Who doesn’t love Spirograph? Ars Technica has an article about Wild Gears – spirograph to next level.
Spirographs were invented in the late nineteenth century by mathematician and electrical engineer Bruno Abakanowicz, but didn’t become a popular toy until the 1960s. They allow you to create a wide range of kaleidoscopic designs by putting your pen into one of many holes in a set of interlocking gears, then using your pen to push the gears around an outer ring. I hadn’t used one since elementary school, but Bleackley’s passion reminded me of how satisfying it was to watch those amazing designs appear under my pencil.
The best part is that Bleackley wasn’t kidding with his humble boast. He’s the creator of Wild Gears, a company that makes several spirograph sets that are guaranteed to please your mathy, artsy, weirdness-loving mind. He prototypes his acrylic gears using a laser cutter at the Vancouver Hack Space, and fans can order his kits through the Ponoko store.
Via Ars Technica.
And a bonus – if you feel the need to spirograph right now, you can, online with Inspirograph!
And now I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a kid with a toy kaleidoscope. [Insert rambling comment about kids these days etc etc. Gerrof moi lawn blah blah blah.]
I’m the opposite of a kid, but I have a beautiful kaleidoscope, hand made. I love that thing. Kaleidoscopes were ubiquitous when I was a sprog, but yeah, you don’t see them much anymore.
They still exist, but they’re no good anymore. They use beads instead of glas shards and the patterns aren’t as pretty.
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Ahhh, Schwan Stabilo Fineliner
I don’t know how much of my pocket money went to that company…
Good news: There are still artists creating incredible kaleidoscopes. There is a woman who runs a gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, NM (Very Famous Art Area) who has an artist who does them. It’s called the Longworth Gallery. If you go to the Longworth Gallery, ask her about her horsehair bracelets. :-) She has quite a collection.
These gear things are amazing. I’ve been looking for these for a long time; I have ordered a couple of sets. Pretty excited; I will finally be able to paint the paintings I’ve been wishing to do.