How the Drinking Bird Works

You've seen that bird that constantly drinks, maybe only at Grandma's house, or at a local restaurant. It's pitched as a perpetual motion machine, but you know there's no such thing. How does it work? Bill Hammack, the Engineer Guy (previously at Neatorama) explains that toy that fascinated you as a kid.

(YouTube link)

The secret is in how the bird is built. The liquid inside it is not water, and the air inside it is not air at all -it's a vacuum! The mechanism of its movement is quite interesting. And there's an explanation of why the bird drinks whiskey faster than it drinks water, which has nothing to do with getting drunk. -via Boing Boing


Comments (0)

Want to surprise the person sitting next to you? The kinetic energy from this ambush style Jack-in-the-Box will spring the dowel out from the side and smack them.
Make it Sew, Dark Grey, L
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
It's a automatic pop up manual slide-out toaster. Set the timer on the front and, when it dings, you slide the dowel, door, timer...and toast! Unheated coals not included (it is wood, after all--hot coals would be ridiculous).

Inappropriate XL
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
In Victorian Times, the mouse circus was always a popular Sunday affair. In order to out-shine the other travelling rodent circus acts, many tools were favoured to give our miniature cheese-nibblers a paw-up on their fellow vermin. This tool is the infamous "French Souris-Planche-Des-Doom" (mouse-plank-of-doom) trainer. It allowed the wee ones to practice the gravity-defying scrambles, leaps, and tumbles, across a beam no wider than a mouse's fuzzy-five-claw (or is it four?). The wheel allowed for angle adjustments at an number of gear-locked set points, including the 10 degree "ho-hum", 45 degree "cheese bonus", and 90 degree "sign of the apocalypse now!".

Breaking Xmas Sweater-style, L
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Let your one-of-a-kind style shine through with this Martha Stewart Authentic Reproduction Paper Towel Holder. With characteristics of Pennsylania Mahantongo Valley craftsmanship, this mechanical device always keeps an exact two-inch overlap of paper towel available to you, keeping a tidy and immaculate look and a warm, elegant, singular style to your historic remodeled free range stone artisanal distinctive home. This dovetailed piece with square nails with minor and appropriate nicks and rubs and beautiful proper oxidation and patina makes this a good thing.

The Science Machine - Dark Grey - Men's Medium
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"How the Drinking Bird Works"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More