“A jumper cable walks into a bar…” (bar joke)

“A guy walks into a bar…” is a typical form of what has been called the “bar joke.” One popular bar joke is:
 
“A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, ‘I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.’”
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993. “A spark plug walks into a bar…” is the same joke.
 
“A bra and a set of jumper leads walk into a bar…” is an extended form of the joke. The bartender kicks them out because they’re “off their tits” and “might start something.”
           
     
Google Groups: rec.humor
Guy walks into a bar  
R. Wagner
5/27/93
A guy walks into a bar and the bouncer stops him and says, “sir you need a tie to get in.”  The guy goes out to his car to look for something to wear as a tie.  The only thing he can find is a set of jumper cables so he ties them around his neck in a big bow and goes back to the bar.  The bouncer looks him over and says, “It’s not a tie but I’ll let you in, just don’t start anything.”
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
really bad one
Jon Mason Gougar Jr
9/29/93
A guy was trying to get into a bar, but he was dressed like a slob, and the bar was a pretty posh place. The bouncer at the door said,“Look buddy, I can`t let you in unless you put on a tie.” So, the guy went out to his car, opened the trunk, got out his jumper cables, and strung them around his neck. When he walked up to the bouncer, he looked at the guy and said,“Well, I guess I`ll let you in, but don`t start anything.”
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
A Guy Walks into a Bar . . .
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
10/22/95
A guy walks into a bar wearing jumper cables around his neck and orders a drink.
 
The bartender, not sure what to do, says “I’ll give you a drink, but don’t start anything.”
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
man walks into a bar
BB
5/24/97
A man walks into a bar with jumper cables around his neck.  He asks the bartender for a pitcher of beer.  Bartender says, “Okay, as long as you don’t start something.”
 
Google Groups: alt.support.arthritis
OTP: some Henny Youngman humor…
Norman
1/15/03
(...)
A jumper cable walks into a bar.
The barman says “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”
   
Straight Dope Message Board
Weirddave
02-07-2003, 02:26 PM
Once more with feeling- TRULY AWFUL JOKES!!!!
(...)
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The barman says “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”
 
Google Groups: alt.med.fibromyalgia
OT Humor One liners
Celtic Ferret
2/28/03
(...)
A jumper cable walks into a bar.The barmaid says “I’ll serve you, but > don’t start anything.”
 
Google Books
Fun-E-Mail
Edited by Dave Galey
Sun City, CA: Winlock
2005
Pg. 11:
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”
 
Google News Archive
26 April 2006, Lake Region Times (Madison Lake, MN), , pg. 2, col. 2:
“Thought For The Day,”
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you; but don’t start anything.”
 
Twitter
Dean Jensen
‏@Dean_Jensen
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”
7:08 AM - 9 Jan 2007
 
Google Books
Jokes, Quotes, and Other Assorted Things
By Stephen Motway
Xlibris Corporation (Xlibris.com)
2011
Pg. 172:
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The barman says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”
 
Google Books
Silly Jokes:
Dumb Jokes That Are Funny - Crazy Jokes and Stupid Riddles That Don’t Always Make Sense: Illustrated Edition
By Mature Jokemaker Jr.
Emo Media GmbH
2014
Pg. ?:
A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”