- Rube Goldberg TM & � of Rube Goldberg, Inc.
The 3rd Annual Rube Goldberg Contest at the Museum of Scientific Discovery, Harrisburg, PA - February 21, 1998
Congratulations to Alexis F., Lancaster, PA - 1998 winner!
Winning Project Description and Picture
About the Sponsor: Modjeski and Masters Inc.
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"Man will always find a complicated means to perform a simple task" -- Rube Goldberg
What is this all about? Rube Goldberg "machines" are a fun way to experiment with crazy contraptions that you build from things around the house. The purpose of the 1998 contest was to construct a machine that could turn the page of a book. Machines must have at least ten steps and may not utilize electricity from a wall outlet.
The only human contact should be to initially start the machine.
Alexis's machine, called the "Magic School Bus" after his favorite books, used 13 steps. It was built from things found around the house like toys, balls, cardboard from pizza boxes and tissue boxes, string, paper towel tubes, a mousetrap, wood and nails. It was decorated with construction paper and spray paint.
Click HERE for a better picture of the machine and the crazy step-by-step description!
The contest is held each February at the Museum of Scientific Discovery, Harrisburg, PA in recognition of National Engineer's Week.
The contest is named after Rueben Lucius Goldberg (July 4 ,1883 - 1970). Educated as an engineer but a cartoonist by occupation, he created zany comic strips showing machines and household items performing simple tasks.
Creating a Rube Goldberg machine is an excellent way to combine the planning and building skills of an engineer in a fun and educational way. In addition, museum passes and prizes are awarded to the winners.
To learn more, contact Don Underdunk, Public Relations Director at (717) 233-7969 ext. 32 at the Harrisburg, PA museum or visit their museum web site.
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�Alexis was seven years old when he won this contest. He worked on the machine with his parents. It took about three weeks for it to be completed, from trying out many designs on paper, to building a simple "prototype" taped to the ceiling and dining room table, to finally making the sturdy, finished machine. His favorite parts are the mousetrap and the scale. Alexis likes to play with Capsula toys and K'nex solar power sets. He also enjoys books on machines and how things work. He would like to build a car like "Inspector Gadget" (cartoon show).
Special thanks to the contest's sponsor, a local engineering firm. They provided First, Second, and Third Prizes of $100, $50, and $25.
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Modjeski and Masters Inc.
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