#orrery
Star Box II
Well I enjoyed making the first solar system box - I had to make another. This started as a basic pine box. I stained it, swapped out the hinges and latch, created the “windows” and covered them with mesh and brass frames. You can’t see it but there is a lock washer (it looks like a reverse gear with internal teeth) in each porthole illuminated by mounted LEDs. The six sides are covered with riveted struts, brass features and vintage cut star cabs. The central orbit field has a solid metal ring and twisted wire frame with brass claws. I created tiny brass winders over two vintage gears with round cut outs. Two different kinds of alarm clock winders are located on each side. There is also vintage brass knurled nuts on the sides. Finally there are 3 brass star cutouts above the hinged side.
The planets are driven by an internal wood disk with embedded magnets. I also did a similar thing as the last piece - drilled holes in the lid and disk sitting above 4 LEDs. As it spins the “stars” twinkle. The lights and motor have separate battery packs with switches. Sorry, I’m still not clever enough to rig a single battery pack and external on/off switch. Next one….
I’m really enjoying this foray into these larger projects. It’s my inner prop builder coming out. Unlike the last one - this one will be for sale in my Etsy shop.
Well I’m sitting in hospital unexpectedly - nothing too serious. I was going to post this last night but I was in too much pain.
So this is a proof of concept. The word “magical” is used far too much but that was my ambition. Something of unknown use and unknown provenance.
Proof of concept is the build I make all the mistakes on - motor too fast, planets too large and high, LEDs wiring wrong and ugly battery packs. Internally this might not be saleable quality.
The video isn’t great, sorry. When I get home I will take some still photos of all the decorations and detail. It was inspired by those magnetic ballerina jewellery boxes from the 1960s. She would dance around a mirror when the box was opened.
I initially covered the neodymium magnets and attached the planet on a post. Wrong. They fell down, stuck to each other with such force they ended up broken. So I’ve gone for simple using the magnetic force to hold the metal spheres. I will include several spare magnets and planets.
I hope you like it!
Steampunk
Orrery Locket
I wasn’t sure why I bought the ball locket from one of my regular suppliers but I’m glad I did. I really wanted to attempt putting an orrery model in something that small. It was far too small for arms or any rotation so it’s fixed - no movement at all. The gears are there to imply movement - nothing more. I created the black round ½ ball base in black resin. It is held there by a screw through the base of the locket and into the resin. The next challenge was finding ball head pins to represent all the planets within our solar system. Sorry to Pluto but there was no room left.
Perfect to add the wow factor to your Victorian and/or Steampunk costume but versatile (and symbolic) enough to be worn with contemporary fashion. It’s on a very long (Gatsby length) chain so it sits low on the body. This will be a great length so it’s easier to show friends and family without getting yanked or strangled.
Components:
Bought filigree textured highed ball locket
Black resin ½ ball
Assorted ball pins
Thin hollow pipes
Screw
Vintage gears
Brass washer wing
Brass tone rolo chain
Assorted rings
Lobster claw clasp
Build time: 7 hours
The pendant is just under 1 inches (2.4cm) wide and 2 inches (4cm) long including two large hanging links. The chain is brass gold tone rollo link, 36 inches long with a copper tone lobster claw clasp. It is designed to be worn low but can be altered if required.
Thanks for looking!
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Like all my orrery sculptures - this is NOT mechanical - the planets do not move via clockwork mechanism. They can be turned gently by hand.
I’ve made a lot of orreries - I love making them. The gears are used to imply clockwork movement - so it’s a bit of a folley. This is the third orrery I’ve made using an “arm” for each planet. Please remember - this is not a toy. Moving the planets should only be done sparingly and carefully. To achieve the “look” of a real mechanical orrery I’ve used different sized pocket watch and regular watch gears, collected over many years, to correspond to each planet. All eight planets are represented - Saturn has her rings too.
It is on a stained wood base with four little brass legs and uses a number of different brass beads/components so it looks like a real antique scientific model but without the thousand dollar price tag. On the center stem I’ve used graduated brass tubing to “telescope” to the sun.
It is the perfect gift for a milestone celebration and an intriguing desk ornament for an executive or academic. To make it really personalised you can arrange the planets to the positions they were on a particular day - a wedding, a birthday, the birth of a child when it’s presented. I will send you a link to the free website that will calculate a celestial map for you.
It’s available in the Etsy shop.
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This small orrery inspired piece is designed to be an ornament but could also be worn carefully as a pendant or as a fob. When I bought the case it didn’t have a crown or bow so I used other vintage parts in my collection. I think they suit the piece. The whole swedge with the planets can be gently rotated.
All the small planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth are on the inner ring followed by Mars, Jupiter and Saturn on the middle ring and finally, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto on the outer ring.
It’s available in my here in my Etsy shop
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I’m trying to get as many items finished in time for Christmas. Here is a basic little solar system made with resin and glass that would be a unique gift for someone interested in all things celestial. It’s only an inch wide and half an inch deep. The planets “hover” suspended in water clear resin above the fine copper clock hairspring. I dusted some holographic glitter on the black background - it’s very subtle with colour flashes only visible while moving the piece around in the light. I love sparkle but I didn’t want it to look like a cheap christmas bauble or snow globe.
All the planets are in order and relative size within reason. The planets are also in different metallic colours - silver, copper and gold. Saturn has her ring. It’s mounted on a vintage brass gear. I have it on a fine brass and black ball necklace that also sparkles with movement. If you are buying the piece for a man it can be put on a black rubber or leather cord. It should be worn high on the body/neckline.
It’s understated yet very unique and sure to evoke comments and break the ice at gatherings at this time of year. It is available in my Etsy store.
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“Solaris” and “Venus Orbit”
I don’t want to be repetitive listing these solar system globes here but I’ve just listed two more smaller versions - “Solaris” and “Venus Orbit” in my Etsy shop. I’m selling them for US$145 plus US$7 tracked shipping.
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/606053102/orrery-miniature-solar-system-glass
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I have a slightly odd fetish: I love orreries. From the time I was a little girl, I was fascinated by the sight of all the planets with their different colours and sizes and revolutions and rotations and what not. I always get a thrill when I see the moon, especially if it’s visible during the day. While we may not have discovered life on other planets yet, I am very sure it is out there. And I would dearly love to know the sexual mores of extra-terrestrials.
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Modeling a solar eclipse (and other phenomena, both celestial and terrestrial) in Joseph Harris’s The Description and Use of the Globes and the Orrery (London: B. Cole and E. Cushee, 1751).
A folding plate depicting an orrery, or mechanical model of the solar system, forms the volume’s frontispiece. To simulate a solar eclipse, Harris suggested using a lamp in place of the sun, then
… turning the Handle about, you’ll see when the Conjunction of the Moon happens. When she is in or near one of the Nodes, her Shadow will fall upon the Earth, and so deprive that Part upon which it falls of the Light of the Sun…
Here’s a reproduction of an 18th-century orrery in action:
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