A glass bird that dips its beak in water is most likely referring to a drinking bird toy. Drinking bird toys have been popular novelty items since the 1940s and are designed to repeatedly dip their beaks into water, mimicking the motion of a bird drinking.
What is a Drinking Bird Toy?
A drinking bird toy is a heat engine that is designed to continuously dip its beak into a glass of water. It was patented in 1945 by Miles V. Sullivan and Bob Altekruse. The toy is shaped like a bird with a beak, and is typically made out of glass and metal.
The drinking bird works due to the thermodynamics of the special liquid sealed inside the glass bulb of the bird. As the bird tips forward, the liquid in the upper bulb vaporizes and moves into the lower bulb, forcing the bird to become top-heavy and tip forward. As the bird tips into the water, the liquid condenses and flows back into the upper bulb, making the bird bottom-heavy again and tipping back up. This allows the cycle to continuously repeat as long as there is water for the beak to dip into.
The drinking bird is an example of a heat engine, as it uses temperature differences and evaporation to create motion. It does not require any external source of power or electricity to function, just water. The changing vapor pressure of the liquid inside the bird allows it to cyclically tip back and forth in perpetuity.
History of the Drinking Bird Toy
The drinking bird toy was patented in 1945 by Miles V. Sullivan and Bob Altekruse. The original patent was filed while Sullivan was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After being discharged, Sullivan formed a partnership with Bob Altekruse and assigned the patent to the Altekruse Bobber Co. based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Altekruse Bobber Co. began manufacturing the drinking birds in 1947, marketing them under the name “Drink-O-Bird.” They were an instant success as a novelty item. The drinking bird became a popular desk toy and captured the fascination of people of all ages as it endlessly dipped its beak into water.
The original patent for the drinking bird toy expired in 1962, allowing other companies to begin manufacturing their own versions. Hober Laboratories and Metromail were two of the earliest companies to make generic drinking birds. Dozens of imitations and variations have been created over the years, but the basic mechanism remains the same.
Drinking bird toys remain popular to this day, with an estimated 90 million sold since their invention. They are sold in gift shops, museum stores, toy stores, and many other retailers. The drinking bird is considered one of the classic novelty items that has endured decade after decade.
How a Drinking Bird Works
The drinking bird operates due to the clever use of sealed liquids with different vapor pressures inside a glass enclosure. Here is a step-by-step look at how it works:
- The main liquid in the drinking bird is methylene chloride, which has a high vapor pressure and evaporates at room temperature.
- As the bird tips forward, the liquid in the upper bulb is exposed to air and begins evaporating, forming vapor.
- This vapor condenses and collects in the lower bulb, making the lower bulb heavier.
- The weight shift causes the bird to become top-heavy and tip forward until its beak hits the water glass.
- The beak touching water cools the lower bulb, causing the vapor to condense back into liquid.
- This condensed liquid returns to the upper bulb through a narrow tube, making the upper bulb heavy again.
- The bird tips back up to an upright position, and the cycle repeats.
The ingenious design allows the drinking bird to cycle and dip its beak continuously as long as there is water and ambient heat present. The only external energy needed is the heat that causes the liquid to evaporate and condense inside the bird.
How to Use a Drinking Bird
Using a drinking bird toy is very easy. Here are the basic steps:
- Fill a glass about 1/2 to 3/4 full with water. Tap water is fine.
- Position the glass on a flat, level surface in front of the bird.
- Make sure the bird’s beak is hanging directly over the glass of water.
- Set the bird in its starting upright position. It may need a slight nudge to begin tipping over.
- Once the bird tips forward and its beak touches the water, it will begin cycling back and forth continuously on its own.
- Enjoy watching the perpetual motion bird toy dip its beak again and again!
The drinking bird needs to be manually repositioned to the upright starting position about once per hour. Just gently tilt it back upright so the beak is aligned over the water again. The ambient temperature affects the speed of the drinking motion. Ideal operation temperature is around 70°F (21°C).
Troubleshooting Drinking Bird Issues
If a drinking bird toy stops working or fails to cycle smoothly, here are some troubleshooting steps:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Not tipping over | Gently twist the bird to start motion. Check for obstructions preventing tipping. |
| Leaking liquid | Look for cracks in glass bulbs. Seal with waterproof glue if found. |
| Moving slowly | Try a warmer room temperature around 70°F (21°C). |
| Beak not dipping into water | Check water level and reposition glass closer if needed. |
| Not cycling smoothly | Clean any algae or mineral buildup from beak and bulbs. |
With proper care, a drinking bird toy can provide years of perpetual motion enjoyment.
Variations of Drinking Bird Toys
There are many different styles and variations of drinking bird toys available. Some common versions include:
- Classic style – The original design with bulbs and beak made of glass.
- Plastic drinking birds – Lower cost versions where the bulbs and beak are plastic.
- Bobbing bird – The beak attaches to a pivot so only the head bobs down into the water.
- Inverted bird – Tilts backwards instead of forwards to dip its beak.
- Miniature birds – Tiny versions standing only 1-2 inches tall.
- Decorative birds – Artistic versions made with colored glass bulbs.
There are also themed drinking birds modeled after different animals like parrots, flamingos, and penguins. The basic mechanism functions the same despite the different external appearances.
Significance of the Drinking Bird
The drinking bird has more significance than simply being a desk toy novelty. It demonstrates some important scientific concepts:
- Thermodynamics – The bird operates by thermodynamic processes of evaporation and condensation.
- Heat engines – It is powered by heat differentials turning evaporation into motion.
- Gravity and equilibrium – The shifting weight balances the bird on its pivot.
- Perpetual motion – The bird cycles continuously without any outside energy source.
These characteristics have made the drinking bird a staple in physics classrooms for decades. It provides a fun, visible illustration of thermodynamics principles for students to observe.
Drinking Bird in Popular Culture
Beyond physics classrooms, the drinking bird has appeared in many aspects of popular culture:
- Featured prominently in the opening of the 1960s TV comedy The Nanny and the Professor
- Used as a prop in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1964 film Marnie
- Included in the title sequence of the 1960s TV series Naked City
- Mentioned in the lyrics of They Might Be Giants’ 1990 song Birdhouse in Your Soul
- A tattoo of a drinking bird became a minor plot point in Dan Brown’s 2009 novel The Lost Symbol
- The drinking bird was a signature image of the infomercial company Amazing Discoveries in the 1990s
It remains a staple example of mid-20th century pop culture kitsch and retro design. The drinking bird’s distinctive appearance and perpetual motion make it eye-catching and mesmerizing.
Conclusion
The drinking bird is a clever invention that demonstrates thermodynamics principles in a fun, captivating way. It continues to have cultural significance decades after its invention in 1945. Millions have been sold and it remains a classic novelty item. The drinking bird’s timeless design ensures it will intrigue generations to come with its seemingly perpetual dipping motion.
