure all that mechanical stuff and vibrant color could be used to make something vastly more interesting.