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Thursday, 26 December 2024

Incredibly handy guy builds an infinite rolling ball track with loops, coils and a xylophone

Duration: 01:03s 0 shares 4 views

Incredibly handy guy builds an infinite rolling ball track with loops, coils and a xylophone
Incredibly handy guy builds an infinite rolling ball track with loops, coils and a xylophone

This handy artist in Indiana, US, has built an infinite rolling ball track that features loops, coils and a xylophone.

This handy artist in Indiana, US, has built an infinite rolling ball track that features loops, coils and a xylophone.

Tom Harold, based in Indianapolis, films his creation in full flow as several balls create engaging sounds as they pass over chimes and the xylophone.

Harold told Newsflare: "I completed this rolling ball sculpture in April 2018.

It is made of stainless steel, all handmade with all the wire track formed by hand.

"It has an automated ball lift that carries the marbles to the top, and they roll through twists and turns, engaging with sound elements like wood blocks, a xylophone and a chime.

"Some people call these Rube Goldberg machines, ball machines or marble machines.

The art form is called rolling ball sculpture.

It is captivating for anyone who watches it." The artist also details his upbringing on his website: "I didn't go to art school.

I loved to draw and make things as a kid, but in grade school I wasn't as good as the older kids down the street.

In high school I wasn't as good as some of my classmates and told myself, 'You're not good enough, and no one can make a living as an artist.

Take these classes while you can, because you won't be doing any art after this'.

"In college, I studied writing.

I loved fiction, but as with art, I told myself I wasn't good enough and couldn't make a living at it.

"A friend suggested I just start studying myself, my interests, from scratch.

It sounded like a good idea.

"I threw myself at anything that sounded good.

Photography, fiction, journalism, racing, acting, painting, drawing and a host of other activities began to occupy my time until one night I sat down at my dining room table with a roll of copper wire, a plumber's torch, and some hand tools.

"I was finally going to make a rolling ball sculpture.

"After weeks of trial and error, I succeeded!

I'd overcome my youthful fear of imperfection and managed to complete a work of art.

It was a big accomplishment on several fronts.

"I took that sculpture to work, and my coworker wanted to buy it!

I said that it would always be mine, because it was my first piece, but that I could make another.

"A few months later I finished a second piece, and she bought it the same day I brought it to work.

I'd made a sale with only two completed works.

I was stoked!" This footage was filmed in January 2019.

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