engineer

tim   .

                                                      

.   hunkin

cartoonist

EARLY COIN OPERATED MACHINES
These machines were made with electrical bits from industrial surplus shops, which used to exist in London (Lisle St and Edgware Rd). I still lacked the skill and experience to make the mechanism reliable, so none of the machines could be left unattended.

THE DISGUSTING SPECTACLE
1979
This is, rather predictably,
a nose picking machine

GOLIATH
1979
This is a nut cracker. He swings the hammer back and forth and finally brings it down on the nut (on the wooden block). It works well on really tough nuts like brazil nuts, but tends to pulverise walnuts.

THE INSOMNIAC'S FRIEND
1978
He simply yawns at you

THE BARMAN
1979
He pours a glass of whiskey and shoots it down the bar. Unfortunately whiskey is rather sticky so the bar needed frequent cleaning.
He later went to Cabaret mechanical theatre in Covent Gdn, where he didn't pour any liquid and the glass was wrapped in sticky tape so it wasn't dangerous when it fell off.

.

THE RAINMAKERS
1978
They do a ritual dance to the tap above

DISTRACTION
1979
He buzzes and vibrates his eyes

PEACE
1979
With a proximity sensor she starts to scold anyone who gets within range. Inserting the money shuts her up.

THE ZOO
1980
The mother throws nuts at you, the father looks on bemused and the child jumps around and finally squirts you with water. Although this was my favourite of the early machines it makes such a mess (the combination of water and squashed nuts on the ground) that its never found a good home.

THE WHOLE ARCADE
1979
I took the machines to occasional local events, like Henham Steam rally. The weight of cash at the end of the day was wonderfully satisfying.

SURPRISE
1979
He slowly blows up a ballon until it bursts in your face

home

search

about the site

site
map

links to
other sites

where to see stuff

contact me