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The Amazing Harmonograph Pendulum Drawing Machine
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Instructions for making a basic harmonograph which can be easily used in your home. The machine consists of two weighted pendulums swinging freely. An attached pen traces the path of the upper pendulum, drawing a picture on the paper. This model requires an anchor point in the wall 8 to 10 feet above the floor. Shorter pendulums produce smaller pictures. The anchor point must be very strong, stable, and safe. Enough to hold up to 8 swinging bricks. Here's a harmonograph which uses two large stones as weights on its upper pendulum.
The anchor can be a hook, a big nail, a "c" clamp, or a high beam. Attached to the anchor are chains holding four hooks in the top of a triangle board.
The chain has to suspend the pendulums securely, and the chain has to hold the triangle board steady against the wall. There's a hole in the triangle board. The hole has to be bigger than the shaft of the upper pendulum, and it has to be located so as to hold the upper pendulum as far away from the wall as possible.
Even though the picture .
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This harmonograph machine is based on a design invented and patented in the early sixties by Mr. Edward Lias, of West Nyack NY.. In 1968, I worked with a small company in Eugene, Oregon operated by Mr. and Mrs. Lee Trippett. They developed and manufactured about 500 harmonographs to be sold as a toy in a big box for $29.95. The venture was not successful. The original instruction book for this toy contained a fine explanation of the scientific principles written by Lee Trippett. At length were discussed such matters as ratios, effective length and pendulum weights. But my last remaining copy of the instruction book was lost when my family moved from Seattle to Cincinnati in 1970. Other adventures became more important. But I have never forgotten the machine, and the hypnotic power of watching it create pictures. I thought it would be interesting to include these instructions on my web site. I'd like here to recommend a little book called "Harmonographs". It is one of the wooden series of books. This one is a joy to read, exploring all about the pictures and the harmonic principles which produce them. While staying at the Haven resort on Gabriola Island, BC (www.haven.ca), I decided to build a very simple harmonograph machine to put in the games room. I wanted it to be so simple that even young children could operate it to produce elaborate pictures. At the Annual Eliot Unitarian Family Conference at Seabeck, (www.seabeck.com) Washington.
I built a much larger, more sturdy machine. It too was a great success. Unsupervised
children can play with it for hours and hours, producing quite amazing pictures. This web page is largely in response to the interest and questions that people asked while these
two machines have been in place. It is essentially a very simple machine, easy to operate, and very sensitive. Every picture is unique. Several simple adjustments can be made to the machine to alter characteristics of the pictures. It helps to have some idea of what kind of picture you want before you set the machine in motion by swinging it gently. To see sketches and diagrams how to build your own harmonograph machine Click Here
visit the To contact Peter Joyes, email to | |||||
