Tag Archives: box

What’s all the fuss???

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Congratulations to ThinkGeek and the above viral success.

Keep in mind that even though the Useless Box closely resembles the Ultimate Useless Machine there are significant differences:

  • The “Useless Box” is much harder to build because it doesn’t have a circuit board.
  • It’s also $10 bucks more expensive then the Ultimate Useless Machine.
  • It doesn’t have LEDs lighting up the finger.
  • The ‘Useless’ Box is only available only as a kit and requires soldering

ThinkGeek is currently sold out, but we have plenty of Ultimate Machines in stock including pre-soldered versions.

And we are shipping most orders the next day! (edit:  2 days to process orders now. Lost a day to Friday the 13th accident)

Please check out our store:  http://frivolousengineering.com/?page_id=1568

We proudly give you the finger!

 

I guess it’s time I get off my butt and make a video for the Ultimate Useless Machine.  I’ve put if off much too long.

I should mention that we will be releasing the Wooden Version of Machine.

ThinkGeek, please consider selling the Ultimate Useless Machine, you won’t regret it.

For now, please check out this customer made video of the Ultimate Useless Machine:

 

 

Handcrafted Uselessness

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Elwood98, a completely self-taught woodworker in Germany built this super-awesome case to house one of our Useless Parts Kits.

And I really liked this comment that was left at LumberJocks:

Useless? Are you kidding me? First of all, it turns itself off. Second, it turns itself off. Third, it turns itself off. Fourth, it turns itself off. I wouldn’t get bored with that for a while.

– Kayvon

More photos of his machine are here:  http://lumberjocks.com/projects/62810 & Elwood98 also posted a video of the Machine:

One person did mention the expensive $12 shipping.  Yes the shipping is a little pricey but that includes tracking and delivery confirmation (USA and Canada only).  I can send these out for around $9.00 but that would be slower and would have no tracking or confirmation.

We are offering 2 or more kits for no additional shipping, and you will also get a discount on 3 or more.

We’ll be sending Elwood98 a free Parts Kit as our way of saying thanks for the great post.

-Via Google Alerts

 

Sisyphus in Hiding by Dave Johnson

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Dave Johnson built this mysterious box, as shown in the YouTube video above.  From the video’s description:

Here’s our old pal Sisyphus again, this time trying to avoid his responsibilities by hiding in a box.
My core inspirations were these:
1) Claude Shannon’s Ultimate Machine.
2) The availability of a nice old microscope box.
3) The astonishing human capacity for denial.

This is an entirely mechanical machine, driven by gravity.  I really like the articulated head, it swivels to the side giving you a look that says:  “Close de door, it’s cold out there!”

Photos can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogrocke…

From The Automata/Automaton Blog via Google Alerts