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Last Updated
03/31/2019
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Detailed entries for one subject from the INDEX TO HOW TO DO IT INFORMATION. |
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NOVELTY -- ELECTRONIC sa SOUND EFFECTS -- ELECTRONIC xx NOVELTY April Fool's day jokes with a modern twist. Using X-10 devices to (1) continually turn a lamp on after it has been turned off, (2) blank out a TV screen until a person rises from a chair to make an adjustment, and (3) sprinkle water on anyone coming up your sidewalk. Creating chaos. Build the "Bonker" where an erratically oscillating solenoid causes a ball (attached to the end of spring) to exhibit unpredictable gyrations. Fred-the-head. A wooden profile head that can talk, sing, and yodel. His mouth is articulated and will speak in synchronization with any audio signal (radio, tape player, etc.) that is coupled to an electronic circuit concealed within the base that supports Fred's head. Gee whiz badge. Lapel label features LEDs around the edge which light up like marquee chase lights rotating around the edge. Build a hot socket. A single AC receptical mounted on top of a small plastic box will shock the unwary when they pick it up for closer examination. A non-serious circuit. Two lamps and two switches appear to be simple parallel or series circuits. However, hidden diodes make the circuit appear to defy the laws of electricity. Simple electronic "DO NOT TOUCH" box will emit an ear-piercing noise when lifted by the "curious". The LED-head. Build this amusing electronic "face" that appears to change mood when the LEDs that define its features (eyes, eyebrows, mouth) are randomly switched. Creating chaos. Build this "Bonker" device whose moving ball exhibits unpredictable (random) gyrations. Several different configurations are illustrated. Executive decision support system. Eight LEDs are started flashing in a random fashion. When finished, only one LED remains lit. This points to the "correct" decision for the "question" being asked. An encapsilated oscillator forms an intriguing, blinking, do-nothing circuit. Topped with a desk pen, it forms a unique desk ornament. Est. cost $11. "Computomatic", an electronic box that has flashing lights and makes "computer" noises, but does absolutely nothing. Magic lamps. Two lamps, wired in series, seem to defy the rules. The trick is in hidden diodes. Dickey flasher. Insert neon lamps into your buttonholes or tuxedo studs, put a power supply in your pocket and be the "light" of the party. Novelty project. An analog-type digital wristwatch (those equipped with hands) with an inoperative timing chip is fitted with a vacuum-tube signal generator powered with a separate battery pack. Plant a bulb. Light bulb "planted" in a pot of soil, with its base sticking up in the air, still lights. The trick lies in having two bases. Circuit for a phony telephone-answering-service message beeper. Fred-the-Head is a unique wooden "talking head" that's meant to be driven by any audio source. His mouth is articulated and will "speak" in synchronization with any audio signal that's coupled to an electronic circuit concealed within the base. "Do-nothing" neon-lamp blinker circuit has only four components. Design your own do-nothing box. You can have it turn lamps or LEDs on and off, make different sounds, control motors to turn pinwheels, etc. Uses a 4060 CMOS binary counter to control the various events. Build this Executive Decision Support System. A novelty device where one of eight LEDs lights up at random after pushing a button. Each LED is associated with a humorous decision. Do-nothing box has flashing lights. The Tickle Stick. Victim receives a harmless shock if he picks up this aluminum-covered cylinder. The "Impossible" circuit. Two lamps light or don't light in seeming defiance of the wiring. A neon lamp mounted in a round metal can flashes continuously for weeks before exhausting the 9-volt battery that powers it. Magic electric lamp you "light" with a match. Uses an isolation relay. An electronic toy for a child. It flashes LED lights and uses two oscillators to produce an unusual audio output. Powered with D cell batteries which should last about one year. Do-nothing circuit. Seven neon lamps just blink randomly. Electronic "Magic Box". You ask the box a question, and it displays one of 62 stored answers on a 16-charecter LED display. Estimated cost: $30. Astable multivibrator circuit employs two neon bulbs that alternately blink on and off. Build a "hot" socket. An AC socket is mounted in a small box that sits "innocently" on a table or desk. However, it delivers a mild shock to anyone inquisitive enough to pick it up. Shaky, the electronic playmate. Touching the "antenna" of this electronic "pet" will cause LED's to flash and a little shake/shudder routine to commence. Magic light circuit consists of three push-to-make, push-to-break switches, an LED and two AA batteries. Electronic Dragonfly features wings made of piezoelectric film which are caused to flap up-and-down by an electronic circuit. Est. cost: $22 (kit). A flashing lapel pin is made from an LED, paper clip, stick pin and tiny button-type battery. Build the idiot box. A 5x5 array of neon lamps inside a wooden frame flashes random patterns which occasionally form a letter or number. A non-serious circuit. Two lamps and two switches make it puzzling to determine if this is a parallel circuit or a series circuit. The secret lies in concealed diodes within the switch housings. Circuit of illusion novelty. Concealed diodes cause lamps to light even though the power switch appears to be "open". Build the electronic oracle. Will give random answers to yes or no questions, unless you know the secret to getting the answer you want. Build the Space Wings. A whimsical electronic device that demonstrates how "Muscle Wire" made from Shape Memory Alloy is capable of changing length when heated with electricity. Est. cost: $20 (kit). Build a multi-chrome projector which uses four LEDs to create and project soothing color patterns onto a small rear-projection screen. Use as a biofeedback stress reliever, or just a pleasant diversion. Magic electronic box emits an ear-piercing annoying tone. Concealed magnets are the secret to turning the box off. The electronic cricket. A prankster's delight. A light-sensitive circuit that turns on in the darkness or dim light, but turns off when exposed to full room light. Est. cost: $12 (kit). Moving box uses no wheels, treads or air. An April Fool project. Battery powered one-station "intercom" uses a telephone handset with a built-in push-to-talk button, and an LED status indicator to indicate if your handset is on or off line. Use it to talk to yourself. An April Fool project. Single shot logic indicator with "memory". A flashbulb is used to give this circuit its "one-shot" characteristics and sends out a visual signal which is hard to ignore. An April Fool project. Solar cells power a night light. DO-NOTHING light panel to impress your friends. Build this state-of-the-art "do nothing" box with flashing lamps. 13-LEDs are randomly lit by a circuit which includes an EPROM. Circuit for a do-nothing box (idiot box) which produces an audible sound. Circuit for a weak shocking device (similar to a cattle prod) which is powered by a 9-volt battery. Limik "electronic bug". Electronic circuit with four "legs" and two "eyes" emits an electronic "cricket chirp" whenever it detects sound. Est. cost: $19. Do-nothing (idiot box) circuit drives an array of LED's that are arranged to spell out anything you wish. Electronic knight. "Stick-man" figure is made from electronic components and features blinking LEDs for eyes. Vibrator produces fascinating fun of spinning color wheels, airplane propellers, plastic globes, or a merry-go-round. Also simulates a snake crawling up a pole or makes a barber pole rotate. A unique message-leaving device. A "nixie" tube which will display any digit from 0 to 9 is inserted into the center of an artificial flower that is included in a bouquet of artificial flowers on a secretary's desk. A control knob turns on any one of the digits and signals the secretary or leaves a message for her when you are gone. "Open-sez-a-me" drink server. | |||||||||
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