There should be a button that says "??" because I don't get it, and that link wasn't illuminating.

My grandparents had this clock, or one so much like it that I can't tell the difference.

It's rather reminds me of the do-nothing machine that was popular a generation ago, though, to be fair, this has elements of the old Mousetrap game and other Rube Goldberg inspired objects d'art.

Not my thing, but might appeal to the right gizmo guy on your Christmas list.