The Useless Machine!

Visit Tim's Toy Shop, at www.grand-illusions.com/
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The Useless Machine, sometimes called the Leave me Alone Box, is a timeless classic, a device whose only function is to switch itself off! Tim also sometimes calls it the Energy Miser!
It was invented in the 1950s by Marvin Minsky, co-founder of MIT.
The science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke wrote, "There is something unspeakably sinister about a machine that does nothing - absolutely nothing - except switch itself off", and he was fascinated by the concept.
Commercial versions of the Useless Machine became available in the 1960s from several companies. This version is designed and hand made in the UK.

[@Qwarzz]

Some of these machines have been made more clever with different behaviours.

[@jmpattillo]

I saw one that would get annoyed and waggle the finger at you after a few repeats

[@blanktom6049]

it's interesting but kind of defeats the purpose.

[@jmpattillo]

@@blanktom6049 purpose? 😂

[@h7opolo]

the machine that turns itself off only works when the operator turns it on.

[@DeathconButBut]

It's a true shame how little views this man gets, he deserves the world, please don't stop makeing content

[@AllenJohn]

I blame the "tablet generation" and internet for killing our inner child.

[@gotodid]

He got quite some views on his videos before but for some reason it's so little now😢

[@cuber9320]

UA-cam is weird like that.
You find gold and it never gets the recognition it deserves.
And then you find garbage click bait content with no soul. Trying to plug their dumb sponsors. And they have millions. 😢
The world we live in.

[@max3eey]

At least he doesn't whine about it like boogie2988 does

[@krzysztof2459]

I mean, he has over 2 mil subs so it's not that bad.

[@rubenskiii]

Always a treat when Tim shows something!
Love how this machine still is able to get a laugh out of people and start conversations about things like purpose and efficiency.

[@buzz.b]

I think there's something similar built into my phone, as the alarm I set usually turns off without my knowing.

[@Upriverfever]

Lovely little machine.

[@aria5614]

Annoying the little box is endlessly entertaining

[@rodc2678]

It should really freeze at the off position, the fact that it doesn't is rather clever.

[@1viva]

I love it! ;-) Thanks Tim! :-)

[@waywardwriterryu7185]

I saw a video on more elaborate versions of this recently, it’s amazing how far a little gag like this has come to the point it can now be programmed to have a personality or sense when your gonna flip the switch so it tries to preemptively turn it off before you can do anything

[@Cam2Art]

Very stubborn machine, won't take on as an answer.

[@uber_is_my_name]

it's not useless if you wanna have a fight with the machine like that for some reason.

[@The_Legend47]

I think it should b called the "Leave Me Alone Machine"

[@danforbes3573]

Many great versions of the Useless machine. Or 'Sod Off Machine, as I like to call it!

[@paulbond1518]

Would have been nice if that was a hand switching it off,really nice idea.

[@gertp11]

lol! I love this channel! Now to the laugh in a bag!

[@gypsygirl0715]

Hey grand illusions. Do you get those 90’s or very old toys from your childhood or the thrift store?

[@emrekt22]

lovely video

[@Superabound2]

I used to watch every video years ago, but UA-cam stopped showing them to me even though I'm subscribed

[@jamjamjimjim]

Nice machine tim

[@hpalpha7323]

A classic

[@Duckyz.]

Love useless machines. I used to have one with multiple switches and it would always turn every single one of them off

[@Rightart123]

😊

[@Orandu]

Marvin Minsky!

[@bigD1988]

He's shows r awesome

[@phonotical]

Can you blame it? Not many things will let you put them on the table and turn them on 👀😅

[@Ricardo31100]

The sound is left

[@what-uc]

It works by Artificial Intransigence

[@xxdeadxangelx6150]

Moar

[@BottleBri]

It would be better if it was a little hand or fist that came out and turned the switch off.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

newer versions do that

[@BottleBri]

@@bostonrailfan2427 where can you buy those?👍

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@BottleBri they’re multiple places online, it just depends on how much you want to spend

[@grandillusions]

Most of the toys that are shown on this channel are from Tim's collection, and are not for sale. This is one of the few that you will find for sale on the Grand Illusions web site - www.grand-illusions.com/useless-machine-c2x40829732

[@standoughope]

Useless? That thing behaves just like my wife's box does.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

hopefully only you get to flip her switch 😉🤣

[@Have.An.AmicoDay]

​@@bostonrailfan2427She flips her switch off so quick it's not funny 😅

[@JMPT]

Grandy Nice 🤍🤍

[@CasamTheAnimator]

I really do remember this machine which is called useless machine.
This machine not only it's useless it's also boring.

[@Amberlynn_Reid]

It's just like most of humanity!

[@FrankBenlin]

It's useless.