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Fallen at the first hurdle
NOOOOO! I tried it last night when the escalators were mostly empty (and I'd had enough to drink so that I wouldn't be embarassed by the people who did see me) and it was an unmitigated failure. The problem wasn't that the steps were too deep, rather too wide - the slinky would decend the step and land in the middle of the next, then 'slink' again to the edge of the step and stop. Tried it at tottenham court road (on small escalator between main one and northern line platforms), and then, hoping that somehow that escalator was faulty, tried it again on the way out of clapham common station - no change. But atleast I had plenty of support from other travellers, who immediately knew what I was trying to do - they all shared the dream.
So does anyone know where I can find a thin-stepped escalator? Perhaps shopping centres are the next place to try?
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To date 31 Comment(s)
TrackBack-URL
(18.7.03 10:38)
You could look for a thin stepped escalator, or (possibly more excitingly) an unusually large slinky.
Good luck, I'll be following your progress with either bated or baited breath, whichever one doesn't smell of prawns.
Norah.
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(18.7.03 19:47)
This idea is well-worth supporting. An extension of it would be to rescale the escalator and slinky, to find an equilibrium where the slinky was large enough, and the escalator light enough, to drive each other. I think you should contact your local boffin and mention that you saw the ad in "perpetual motion magazine". Meanwhile, why not throw this sweetie down your nearest escalator as a control experiment?
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anonymous
(13.8.03 03:54)
No calculations involved? Trial and Error seems to be the preferred method these days. :-)
I think the two variables in this experiment are the speed of the escalator and the size of the slinky (hence, weight force and elastic tension force). You may have noticed this but the larger the radius and length of the slinky, the slower it tends to 'do whatever it does'. This may be the only variable you could possibly change because escalator speeds can't really be messed with (unless you break into the engine compartment and add a gear here and there, hehehe) :-)
Keep up the good work
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mjoyesmiler
(19.8.03 23:35)
Ah slinkies...
Nowhere in the local of Clapham do the stairs move with the required size you seek- Apart from maybe the gym inside Clapham Junction Station (I know its not ACTUALLY in Clapham but there we go) Plenty of bars to for experimental dutch courage
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(21.8.03 19:03)
Dear Erudite Baboon
This really is a most interesting blog that has clean taken my mind off my troubles. Thank you.
Maureen
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(27.8.03 05:18)
Perhaps using a type of Stairmaster that uses steps rather than pedals...if there is such a thing...you could change variables such as speed. Not sure about height though.
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(19.9.03 02:23)
I have a cunning plan.
1. Store some old rags and cleaning products under the escalator of your choice.
2. Allow sufficient debris and waste to build up around said escalator.
3. Add an ignition source such as lit cigarette end or smouldering match.
4. Stand well back from ensueing fireball.
5. Proffer your services as escalator design/build engineer.
6. Oversee completion of new escalator (plus surrounding station) to your specs.
7. Celebrate with copious amounts of alcohol.
8. Under influence of alcohol test Slinkie
9. Sink to knees crying "why god" as you realise calculations are off by just enough to frustrate your great slinky plan.
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(19.9.03 20:37)
YOU FOOL! No company will ever produce the thin-step escalator! Think of the injuries produced by large-footed people! The litigation!
Do you thinky ou are the only person who has ever been let down by a slinky??? Phhhhaaaff! PLus, the slinky's rate of descent would have to be equivlaent to the escaltor's rate of ascent to achieve perpetual slinky.
IT CAN't BE DONE MATEY!!
BUt if it did, I would surely buy a round.
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(20.9.03 20:20)
I know - I'm chasing an impossible dream. But you've got to have a dream. Because if you don't have a dream ... how you gonna have a dream come true?
...
I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair!
...
Ooh... I've come over all south pacific.
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(23.9.03 02:33)
Superb idea. I hope you're not thinking of using one of those plastic, multi-coloured, non-slinky slinkys. They are the slag of all slinkydom.
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(23.9.03 13:16)
While you are chasing this dream, perhaps you could also send the slinky down the spiral stairs at Bank/Russell Square, etc. You could time how long it took and how many people elbowed you in the ribs on your way down.
I imagine that being a dream come true for all slinky fans everywhere.
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(25.9.03 16:43)
I have a slaggy rainbow slinky, but someone gave it to me and has no idea how I depsiseit.
Note how this slinky master also gave up:
http://www.t-smirks.com/slinky/
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(25.9.03 18:11)
I think I'll just stick to the one slinky myself - perhaps I'll start collecting escalators instead.
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(26.9.03 03:10)
Peanut, you must sacrifice this imposter to the original, thought up completely accidentally and patented, slinky. Buy the brand and feel the joy that is Slinky.
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(26.9.03 17:09)
Dear Lexx
But i keep getting my toungue caught in it and them etal, because of the temperatures hereabouts, then sticks to my tongue,. Owwweey!
All my best
Peanut.
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Rossy 2 Hotty
(21.1.04 23:46)
Not that I'm arguing with the mastery that is the original Slinky - but the ELC's rainbow slinky may come in useful for this experiment - I've been playing around with the slinky and found it's reach to shallow... A bit of 'gentle' stretching excerise later, and we have a great new toy for the purpose! I've not had a chance to hop down to my local Woolies (which sports a great secluded escalator) and measure it's success, but even if I join the ranks of failures, the dream was their, and the journey was a blast!
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(22.1.04 11:01)
I'm glad you're keepin' the dream alive Rossy - my heart goes with you. To Woolworths.
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Second thoughts
/ Website
(9.7.05 17:45)
This dream is not impossible and I or someone else will prove it to you some day.
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Will
(10.8.05 04:17)
Hey,
Here in Toronto, we are also trying to realize this slinky dream. We have found a shallow escelator and the dream is almost
done, all we need is the escelator to go just a bit faster, but it does take 2 hours to reach the bottom. Hope this encourages the rest of you...
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(10.8.05 10:05)
Really?? Do you have video footage? Please tell me it's true!
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(10.8.05 12:07)
How could you leave a slinky on an escalator for 2 hours? Where is this possible?
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(10.8.05 15:40)
I can confirm it. The national news has been following the story and a phalanx of government boffins has been assigned to the completion of the project. It's the talk of the workplace, the log-boom and the donut bar.
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(10.8.05 16:14)
It's good to see that atleast one nation has got its priorities right.
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wow
/ Website
(20.2.06 18:00)
it would be my lifelong dream to see a perpetual slinky!!!!!!
i might have to take a vacation to toronto!!
all i can say is KEEP TRYING!
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Rossy 2 Hotty
/ Website
(31.5.06 19:39)
Looks like I took too much time on this project - 2 years on and I've only done my preliminary trials (all on www.ran.da.ru, if you're curious). Having heard of Canada's success, I may simply tip my hat and move onto another project.
Three cheers for Canada!
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(1.6.06 10:20)
I still never saw proof that it was acheived in canada - if you can get film footage of it taking place you will win on a technicality.
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Niq
/ Website
(6.4.07 01:32)
ok dude... theres the perfect escalator up here in edinburgh... all you have to do is hop on a train and in the station is a brand new only just fitted a couple of months ago... THIN escalator... its really quite thin and steep... any steeper and the old grannys would get vertigo...
anyway... if you do come up ill show you some amazing cheap pubs and my freind jon and i shall bask in your glory...
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