Baked beans machine
Posted in Decor, Gadgets on February 25th, 2010 by admin
Another one from the archives. I made this gadget back in the early 90s from wire, old printing plates and three baked beans tins.
It doesn’t have much of a purpose. A marble rolls downwards along wire tracks, passing through 2 baked beans tins, before triggering a large counter weight that takes the marble right back to where it came from.
There are also a few special effects along the way – a counter weight that turns a windmill, and a release catch that flips over one of the cans.
Most of the structure is made from wire purchased at a hardware store. I spent about 6 weeks bending it into shape with pliers – it was a real labour of love!
I also used old printing plates. These are a very versatile material and over the years I used them to make loads of different things. You can easily fold it by hand, which means you can create complex components without the need for rivots and bolts.
My ‘baked beans machine’ is currently being stored at my Mother-in-laws house in Cape Town (in the garden shed)!


I guess snowmen are already old news, but I have been too lazy to update my blog, so apologies.
Before economising became fashionable (or should I say a necessity) I went through a very frugal patch of my own during the 90s and was forced to make a lot of my furniture.