All the episodes of
The Secret Life of Machines are available online. Created by engineer, artist, tinkerer and cartoonist
Tim Hunkin, the show took a look at the science and mechanics behind common household objects, with a bit of social history, homemade laboratory experiments, and downplayed humor. The series grew out of a long-running strip, which Hunkin has now offers as his own
cartoon encyclopedia. You can also try some
experiments of your own, marvel at the
coin-operated contraptions he made for the
Under the Pier Show in Suffolk (don't miss the
film), and read his
thoughts about his brief foray into the fine art world and his
ruminations about how art and engineering mix.
posted by hydrophonic
on Jan 5, 2007 -
27 comments
Rube Goldberg, former mining engineer, Godfather to Mad Magazine’s “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions,”
cartoonist for Boob McNutt and Mike & Ike (they look alike), is best known for the now
eponymous machines he started cartooning back in 1914 such as:
how to not forget to mail a letter. Or the reminder to
take out the garbage. Or the
local government efficiency machine. Or the
oversleeping cure. Or the
German webserver wakeup device (it’s got sound).
There are
amateurs making ‘Rube Goldberg machines,’ but there are also
serious contests, sponsored by
serious engineers. (There are even
do it yourself plans - y’know, for kids).
Goldberg’s influence can be seen in a
variety
of
media, but by the time he turned 80 he’d tired of cartooning and decided to begin sculpting. Needless to say he excelled and of course, influenced
humorous kinetic
sculpture.
posted by Smedleyman
on Mar 15, 2006 -
13 comments
