As a heavy copper ball descends through a tower, it causes a horizontal shaft on the right side of the machine to rotate. (The ball's speed is controlled by a pendulum and escapement mechanism, much like that of a grandfather clock. With each beat of the pendulum, the escapement allows the shaft to rotate only one-twelfth of a turn.)

This right-hand shaft then rotates another shaft on the left through a chain belt wrapped around a pulley on each end. (A simple, weighted 'clutch' removes tension on the chain when the ball is being wound up to the raised position.)

As this left-hand shaft rotates, it not only causes various gears to spin a propeller to the beat of the pendulum, it also makes a cam raise and lower an arm, which, through a series of pulleys, causes the clutch's paddle-like appendage to flit back and forth.

There's a good amount of odd mechanical action taking place as the ball descends, a process which takes about 4 minutes to complete.

This machine is of relatively simple construction with most of the wooden parts made of either walnut or maple. Wooden dowels were used instead of screws. The descending ball, which weighs about 4 pounds, is a hollow copper sphere filled with steel shot. The pendulum is brass and copper.

Approximate Dimensions: 16" long x 6" deep x 21.5" high.

This is the one where it all began! (Well, more or less.) My first 'serious' machine was a fun project that went fairly smoothly, at least in comparison to my later machines.

As I had not placed as much emphasis on woodworking as I do now, the wooden base and arms are a bit lighter than they would have been if I were to make the machine today.

However, this machine did go through one 'modernization' in which several improvements were incorporated, mainly having to do with the manner in which power is transmitted from one pulley to another (a feature which caused some problems from the very beginning, because with too much friction the machine freezes up, but with too little the pulley slips).

While not as sophisticated as my more recent machines, this one embodies a bit of freshness and simple funkiness that I have not always been successful in recapturing.