The K'Nex Lamps

K'Nex lamps offer a combination of light and motion. K'Nex are plastic Tinker Toy like connectors and rods, but there are also gears, chains, pulleys, wheels and axles. When combined with conventional bulbs, sockets and a bit of wiring, they can make beautiful lamps.

There are now three K'Nex lamps. There were two wall mounted lamps, The Original K'Nex Lamp and The Remote Control K'Nex Lamp. Now there is a new table lamp, Promenade for Julia.

There is also a Kenner Girder and Panel Lamp which gives a very soft light and offers a touch of retro style.

Promenade for Julia



This is a small table lamp or desk lamp. It gives off a soft glowing light, and it presents a promenade of crazy creatures strolling under the whirling umbrellas. It was designed as a birthday present for Julia.

Promenade K'Nex Lamp - Light

Roll your mouse over the picture above to see how it looks in the dark.

See the complete Promenade for Julia movie
in Quicktime (8.6MB).

Promenade Movies (Click to Play)

Short Movie Clip 1

Short Clip 2

UPDATE - We are putting together some info on how to build this lamp. If you are curious, check out this series of construction photos.




The Original K'Nex Lamp 

Front View of K'Nex Lamp Angled View of K'Nex Lamp


The K'Nex lamp has two 60 watt incandescent lamps controlled by a dimmer and an on/off switch for the K'Nex motor. The lamp has a number of moving elements, including a radar scanner, a double helix, flapping wings, and an animated chain suggested by the bridge in Miyazaki's Spirited Away cover.

If you have a Quicktime viewer on your system , you can see the lamp in motion:

- a short snippet

- the full cycle


The Remote Control K'Nex Lamp


This lamp is has a single 60 watt bulb for illumination and two servo motors controlled by a K'Nex dragster remote control radio handset. Yes, really. You can drive the main "ferris wheel" forward or backwards and you can drive the top mounted radio clockwise or counter clockwise with the touch of a lever, even from across the room.

The K'Nex Remote Control Lamp
The lamp is shown in repose on the left. Here is a Quicktime video of the lamp in motion.
The Remote Control




If you would like one of these lamps for your own home, drop us a line. We can make one up for you, or we can send you a kit and let you build your own.


K'Nex is a trademark of K'Nex

Check out their website for more conventional K'Nex sculpture.

Other K'Nex Links

Martin's K'Nex Homepage - some amazing constructions

Mark Nahabedian's K'Nex Page - an old friend and Digicomp fan from MIT days is into K'Nex

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