July 09, 2003
Toys - Jacob's Ladder
On a visit to Sonia's place, I was introduced to a new toy, Jacob's Ladder. (new to me) I don't think I had found a new toy that was as cool in a long long time. In principle the toy it pretty simple. First, you take two rectangular blocks, place them side by side, and attach the far side of each block to the near side of the other block. This makes a 'double hinge' where the block can swing to either side of the other. Then you repeat that process and add 4 (or more) blocks. It sounds more confusing than it actually is, so maybe these pictures will help.
Now if you unfold the ladder, so the blocks are hanging down, and then flip one block over, all the blocks below will flip also. It gives the illusion that the top block is somehow falling down the chain. In fact they are all really just staying in place and flipping 180 degrees. This is one of those little tricks that I can watch or mindless perform for hours. You can see a little video I made here.
There are a lot of other neat tricks you can do, along with just making a clickety-clack noise with the wooden blocks. I've been searching for a page with details on some of the better tricks, but I haven't been able to find one. The one I have now came with a 'trick book' but I had figured out a lot of those just by playing around, or they weren't that cool to begin with.
The Jacob's Ladder pictured was actually a gift from Sonia. I got a one from Toy Joy, but it was multi-colored (reduces the block falling effect), and not as smooth. So thanks to Sonia for both introducing me to and giving me a Jacob's ladder.
Posted by ramk at July 9, 2003 10:03 AMFrom the research I've done (I work in a library), this toy has been around for AGES! I had more than one when I was a child (I'm over 50!) I just purchased a dozen to give as Christmas gifts (it's so soothing to "play" with!), and decided that I needed some "history" to go with them. I researched them on the 'net, simply by using "jacobs ladder, toy" as keywords. I found quite a bit of info., including reference to having found a Jacob's ladder toy in King Tut's tomb!
There's a "trick" to play with a dollar bill (in my day, one of the "ladders" I had actually had a round indentation in each block for a coin---heck, a dollar bill was a LOT for a kid to have in their piggy bank back then! Pennies were easier to come by!) Anyway, if you haven't already "discovered" all of these things on your own, maybe you'd like to check out the internet sites. Have fun!
Posted by: Alice at November 22, 2003 12:53 PMI am sorry to inform you that your toy, "Jacob's ladder", is not truly a "new" toy -- as a child, I had a plastic version of this toy in the late 1950's, or early 1960's. I would suspect that the original patent on that toy (if any), has expired long ago, so there are probably not any patent or use concerns. However, as with most very meaningful human ideas, whether for education, science, politics, or entertainment, there is "...very little that is new under the sun". I did enjoy the toy when I was a child, so I'm sure that it will appeal to a new generation, as well.
Posted by: Brian Spomer at June 24, 2004 01:46 PMUmm... I meant new to me. I realized that it had been around long long before I was born. It's exciting to find something you haven't encountered before that is so simple and fun. So by new I meant 'haven't encountered before' not 'recently invented.'
Posted by: Ram at June 26, 2004 11:27 AM