One of Riley’s latest projects, the uncompleted “Circus Theater” music box, was recently on temporary display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad.
Nine of his other, completed animated wonders are on loan to the museum, including the amazing “Toy Factory,” complete with moving cars and trucks, working construction equipment, and whirling gears, not to mention a tiny train rolling down the tracks.
They are on exhibit in a permanent display case just completed just before a contingent of SDFWA members journeyed to North County on a recent Saturday on “a shop tour” of the museum.
“I am all self-taught,” says Riley. “I had to start from scratch about such topics as LEDs, lighting systems, motor circuits—but it’s been a fun journey.”
The animated music box, which features lights and music as well as movement, is not yet finished, but Riley told the museum he wanted to bring the project in so that viewers could see more of the inner workings of one of his many creations.
The 69-year-old Riley is a 30-year-plus member of the Association, and he has long been known in the region as “The Toy Maker.”
He regularly submits entries to the Design in Wood competition at the San Diego County Fair, where he wows fair-goers by the tens of thousands.
In years past he’s made as many as 400 to 600 toys a year—many simple wood toys, but his highly-intricated interactive works have been displayed at local hospitals and libraries over the decades.
He currently has a music box on display in Rancho Santa Fe.
He has been featured on the Disney Channel as well as national woodworking magazines and many local publications.
The Jamul resident never sells his most complex works. He wants them to be displayed where everyone, especially wide-eyed children, can see and enjoy them.
The self-taught craftsman was an electrician during his working years but retired for good in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown.
Riley got into toy-building when his son, Andrew, was a toddler. Riley constructed a wooden toy train taken from plans purchased at a local hardware store.
In addition to his mechanical toys, Riley has made thousands of simple wooden toys.
Over the years, Riley learned how to build elaborate miniature mechanical and digital components to bring his carousels and other music box designs to life.
One librarian in El Cajon described his work as “incredibly intricate,” which makes it all the more appealing to children. One of his first carousels was on display at the library for more than three decades.
A single music box might take more than two years to complete, Riley explains. He would love to find someone with whom he could teach the craft. But hasn’t found anyone willing to spend so much time and focus on a single project. “Every time I tell them about what I do, their eyes roll into the back of their head.”
‘They’re not willing to spend two to three years to build a project,” he says.
Riley told one publication that he can spend up to two years completing a project complete with a display case with a single prominent push button that brings everything to life.
As noted, you can see nine of Riley’s creations at the Miniature Museum.
If you have never been there, it’s a must-see place, which has hundreds of woodworking and metalworking projects at the small end of the size scale on exhibit. Including Riley’s delightful work.
“I am the only one in the country who builds what I call animated music boxes,” he says.
As one person noted, “It’s amazing!”
Written by Columnist Tom York