Escalado Horse racing game.

[Asgard]

I just watched that restoration thing on TV and they restored an old Escalado vibrating mat horse race game...I vaguely remember them though dont think I ever played with one.

I just cant get my head around how they work...you turn a crank and that vibrates a fabric mat that the horses go on, but how the fuck does that result in the horses moving forward in a straight line?

Anyone know the physics behind this?......its like some wierd fekking magick

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Wild guess...like a walking-floor trailer with longitudinal slats rotating?

[Hugh]

Greetings,

I think that;

the track is sprung loaded to keep it taught
the cranking handle pulls the track forward against the spring load
the horses by way of friction and gravity, static, move forward with the mat
the crank suddenly release the track which automatically springs rearward at a faster rate that the previous forward motion, since the speed of the track returning to its original position is faster than its forward motion it is sufficient to overcome the frictional down force of the horse which remains in its' new' forward position on the track
the cycle is quickly repeated until the horse reaches the end of the track or falls off the table

Now, why am I so crap at lifting the front wheel of a motorcycle over a log - discuss

TTFN

Hugh.

[hotbulb]

I think Hugh's got it .... and I think they said the track was some sort of waxed canvas, so low friction.

[Nico-D]

Thanks for the explanation Hugh.

We had one at home when I was very young but of course being a little kid I never wondered about the physics involved

[daveuprite]

Thanks for the explanation Hugh.

We had one at home when I was very young but of course being a little kid I never wondered about the physics involved

Hope you didn't lick the horses, Nick. They were made of lead back then.

We all know how you like to lick a horse whenever you get the chance....

[Nico-D]

Thanks for the explanation Hugh.

We had one at home when I was very young but of course being a little kid I never wondered about the physics involved

Hope you didn't lick the horses, Nick. They were made of lead back then.

We all know how you like to lick a horse whenever you get the chance....

true enough, and don't get me started on those irresistable donkeys...

Actually I can remember being exposed to plenty of lead toys as a nipper. Went to stay with my Gran each summer and she had a box of 1920's era toy soldiers etc, all lead .... ah the good old days when one was exposed to all sorts of poisons before those damn do-gooders started with their health and safety and red tape stifling those lovely companies determined to profit at any cost...

[chunky butt]

[daveuprite]

I was too busy sweeping chimneys to play with toys.

[bill_qaz]

Lived in a house with lead water pipes until 16 so licking any lead toys would be irrelevant