[2008-02-14] I want to see the machine that makes these

I love it that you can buy rubber bands as balls these days. It was not too long ago that they were only available as loose bands in plastic bags, and a ball, really, is a much more convenient and fun way to store them. Practical benefits aside, however, selling the balls ready-made is a pretty brilliant example of marketing co-opting vernacular design. And what's more, it means some lucky engineer got to design a machine for making rubber-band balls on an industrial scale. Now that's a factory I want to tour.
last modified 2008-02-14