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These 15 pieces of old technology contain a mind-boggling number of parts

These 15 pieces of old technology contain a mind-boggling number of parts

McLellan started the series as a way to celebrate the mechanics of old technology. "As I'm taking it apart, if I press this button, I know it presses that lever, and you can actually see that happen," he tells Tech Insider.

These 15 pieces of old technology contain a mind-boggling number of parts

Newer technology doesn't offer the same tactile satisfaction, he says. "You press the button and its goes into the circuit board, and then it makes something on the screen do something. You can't really place how that happened."

Newer technology doesn

The actual process of disassembly takes roughly a day and a half. For complex electronics, like a Walkman, the trickiest part is keeping everything organized.

The actual process of disassembly takes roughly a day and a half. For complex electronics, like a Walkman, the trickiest part is keeping everything organized.

Arranging the pieces takes another day or two, McLellan says, because he likes to group similar parts together. Combing through each one can be time-consuming.

Arranging the pieces takes another day or two, McLellan says, because he likes to group similar parts together. Combing through each one can be time-consuming.

One trick he's picked up over the years is to start arranging the largest pieces first, which are typically the cases or main units of a device.

One trick he

From there he extends outward, adding the tiny wires, screws, washers, and bolts.

From there he extends outward, adding the tiny wires, screws, washers, and bolts.

His largest project was a piano, which took five days to take apart and arrange.

His largest project was a piano, which took five days to take apart and arrange.

McLellan says one of his greatest joys in doing the project is giving people newfound appreciation for the hidden complexity of seemingly simple products.

McLellan says one of his greatest joys in doing the project is giving people newfound appreciation for the hidden complexity of seemingly simple products.

People walk by and say 'Oh wow, I didn't know that was in there," he explains. "I kind of took that for granted. People don't know what's inside. They just use things.

People walk by and say

McLellan's favorite disassemblies change on a near-daily basis, he says. Right now it's his most recent project, an old-school coffee grinder.

McLellan

Though he still keeps the old Macintosh close to his heart.

Though he still keeps the old Macintosh close to his heart.

While most disassemblies are fairly smooth, some projects have given him a bit of trouble.

While most disassemblies are fairly smooth, some projects have given him a bit of trouble.

Early video game systems — like the Nintendo NDS, for example — came with two screens, each with several different layers. "It just becomes a bunch of different rectangles throughout the composition and not enough guts to it," he says.

Early video game systems — like the Nintendo NDS, for example — came with two screens, each with several different layers. "It just becomes a bunch of different rectangles throughout the composition and not enough guts to it," he says.

Simpler items, like toasters, are far more reliable in the range of parts they contain.

Simpler items, like toasters, are far more reliable in the range of parts they contain.

And some, like old-fashioned typewriters, are so complex that they're not just lessons in industrial design, but true works of art.

And some, like old-fashioned typewriters, are so complex that they

McLellan's series, "Things Come Apart," has been turned into a book and is currently on the road with the Smithsonian as one of its traveling exhibits.

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