Doing this causes polystyrene beads to smooth out and re-coat the inside surface of the screen with aluminum powder. To erase the picture, the user turns the toy upside down and shakes it. Turning both knobs simultaneously makes diagonal lines. The stylus is controlled by the two large knobs, one of which moves it vertically and the other horizontally. The inside surface of the glass screen is coated with aluminium powder, which is then scraped off by a movable stylus, leaving a dark line on the light gray screen. Pulleys A–E operate the same as 1–5, and act on the horizontal rail (F) to slide the stylus up and down along the vertical one (6). Clockwise movement of pulley 1 has the opposite effect. The rail these cables connect to (6, connection points marked in red) move to the left both at ends, making the stylus move in the same direction along the other rail (F). ![]() Turning pulley 1 counterclockwise makes 2 rotate the same way, and this makes all pulleys connected to 2 (3, 4, and 5) do the same. Likewise, A connects to B, B connects to C and attaches to the horizontal rail (F), and finally B connects to C, D, and E, attaching to F at its other end between D and E. Pulley 2 connects to 3 (double-groove) via a longer reciprocating cable attached along its upper course to one end of the vertical rail (6), and then a third cable runs from 2 to 3, 4, and 5 (4 and 5 are single-groove) via another much longer loop of cable between 4 and 5 to the other end of the vertical rail. Pulley 1 (single-groove) connects to pulley 2 (triple-groove) via a short infinite reciprocating cable. The device has ten pulleys, six cables, two rails, and a stylus. The numbered components correspond to those that move the stylus horizontally, and the lettered components with those that move it vertically. Pocket Etch A Sketch showing mechanism Basic mechanism of operating a 2-dimensional plotter. ( June 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Some of the image captions in this section may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia guidelines for succinctness. The Etch A Sketch has since sold over 100 million units worldwide. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association named Etch A Sketch one of the 100 most memorable toys of the 20th century. In 1998, it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong, in Rochester, New York. It went on to sell 600,000 units that year and is one of the best known toys of that era. The Etch A Sketch was introduced near the peak of the Baby Boom on 12 July 1960 for $2.99 (equivalent to $30 in 2022). The left control moves the stylus horizontally, and the right one moves it vertically. Twisting the knobs moves a stylus that displaces aluminum powder on the back of the screen, leaving a solid line. There are two white knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. It is now owned by Spin Master of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Īn Etch A Sketch has a thick, flat gray screen in a red plastic frame. ![]() He works with both tiny Etch A Sketches - only a few inches long - and the bigger, classic sizes.Įach drawing takes two or more hours - the longest one he worked on took 20 hours.France, but American-manufactured and Canadian-ownedĮtch A Sketch is a mechanical drawing toy invented by André Cassagnes of France and subsequently manufactured by the Ohio Art Company. He then adds a black felt background and mounts the Etch A Sketch frame in a shadow box. Shaking it erases the image so users can create a new drawing.Īfter Gallenbeck creates an image on an Etch A Sketch, he carefully saws off the back of the frame - being careful not to shake out the drawing - and drains out the aluminum powder. ![]() They use aluminum powder and tiny plastic beads, which the user draws with via a stylus attached to knobs on the front of the plastic casing. I want to inspire people to challenge themselves,” he said.Įtch A Sketches, made by the company Spin Art, have been around for 50 years. 'When people see art at a different level on an Etch A Sketch, I want to inspire them. He's made everything from city scapes - which he said are a good thing for beginners to hone their skills with - to detailed portraits to detailed renderings of animals and nature that look like they could have been done with a pencil rather than a clunky children's toy. He's now starting to exhibit his art it is up now until the end of March in the second floor gallery space of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. Through his online presence, he's gotten professional commissions to create customs Etch A Sketch designs.
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