This large and involved machine is powered by a heavy brass ball which is raised by pulleys and a ratcheted geared crank. As the ball descends, its weight rotates a large central shaft which powers five smaller machines that operate simultaneously on the upper platform. They are:

   a) Double-Gear Variable Rocking Arm: To the right of the crank are two gears attached to a pivoted arm which not only goes up and down, it rocks upon its own axis in a very odd, sinuous manner that repeats itself every 15 rotations.
   b) Ring Gear with Two Internal Planetary Gears: Behind the rocking arm are two small gears that rotate about their own axes while traveling around the inside of a stationary ring gear.
   c) Rotating Arm With Cam-Activated Oscillating Arms: Off to the left of the crank is a large irregularly shaped brass propeller, plus two pivoted, cam-activated vertical arms that wave back and forth.
   d) Vertical Rotating Assembly: To the rear of the machine is a very complex assembly where two brass arms spin around vertical and horizontal axes.
   e) Fan Air Brake: Connected to the above assembly is a cream and black fan-like mechanism, which serves as an air brake to maintain the speed of the entire machine within an acceptable level.

The base, the four pillars, and the upper platform are all made of solid walnut, with inlaid maple trim. The supports of the individual mechanisms and some of the components are a combination of walnut and maple. The fan air brake's paddles are made of boxwood and genuine ebony, which is a visually pleasing touch.

While the knob of winding handle is macassar ebony, the crank itself is a very hefty piece of solid brass, as are the main shaft and most of the gears. The arms and many other of the smaller mechanical components are also of brass. The 12.5 pound brass ball is hollow and filled with poured lead.

The main components are adjustable.

Approximate Dimensions: 17" long x 17" deep x 53" high.

If I were Beethoven, then this one would be my Ninth Symphony. When you wind this majestic, mechanical fiend up, you know you're dealing with something complex and substantial!

While some thorny design and execution problems were indeed encountered, given the complexity of the machine, this one went relatively smoothly. (Of course, some of the seemingly simple-looking things were the ones that gave me the most trouble.)

The biggest constraint was that since the falling brass ball can only provide so much power, I had to design each mechanism within the confines of that power. Engineering can indeed be fun!

This machine would be almost impossible to duplicate exactly, because there are a number of 'found objects' involved that I doubt I would ever come across again.