The Space Spider

[Kullervo]

Does anyone remember (or actually own) one of these nice toys from the 1960's?

It had three heavy cardboard planes joined at right angles, forming a spatial octant, and there were perforated with holes maybe 1/4 inch apart in a grid patter. You threaded colored strings from hole-to-hole, forming nice "curves" in space - parabolas and so forth.

Google search turns up only a few references - it appears that some people are doing similar things with software, but that sort of lacks the presence and tactile sense of the original.

[DanishDynamite]

Sorry, whitefo...Kullervo. I've never heard of them. (Course, there are many things I've never heard of. ;))

Are you in the market for one?

[Kullervo]

I may try to make one. I've only ever seen one of them, and I think I asked for it for my birthday one year but it never materialized.

But Kent Luman, he had one. The lucky guy....

[DanishDynamite]

My ignorance is showing. Again.

Who is Kent Luman?

[Dancing David]

Darn, no spiders in space. I seem to racall they were made out of peg board, have you tried science/math education catalouge in your search?

[Kullervo]

Originally posted by DanishDynamite
My ignorance is showing. Again.

Who is Kent Luman? He was the guy I knew back in 7th grade to had this Space Spider gizmo.

I guess his lifelong quest for fame in Denmark has not been successful. :p

[DanishDynamite]

Kullervo:I guess his lifelong quest for fame in Denmark has not been successful. :p Ahhh...one of those dreamers. I swear, if I had a dollar for everyone who had this lifelong ambition......I'd probably have enough for a cup of coffee. :)

[shecky]

My dentist way back when had a hanging lamp in his waiting room kinda the same idea, made out of a few acrylic sheets and strung with nylon thread. Made a really cool sort of 3D spirograph lamp thing. I always thought it wold be cool to make something similar, but have never gotten around to it.

[daver]

Originally posted by shecky
My dentist way back when had a hanging lamp in his waiting room kinda the same idea, made out of a few acrylic sheets and strung with nylon thread. Made a really cool sort of 3D spirograph lamp thing. I always thought it wold be cool to make something similar, but have never gotten around to it.

My cousin had one as well. I think they used to be available as kits. Maybe someone could look in an Edmund's Scientific catalog and see if they have one.

[TillEulenspiegel]

OK I'm probably showing my age...but every horny 18 yr old who got his first apartment in the mid 70's ( err that would be me ), had this lamp in a corner. The standard issue was two pieces of interlocking smoked plexiglas with a frosted globe in the middle , with a monkeys cradle looking kind of fishing line deal on the outside. Kind of a Plato's delemma on acid =) Man if that lamp could speak....<sigh>