Mechanical Picture Frame

The Mechanical Picture Frame is based on an imaginary machine that uses fire to a heat boiler of water, the steam from which drives a piston up and down. This motion is transfered via a brass chain to a series of gears that convert the reciprocating motion back into rotary motion that in turn… actually I think I’ve just remembered the idea was the other way around; heating coal produces coal gas that illuminates the picture with foot lights, then goes on to….  you get the idea. I like designing things that give the impression of having a real purpose, even if they are purely decorative. In addition, I love the look of metallic components against dark stained wood. Hence the variety of copper, brass and steel parts with a real stained wooden background. There is also a glass domed pressure gauge which catches the light nicely and distorts the gauge’s dial. I do like a nice bit of optical distortion - if it was good enough for the Victorians, it’s certainly good enough for me, and hopefully you! • The frame stands 26.5cm high by 19.5cm wide. When hung on a wall it is 2cm deep or, when free standing on the built in fold out card support, 10cm deep. • The frame will display a portrait image 15cm wide by 21cm high, losing about 0.5cm around the edges. • To allow easy wall hanging, the frame has a keyhole slot at the back which will hang on a screw or picture hook. • The frame can accommodate normal sized photos and prints, but is not suitable for thick pieces of art. A lovely design project, something manageable, simple, decorative etc. But wait… why do simple when you can over complicate things? Hence the final design which takes ages to assemble from roughly 42 parts (I may have managed to add a few subsequently), but it does look good. I was keen to give it depth, so there are many different levels to the design. From the curved upper piston pipe, to the holographic flames under the boiler. The shadows from these varying levels providing extra visual interest.