Hallo Chip,
I have admired your constructions of various things and wonder if you have any relations to Christoffer Polhem, (the swedish Leonardo da Vinci)inventor of the "mechanical alfabet" including about 80 "letters". He was the mechanical genius at the big coppermine of Falun as one example.
Its a pity that no contraption of his alfabet is conserved but there is some sketches preserved and new models built in some museeums and science centers.
I supply one link to three photos of three models.
http://w1.346.telia.com/~u34601361/Hist%20of%20Tech.htm