You've seen this in a movie or cartoon; a person ( usually an eccentric inventor) has objects set up on a table, starts the first thing moving which moves something else which moves something else, and on down the line until the object at the other end turns on an appliance, or pours coffee, or answers the phone, or hands him his hat, or something. Does anyone know what a set-up or "invention" like this is referred to? Does it have a name?
