Inside the "Zoltar Speaks" Fortune Teller Replica

You can read the full story about the design and construction of the machine at www.technitoys....
This compilation was made from old standard-definition video clips shot with a hand-held camera, sometimes under marginal lighting conditions. I hope to shoot some HD material this spring when I can spend some time at the location.
Sorry about the obnoxious breathing sound throughout the video - it is embedded in the machine's soundtracks and I would have to find and remaster my original MIDI files to remove it. It gets a little tiresome by the end. BTW, the video ends at about 3:30. The still image was tacked on for the rest of the time to give me a recognizable thumbnail that I could use.
The video has external and internal views of cabinet details and the mechanism in operation. There is more happening internally but these are the only clips I have at present. The loud coin drop sound at 0:55 was caused by having the microphone in the lower cabinet, and you normally don't hear that. It sounds like I hit the jackpot on that one.
The long delays are normal between a) the button push and the coin release down the ramp, and b) between the coin entering the mouth and the card release. It has to do with how the machine runs on a fixed cycle and the fact that the coin launch into the mouth is timed automatically for you to compensate for inertial delays (too many aiming & timing variables otherwise).
At 1:19 the coin ramp retracts to a home position just before the machine shuts down. A separate motor performs this reset only after you successfully hit the mouth and are awarded a card - this is to prevent the ramp from being left in a winning position. If the mouth is missed, the ramp stays where it was so that you can spend many more quarters fine tuning your aim.

[@smithgdwg]

I was always wondering if there was an exact replica. Most you see just have the name but don't function the same as in the movie. Good job!

[@swissmissdemeaner]

Incredible detail, true artist. Thanks for showing how it works.

[@bytraper]

It's strange to look at this... I'd have done most of this with electronics, actuators and solenoids... But there's something magical about analog stuff you can't re-create digitally.

[@brickhappyfilms2764]

I had the incredible joy of seeing this in-action and in-person while it was on display at Kilroys. To top it off, I landed the coin in his mouth on the first try (although my wish was just to land it in his mouth, so.. wish granted!). I cannot be more sincere when I say this was a childhood dream come true. I'll also say that pictures and video do not do this thing justice. The attention to detail and accuracy is insane.

[@donaldspera3497]

that breathing creeps me out

[@karenmusa3052]

What an amazing bit of kit. I have loved Automata for decades, very cool. Thanku ❤

[@ghostofthemaiar]

Just watched the movie today and was so intrigued by the machine. It's so amazing that you replicated this to every last detail. Beautiful work, thanks for giving us a view into the machine.

[@jrunberg]

Who says good craftsmanship is dead? Nice Job.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

An incredible replica of the prop from the movie.

[@raycirino5921]

When I lived near North Hollywood I went in an old prop house and saw Zoltar. It was resigned for another movie and lost it's original look. I'm guessing it was probably returned to the prop house well before the movie was released and the owner just wanted to rent it out instead of putting it on display or in a museum. Every time I drive by the place I wonder if it's still there.Ten years ago I drove by and the prop house is no longer there.

[@SpectreTTM]

I am truly amazed how you not only replicated the look for the machine but also worked out the mechanics of something that really never existed. All that in a period accurate mechanism. I'm approaching retirement and toying with the idea of trying to build one of these myself. No way could I construct a period mechanism but I will try and construct the internals using an Arduino or Pi and servos. This would simplify the build immensely. I have been studying your construction photos & I believe I have a good grasp on the construction. I figure between my 3D printer & CNC router I should be able to make a reasonable looking piece. My hobbies are Halloween props and such so I feel this would be a great addition to my man cave. 🙂 I do have a few questions that would save me a lot of problems if you could be so kind as to answer. I believe you said this machine is 9ft tall. Is that including the Dome? I'm actually, trying to get the dimensions of the cabinet & base correct. If I can get that I should be good to go. Either way Thank you for sharing your inspiring build. Tom

[@pitts8rh]

Thanks for your comments. The height was roughly 8' 3" to the top of the dome not counting the little crescent moon finial on top. I don't have it any longer so I can't give any better measurements. The only real reference I had as a starting point was the height comparison with Tom Hanks in the later boardwalk scene in BIG and his actual height as given on IMDB. Everything else was scaled from that.

[@SpectreTTM]

@@pitts8rh Thank you for taking the time to respond to my comment🙂. My wife is on me to sell the stuff I make but I don't know that I could have parted from such a work of art as your machine. It's gonna be a little easier for me than it was for you. Someone did a fantastic job at 3D Modeling the machine. I should be able to use that measurement as a scale from the 3D printed object. Once again thank you for your input.

[@JAROSS64]

Incredible! Beautiful! Amazing!

[@jebhammer8352]

Thank you, you are so crazy!! So much work

[@Ralfscho]

Magnificent, in your story you say 'On top of that, when you’re all done the best accomplishment that you can lay claim to is that you have copied someone else’s work.' The fact that the one in the movie was only a prop, makes this the original, right?! You sir created something outstanding. It is one of a kind. It's far out. It really works, There's nothing like it. Those fortune teller machines sold on the web are horrible. With modern techniques it should be possible to mold most of your creations and make it a profitable product. Even if it wouldn't be all mechanical/original on the inside, it would still be a 1.000.000 x better than the ones sold at zoltarmachine com. Anyway, I totally get it if you're totally not interested in making it a profitable product. You're an artist and what you did is priceless. When I found out that Zoltar Speaks was a prop and not a working machine I was disappointed. But now he really exists, thanks to you!

[@seanmclainbrown]

Awesome work! I love this!

[@ponderouslydreaming]

SO FLIPPING COOL! Oh man.... GOOD stuff.

[@scrapplepig]

Very nice, do the fortune cards say anything besides "Your wish is granted"

[@vlastaleistikow6934]

Im proud of you! YOU MADE IT HAPPEN TO MAKE THE REAL ZOLTAR. MY BIG COMPLIMENTS!!! I want to buy this real one from the Big movie. Exactly the same one with the same noices and wheels and red button. With the authentic card❤

[@Shenben2021]

This is incredible

[@quadrant2005]

Very nice..

[@isammolina4842]

bello.y bien antigua la idea .desde hace siglos.El turco era una especie de automata q jugaba al ajedrez.pero en realidad habia alguien escondido.aun asi el aspecto era tambien enjoyado.Q excelente obra.muy compleja.👍🌹🌿🌹🌿💎💎💎💎

[@Redbaron863]

Fantastic Work! Brilliant. ...is there a place we can see it live?

[@pitts8rh]

+Redbaron863 The machine was on display in Minneapolis for several years, but it is now gone and unlikely to show up in public for any significant period again.

[@Redbaron863]

+pitts8rh I hope the time will come....make a wish! ;)

[@DarkBlue101010]

Dam I got freaked out with the start of the video with the close up with the red eyes lol

[@Mrmusic-ck6de]

Cinda creepy inside and interesting

[@fabianbobadilla6798]

Mis deseos que se cumplan

[@samverve]

I dont understand the function of the fan? Does it affect the running of the machine or is it for cooling?

[@pitts8rh]

It's for cooling. The motor is intermittent duty without it, and I didn't want it to overheat with multiple plays.

[@walmartynotc]

Mod it with battery to unplug and be more authentic nice machine

[@chanoquin5921]

Is it possible to buy the same exact model from this place ?

[@pitts8rh]

No. This was one of a kind.

[@TR-lz4dv]

Is it possible to buy one ? It’s a good replica that I’m looking for

[@pitts8rh]

Sorry, no. I sold the one and only ever built to a collector several years ago.

[@BillSmith-fo9jj]

If you're wishes actually did come true... I'd be wishing on it everyday 😂

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

Are you the person who made this?

[@pitts8rh]

Yes.

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

Then you, Sir, are BRILLIANT!

[@HADZIsejtan]

Now i wana buy It or build It couse I need It :)

[@paridepacelli9969]

If i want buy one???

[@pitts8rh]

I only built one, and it has been sold.

[@SIyDoll]

How did you make the head? It's all beautiful!

[@pitts8rh]

+SIyDoll The details of construction are found at the link given in the information accompanying this video.

[@johnny85er]

@3:09 where can we get access to this folder?

[@pitts8rh]

It's not available. It was written specifically for the machine in the video that has since been sold.

[@johnny85er]

@@pitts8rh Great job on the build, I've always thought having a replica would be fun, you guys nailed it. On that folder I see: "_______ tool & mfg co minneapolis mn" can't make out the name. looks like Mindseye or something.

[@pitts8rh]

That was just a lame fabricated name that I put on the manual and the interior label. It was "Mishop".

[@johnny85er]

amazing build, still jealous Even if I had access to those files I would never be able to pull off this level of quality.

[@tonyblack3401]

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

[@jacobishii6121]

The company that bought zoltar name got rid of ramp and made them cheesy......too bad

[@jacobishii6121]

This zoltar is the shit

[@ladycroftbayonetta7908]

he is breathing not speaking

[@Youmemichael]

1:31 Who else saw the eyes flash red.

[@jooppoojk2356]

I want one☝🏿

[@Mrmusic-ck6de]

Me too

[@Mrmusic-ck6de]

For Christmas 🎄