Dug North

Recent Actions

• Favorited Wooden geared window-blinds on Boing Boing
• Favorited Wooden geared contraption and its proud maker -- best gadget video you will watch this month, in all likelihood on Boing Boing
• Favorited Wooden geared contraption and its proud maker -- best gadget video you will watch this month, in all likelihood on Boing Boing
• Favorited Wooden geared contraption and its proud maker -- best gadget video you will watch this month, in all likelihood on Boing Boing
• Favorited Hallmark eschews goofy battery in lovely new hand-cranked greeting cards on Boing Boing Gadgets
• Favorited Rubber monster mask collection on Flickr on Boing Boing
• Favorited Do Kids Still Play with Wooden Toys? on Boing Boing Gadgets
• Favorited Belt Buckle Knives on Boing Boing Gadgets
• Favorited Automata for sale -- papercraft, DIY and wooden on Boing Boing
• Favorited Automata for sale -- papercraft, DIY and wooden on Boing Boing
• Favorited Automata for sale -- papercraft, DIY and wooden on Boing Boing
• Commented on Retroscope: hand-cranked flip book
  I received a Retroscope of my own today and it does not disappoint! The box is sturdy, the handle and axle are nice laser cut wood, and the action is very smooth. It also makes a satisfying whirring/clicking sound when...
• Commented on Hallmark eschews goofy battery in lovely new hand-cranked greeting cards
  FX, I totally agree. It is loud. I believe the card does have a battery. When the crank is turned -- even the least bit -- the music starts. It continues to play a moment or two beyond the turning,...
• Commented on Hallmark eschews goofy battery in lovely new hand-cranked greeting cards
  Hi Bavi H, Oops! That is a typo. My post should have read "move in appropriate ways". I'll fix it. Thanks! The inside of the party scene card says: "Party like you mean it today!". I don't have the Peanuts...
• Commented on Hallmark eschews goofy battery in lovely new hand-cranked greeting cards
  Joel, Thanks for backing me up, man. Solid. I couldn't find much about the cards online -- even at Hallmark's site. I see from another comment that they have trademarked them as "Spin-a-majigs", but I can't find that anywhere on...
• Commented on Tomy's new piggy bank rewards savings with in-built RPG
  Did they reuse the molds from the c. 1980 board/electron game called "The Dark Tower"? Regards, Dug...
• Commented on Repaired inner mechanism 1875 automaton lady
  Dear #1, The automaton video was made by Michael and Maria Start in Scotland. They restore vintage automata. You might drop by their site and ask -- automatomania.co.uk. Let us know if you find out. I'd like to know too!...
• Commented on Pint-sized motorcycle-engine-powered monowheel of yesteryear
  Everything old is new again. Hammacher Schlemmer is selling a Motorized Monocycle in their Spring 2008 line. Regards, Dug North...
• Commented on Rubber monster mask collection on Flickr
  Awesome set! You might also like to see these horror-themed animated props. Some of them cost almost $30,000, but they are scary/cool. Regards, Dug north...
• Commented on Amazing antique automaton on eBay
  THE OTHER MICHAEL, I don't know...some may disagree. Many motorized animated scenes are regarded as automata. Take for example the Chinese Magician Automaton performing the "transported lady" act. This piece, recently sold by Skinner Auctioneers, is driven by an electric...
• Commented on Do Kids Still Play with Wooden Toys?
  I ask you: what kid could resist these amazing wood robots by Take-G? Regards, Dug North...
• Commented on Belt Buckle Knives
  #13 Agreed, running is the best option. No knife fights in my future. This is strictly for utilitarian purposes. (And to satisfy my obsession for things that serve more than one purpose and have hidden features.) Regards, Dug North...
• Commented on Belt Buckle Knives
  LIZZLE, No...I don't own chaps. I think you have to own a motorcycle or a horse or perform with The Village People to pull that off. Dug North...
• Commented on Belt Buckle Knives
  OK, OK.... "Looks great" is subjective. They don't have good picture of the scroll engraved version on their site. It really is nice, IMHO. As mesmerizing as that .GIF is, check out the video on http://www.belt-buckle-knife.com/video. Now...if I can just...
• Commented on Steampunk fashion: zeppelin sky-hat
  Submitted for your consideration: my trick top hat with hidden springs, hinges, a four-bar linkage, cable, and hand lever. Granted, the rubber monster lacks a Victorian feel, but this is the most mechanical top hat I have encountered. Regards, Dug...
• Commented on Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker Knife Sharpener
  I've got one of these too. My friends owned one and recruited me to sharpen their kitchen knives. It did such a good job, I got one to sharpen my wood-carving knives. Sypderco also has ceramic stones for sharpening larger...
• Commented on Unimat 6-in-1 Tool: Keeping Kids' Tools Dangerous
  I always feared the 6-in-1 Unimat was more toy than tool. If you are serious, you'll want to step-up to the miniature machine tools like those sold by Micro-mark. Not ready for something that big or expensive? This setup to...
• Commented on Flying Spaghetti Monster to star at American Academy of Religion
  Check out this animated paper kit you can download, cut out, and assemble to make your very own moving Flying Spaghetti Monster (about half-way down the page on the left.) Regards, Dug North...
• Commented on Automata for sale -- papercraft, DIY and wooden
  RIBLETS, This piece -- by the amazing artists at Fourteen Balls Toy Company -- is entitled Spaghetti Eater and has been produced in limited numbers a couple of times. Best, Dug North...
• Commented on Automata for sale -- papercraft, DIY and wooden
  Paper automata lovers may want to check out the DIY kits at Flying-Pig Paper Animation Kits too! Regards, Dug North...