Crazy Machine

This image is found on the photo archives of Life magazine under the title above. I cannot discover any accompanying article to explain what this device is. Your best guess?

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 18, 2011
Category: Inventions | Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains

Comments

My first thought was an entry in a Rube Goldberg contest. As it turns out I wasn't too far off. Here are a couple of links to pages with a little (but not much) more information.

LINK 1

LINK 2

Posted by yogi in Kennesaw GA on 09/18/11 at 02:31 PM

Fine sleuthing, yogi! Thanks!

Posted by Paul on 09/18/11 at 05:08 PM

That was my first thought too Yogi. Great minds think alike eh?

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/19/11 at 12:36 AM

Hooked up to a V8 the way it was I though that maybe it was an early attempt by GreenPeas to demonstrate the uselessness of fossil fuels. But I was wrong. :down:

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/19/11 at 01:14 AM

You're making an assumption that a machine has to be something, or that it's made for a purpose...

Posted by jswolf19 in Japan on 09/19/11 at 07:58 AM

Engineering competition and entertainment are purposes. Just not the usual purposes for a mechanical device. 😛

Posted by yogi in Kennesaw GA on 09/19/11 at 08:27 AM

Vern--never knew of Ganson's stuff! Brilliant artist! Many thanks!

Posted by Paul on 09/19/11 at 11:21 AM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.