Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Is it soup yet?

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                                                 

Ball Bearing Dispenser

  (+19)(+19)
(+19)
  [vote for,
against]

Due to a perceived, perhaps imaginary, decline in the popularity of pointless chewing, there are plenty of old gumball machines available on the cheap.

The idea is to set them up at tech and nerd conferences, dispensing chrome-plated steel ball bearings of various sizes and prices.

FlyingToaster, Nov 21 2013

Ball Bearing Dispenser http://youtu.be/liRYG5W5XHU
[Klaatu, Nov 22 2013]

Pachinko http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko
Noisy. Very noisy … [8th of 7, Nov 22 2013]

Gumball machines http://en.wikipedia...iki/Gumball_machine
for the confectionally challenged. [FlyingToaster, Nov 23 2013]

[link]






       Can you modify them so they dispense a given quantity per cash input?   

       It would come in handy in situations where you are being pursued to be able to run into a merchants building, drop a twenty in the machine and run off leaving several hundred ball bearings in your wake.
normzone, Nov 21 2013
  

       I'll bun this if you promise that bubblegum-sized tungsten carbide ball-bearings will be available. Steel is soooo 1905.
bs0u0155, Nov 21 2013
  

       A boon for those who carry a folding catapult at all times. [+]
8th of 7, Nov 22 2013
  

       Brought to you by the Dental Association?
popbottle, Nov 22 2013
  

       //a folding catapult//   

       AKA "Ball Bearing Dispenser."
AusCan531, Nov 22 2013
  

       Handy +
xenzag, Nov 22 2013
  

       Excellent! [+]
Grogster, Nov 22 2013
  

       I'm in, but only if the machines display the legend:   

       Caution : Choking hazard.
Loris, Nov 22 2013
  

       Ball bearing dispenser <link>
Klaatu, Nov 22 2013
  

       Sheer brilliance! A shiny metal bun for you. Best idea I've seen in quite awhile!
blissmiss, Nov 22 2013
  

       It could be even more fun if combined with a Pachinko machine <link>
8th of 7, Nov 22 2013
  

       Pardon? What was that again? <doors to pachinko parlour closes> Ahh, that's better.. I can't even go into one, too hard on the ears.
not_morrison_rm, Nov 22 2013
  

       There is a horrific and possible staged video of a German dude shooting things with a slingshot and ballbearings, and one ricochets and whacks his head. I worry these ballbearings would be used mostly as projectiles.   

       Unless the entire load of smallish ballbearing were dispensed at once, leading to comedic flailing and falling.
bungston, Nov 23 2013
  

       Thankee bliss.   

       [bs0] Plans are afoot to target hardware stores, and more upscale conferences, with non-shiny coating varieties.   

       //projectiles// well... that would explain why we sold out at the Gauss-pistol fest', but they're really meant as cool pocket ornaments.   

       //Pachinko// Yes ! with very large expensive bearings that are both play-pieces and prizes.
FlyingToaster, Nov 23 2013
  

       Passed a gumball machine at Walmart today, thought about trying to explain your idea to my husband, then thought...nah, he wouldn't get it. Plus all he can think about is Dr. Who anyway. Waste of time. But it inspired me at least.
blissmiss, Nov 23 2013
  

       // Dr. Who ... Waste of time. ///   

       Hefty words to fling around in here. Are you _trying_ to start a fight?
Alterother, Nov 23 2013
  

       <Puts down beer, moves to stand beside [TheAlterother], reverses grip on pool cue>   

       // I worry these ballbearings would be used mostly as projectiles //   

       What else … ?
8th of 7, Nov 23 2013
  

       No No No, Dr. Who not a waste of time. Talking to my husband about anything but Dr. Who is a waste of time. RELAX and put down your weapons.
blissmiss, Nov 23 2013
  

       Bearings could come in collectable series... i.e. different sizes and colours for different elements, or particles, or planets and suns.
Ling, Nov 23 2013
  

       … or different calibres, 5.56, 7.62, 7.92, 9 …
8th of 7, Nov 24 2013
  

       Don't worry folks, just a simple syntax error. Everyone calm down.   

       And for the gods' sake, Borg, stop trying to snap that pool cue in half, it's filled with fulminated mercury. Remember the 3rd rule of Halfbaked billiards?
Alterother, Nov 24 2013
  

       … 12.7 MUHWHAHAHAHAHA !   

       Ahem.   

       <Tries to look serious and dignified, fails miserably>
8th of 7, Nov 24 2013
  

       No, firearms .50 caliber and above are covered in the amendments to rule 7. Rule 3 covers the accepted use of experimental table equipment.   

       Do try to keep up.
Alterother, Nov 24 2013
  

       Beware of balls bearing dispensers.
pertinax, Nov 24 2013
  

       [+] I've been wanting to bun this since I read it, but alas, I have nothing witty to say about ball bearings, so here is a plain bun.
xandram, Nov 25 2013
  

       If I need a ball bearing dispenser on the fly and don't have one, does someone have a ball bearing dispenser dispenser handy?
RayfordSteele, Nov 25 2013
  

       When reading a post concerning beautiful objects, perfectly symmetrical and reflective; portable enough to be taken along on journeys for periods of quiet introspection, why is it that the first thought that pops up is "Let's smack somebody upside the head with it" ?
FlyingToaster, Nov 26 2013
  

       If I understand the intent of this idea correctly then it needs to be edited to read *Bearing Ball Dispenser*. Ball bearings are by definition assemblies of (usually) metal *bearing balls* which assist machinery parts in spinning smoothly.   

       I've heard all the COOL Neanderthals favoured the term *Thal* over *Neander*.
Canuck, Nov 26 2013
  

       Nice bit of pedantry there, [Can]. Respect.
8th of 7, Nov 26 2013
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle