You know the game – three cups on the table, one ball under the cup and you have to keep your eye on the ball as the cups are whooshed around.
It’s game that people lose their money to by playing sharks on street corners. These guys move the cups so quickly it enables them to sneak in some slight of hand and hide the ball.
… but could a clockwork and wooden robot be so clever? Think you can spot the ball?
What’s your theory? The more information link takes us to here but it’s not much help. We discover the clockwork robot is called “Gambler”.
Some people suggest there might be very carefully cut holes, with trap doors, in the table – but the seal is very good. Others suggest there’s magnets in the cups however the on/off switch is artfully done in wood, without any apparent electricty, if that’s the case.
The picture below is my best still of a look up and into the cups.
My guess is there are 3 balls and the other 2 are held up via some type of air suction/pneumatics.
Yeah. I think 3 balls is a strong guess. My theory is that one ball is actually pulled down from below (perhaps from a magnet hidden in the desk).
through each hand there will be clasp, holding the balls, if it’s in a position to release the clasp then the ball will appear below the cup. definite of 3 balls. Very clever bit of workmanship.