The Humble Velocipede by Small Wonder Toys

First, a little lesson in etymology: velocipede, a term first used in 1818, derives its construct from two Latin words that literally translate into “fast foot.” Indeed, The Humble Velocipede, a bamboo toy that scurries along surfaces with the help of its ten legs, is appropriately named. The team at Small Wonder Toys conceived of this delightful toy – critter, perhaps – as an adaptation of Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest kinetic sculpture that crawled along sandy beaches with the help of wind alone. Although the Velocipede needs a little bit of human encouragement to start its steel crankshaft heartbeat, the toy happily continues its journey, making its way up inclines and across lengthy tabletops. Even at rest, the Velocipede entertains with its intricate craftsmanship and compact design. Each bamboo component is CNC cut to minimize wasted material, and the pieces are sanded and assembled by hand onto the interior walking mechanism. Small Wonder Toys recently received the green light from their Kickstarter fundraising, and families of Humble Velocipedes are soon to populate kitchen counters and workstations as friendly, cheerful companions that possess a good dose of wanderlust.

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