# Puzzling Wooden Marble Machines These Paul Grundbacher Machines Would Make Rube Goldberg Blush By Andrew Sztein | Published 2013-03-19 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marble-machines References: [laughingsquid](http://laughingsquid.com/seven-amazing-wooden-marble-machines-by-paul-grundbacher/) & [woodgears](http://woodgears.ca/marbles/paul.html) Back when I was a kid, I thought that sequential marble machines peaked with the board game 'Mouse Trap.' Leave it to Paul Grundbacher to prove me wrong with his series of amazing wooden marble machines that he's been designing since 2009. The most recent addition to his stable of marble machines is 'Archimedis,' a towering contraption that essentially works a turbo-charged express elevator for marbles. It takes a [YouTube](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wm-levsha) video of 'Archimedis' in action to fully appreciate how fast and intricate the design is. The machine works so quickly, that Grundbacher had to add a speed regulator to the device so ensure that the marbles would catch as well to ensure the [wooden gears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carpentopod) on the tower don't get destroyed. Grundbacher's amazing wooden marble machines are exactly the kind of mesmerizing thing you'd see on a Christmas store display in New York City. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Wooden Marble Machines:** Create intricate and mesmerizing marble machines using wood, pushing the boundaries of design and engineering. - **Sequential Marble Machines:** Continue to innovate and improve upon the concept of sequential marble machines, making them faster, more complex, and visually stunning. - **Speed Regulator Devices:** Develop speed regulator devices to ensure the smooth operation of fast-moving machines and prevent damage to intricate parts. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Board Games:** Introduce new board games that incorporate the concept of sequential marble machines, providing a unique and engaging gameplay experience. - **Toy Manufacturing:** Produce wooden marble machines as high-quality toys, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts of intricate mechanical devices. - **Art Installations:** Commission artists to create large-scale wooden marble machines as captivating art installations, attracting attention and sparking wonder. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D-Printed Ball Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fraens.md) - [DIY Wooden Pinball Puzzles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-wooden-puzzle.md) - [Buildable Marble Mazes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-magic-maze.md) - [Modular Marble Mazes Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balance-maze.md) - [Kinetic Art Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-machine.md) - [Mechanical Vintage Dice Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wm-levsha.md) - [Mechanical Kinetic Motion Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mezmoglobe.md) - [Floating Marble Cosmic Clocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobius-calendar-clock.md) - [Combination Building Block Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omnicompatible-wooden-bricks.md)