Tim Hunkin (Secret Lives of Machines) | Hacker News Reader

Tim Hunkin (Secret Lives of Machines)

timhunkin.com

112 pointsPaul_S23 comments

Let me try to give you a sense of Tim’s ability to captivate people’s interest in the mundane all around us and inspire people to want to know ‘how’ even more than you thought was possible. I grew up in an engineering household in the 70s/80s. Dad was an ME that worked on some pretty revolutionary stuff (VTOL aircraft) and he brought home a computer in 1983. I was immersed in engineering 24/7, knew I wanted to be a programmer by 13 and was deeply interesting in tearing things apart to see how they worked. Then in my freshman year in college I stumbled on the secret life of machines bbc series and it absolutely blew me away. Tim had a way of deconstructing the everyday things around us (fax machines, telephony, washing machines, etc). I thought I had an already abnormal passion to learn how things worked and Tim showed me another universe. His deadpan, matter of fact, understated and expert ways of presenting things inspired me in ways that made me what I am today. I’ve been fortunate to work with world class engineers at FAANGs for the last 15 years and I can easily say that Tim is _the_ engineer’s engineer. Thank you Tim.

Don't miss his recent series "The Secret Life of Components" on YouTube giving advice for makers on what components work well for DIY based on his lifetime of building stuff. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtaR0lZhSyANYB0Xxb9OSp47p...

This is potentially even better than the already excellent website!

I am in complete awe of the man’s ability to break down complex topics like “glue” into something that gives me vocabulary that I can use in day-to-day life.

The pier arcade that he runs/operates is definitely on my destination list.

Lots of remastered versions of the TV series on that channel as well!

Worth watching just for the intro theme song, "The Russians Are Coming", a reggae remix of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five":

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-fvwg9zy08

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Bennett

I most enjoyed his recollections about each episode at the end of the remastered ones. Watching these shows again for the first time in 30 years was very nostalgic, and his recollections made it feel like I was watching them again with him right there with me.

Tim also operates the Novelty Automation arcade in London. When I return to the UK, it's at the top of my list of things to see. His machines have his amazing sense of satire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ort-VEOZ0iI

+1 to that, it's fantastic. Worth a special trip.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jowHSGKJMi8Qsf9b9?g_st=ic

Went there a few months ago, absolutely worth a visit!

He does indeed. Also don't forget his original arcade, the Under The Pier Show in Southwold, Suffolk[1]. The Pier itself also includes Tim's famous clock[2].

I've been lucky enough to meet Tim a few times and he's a lovely chap. I remember him photographing the attendees at an art show in Ipswich using a giant camera made of old road signs and discarded catering tins; genius!

1. https://www.underthepier.com/

2. https://www.southwoldpier.co.uk/waterclock/

Tim’s partner in mischief on this show was Rex Garrod (RIP), and that man was an absolutely incredible inventor, maker, tinkerer, and just all round nice fellow.

Creator of Brum, self-righting battlebots, and much more. Absolutely an inspiration to me as a teen.

Alzheimer's sucks.

I watched a bunch of these on YouTube. Tim has added commentary at the end of each one. They’re pretty fun even if some of the devices are kinda obsolete (fax machines, vcrs ...)

But I appreciate the explanations and demos which are fun.

Secret love of machines YouTube playlist:

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtaR0lZhSyAPLuoSbMA29s3...

Good old Tim Hunkin. As a kid, I used to look forward to his Rudiments of Wisdom comic strip, every Sunday in The Observer

https://www.timhunkin.com/40_rudiments_book.htm

There's a nice essay of his on that site too: Is it Art?

https://www.timhunkin.com/95_isitart.htm

I was too young to read the Rudiments of Wisdom comics. My mum cut them out and saved them in a scrap book for me. She finally gave me it about 10 years later, in the mid 90's, to read. What a treat!

There’s a newer collection of the Rudiments of Wisdom available in paperback, titled “Tim Hunkin’s the Rudiments of Wisdom”. I have an old copy of the 1998 edition on my shelves.

Tim Hunkin is up there with Sheldon Brown.

I'd be willing to embrace the wedding industrial complex if I ever saw this statement on a dating profile.

Tim's book "Almost Everything there is to Know" had a profound impact on me as a child. I was lucky enough to see him give a talk once in Cambridge. He's as disarmingly curious and chaotic as you might expect. A true hero of the mine.

These are great and Tim Hunkin is great too! I fondly remember watching these when they first aired on TV in the UK when I was a kid - and they're on YouTube and still great!

His yt channel is also good, lots of really interesting maker stuff.

Love Tim, Been watching him for years

Big fan here. I'd say that if you are curious about any of the subjects his show covered, you'd be well served to watch it.

I love the website. Sometimes simple is enough.

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