Comments on: In the Archives: Pulling a Tale out of the Hat http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat it's like being there Tue, 16 Sep 2014 04:56:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 By: Laura Bien http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63226 Laura Bien Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:15:19 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63226 Cosmonicon: I love zoetropes and all the related proto-movie type devices popular in the 19th century. I saw an art installation in AA a few years ago consisting of large (washing machine-sized) modern hand-welded zoetropes whirring and clacketing away–so beautiful and entrancing. There’s also that one (N.Y.?) guy who made a type of zoetrope using a long wall with slits installed in a subway tunnel, with the gradually-changing images behind the wall.

Lots of interesting guesses thus far…

]]> By: Irene Hieber http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63224 Irene Hieber Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:39:18 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63224 I read the comments. I still think it’s a washtub. I don’t think that thing is a handle. I think it’s the seat. I think the perspective is off since it’s a one dimensional drawing. I think the long line is a spring, like you’d see on a wagon or buggy and the short bow tie looking thing is the seat and that it’s sitting across the long spring like the bar on a T

I could see it being an ice cream churn as well, for a church social or some such. But I still lean toward wash machine.

Irene

]]> By: cosmonıcan http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63118 cosmonıcan Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:59:48 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63118 Obviously the small wheel is part of an odometer assembly, note the offset where the side of the belt closest to the seat goes near the hub, while the other side of the belt enters or emerges closer to the outside of the small wheel.

The larger belt operates a differential gear causing the cylinder to spin at a high rate, and with the help of a lantern within the cylinder operates a zoetrope type device, thus entertaining the operator of the exercise bike and keeping track of their progress, much like TV/Stationary Bike setups found at modern clubs. Does that help, Dave?

]]> By: Dave Askins http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63115 Dave Askins Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:59:59 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63115 The faster-and-slower speeds theory might actually be consistent with a washer. The washing goes better at slower speeds and the spinning goes better at higher speeds. But I do not want it to be a washer. Because that would mean someone already thought of this long long ago. So let’s please figure out what it must have been besides a washer.

]]> By: abc http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63113 abc Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:41:22 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63113 Dave

You seem to understand gears better than I do. Could the ‘grinding wheel’ (small wheel) be a way to hand turn the ‘washer’ slowly and the larger wheel (connected to pedals) be a way to turn it faster? Does butter churning require faster and slower speeds?

]]> By: Laura Bien http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63106 Laura Bien Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:03:44 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63106 Joan: Yes, ma’am…”stud bull,” “stud dog,” &c. :)

]]> By: Joan Lowenstein http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63105 Joan Lowenstein Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:59:00 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63105 “Stud bunny”?

I, too, was reminded of HD’s laundry spinner, but I think this one is a butter churn.

]]> By: Laura Bien http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63100 Laura Bien Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:58:31 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63100 abc: I remember when Dave invented that: at the time I thought that was mighty darn cool (still do). I admire that can-do ingenuity overcoming a dependence on energy.

]]> By: Laura Bien http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63099 Laura Bien Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:56:18 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63099 Hmm, lots of interesting speculation there Dave…yeah, that extra wheel is kind of tricky, hmm…

]]> By: Laura Bien http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/03/03/in-the-archives-pulling-a-tale-out-of-the-hat/comment-page-1/#comment-63098 Laura Bien Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:54:56 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=58796#comment-63098 Interesting guess cmadler; we’ll see.

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