Ragtime Rastus

Gramtastic · Post by **Gramtastic** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:01 am

Hi. I would like to make myself a Ragtime Rastus as a project. I have got plenty of photos off the internet but I cannot find out exactly how the mechanism works. There is a piece which fits on the spindle and turns under the small platform but how does this convert into the movement ? Has anyone ever taken this bit apart to see how it works ?
Thanks
Andrew

moskamorta · Post by **moskamorta** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:31 pm

hi, i am trying to create a ragtime rastus too, but for me, the conception is very simple...i have a 3d printer machine and i will create in ABS plastic the doll and the gears to move up and down the doll. If you have interest in it i will post these progress...Now, think about a internal disc with a lot of waves and the wire with the doll follow the waves...that is it.

best regards.

sorry about my english, i was born in Brazil.

Post by **Lucius1958** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 12:16 am

moskamorta wrote:hi, i am trying to create a ragtime rastus too, but for me, the conception is very simple...i have a 3d printer machine and i will create in ABS plastic the doll and the gears to move up and down the doll. If you have interest in it i will post these progress...Now, think about a internal disc with a lot of waves and the wire with the doll follow the waves...that is it.

best regards.

sorry about my english, i was born in Brazil.

(Confession: I have never seen one of these toys at first hand). I do not think there are any gears involved: a simple pair of beveled friction wheels - one fitting over the spindle - with an eccentric rod on the vertical wheel, would easily produce the vertical motion, without the expense of cutting bevel gears. If the doll is loosely mounted on the wire, it should turn freely.

RR owners: is this correct?

Bill

Post by **Dave D** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 6:32 am

A few years ago, I did a google search for "make a phonograph dancing toy" and found plans from an old magazine from the 1920s which showed how to make one.

I don't have the link, but you might find it too.
Dave D

moskamorta · Post by **moskamorta** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 12:19 pm

the magazine should be POPULAR MECHANICS (very old +- 1920)
we have a time difference when you sleep I'm awake.
I will make the design in 3d after to make the prototype but rather send the scheme to the appreciation of you.

in the box have 2 gears, one to reduce the speed and move the doll... above this gear a platform with waves...(like as vinil track) that moves the doll up and down slow or fast...

moskamorta · Post by **moskamorta** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 12:27 pm

I love this "(Confession: I have never seen one of these toys at first hand). I do not think there are any gears involved: a simple pair of beveled friction wheels - one fitting over the spindle - with an eccentric rod on the vertical wheel, would easily produce the vertical motion, without the expense of cutting bevel gears. If the doll is loosely mounted on the wire, it should turn freely."
i found this prototype in the net...

Yamaphone · Post by **Yamaphone** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 1:53 pm

When I was 19 years old, I was fascinated by a Phonograph toy that a collector friend had and I too wanted to make one for myself. That was 48 years ago!
Luckily, my friend was willing to lend me the toy and also allow me to take it apart to see how it worked. Since then, I have been making these toys on and off again, as my career and family obligations allowed, selling them mostly on eBay these days. Anyway, just this morning I was assembling a few phonograph toy mechanisms and, seeing the interest a few members have in these, decided to take a couple of photos of the parts which cause the figure to jump up and down. There is a wooden shaft with pegs on it which is powered by the phonograph spindle via the spindle clamp. There is a lever that is next to the shaft and the pegs hit it causing it to move up and drop back.I hope this is helpful.

Dan Zalewski (Yamaphone)