This cartoon, showing a machine that helps a numbskull become an engineer, was drawn for Purdue students by Rube Goldberg in the early '50s. According to Goldberg: Seal balances ball and applauds self, causing string to start one-man band. Co-ed, hearing music, does Charleston, kicking over oil lamp and burning string, dropping basketball on switch, which starts atomic machine, lifting numbskull so he can crib answers and become a successful engineer.

(Rube Goldberg is a trademark of Rube Goldberg Inc.)

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