This is the most unique, fascinating and uncanny fortune teller ever discovered! It says so right on it!
This fabulous wheel is in great shape except for the grommet. I had to replace it with a brad so I could use it. Here's something uncanny: I actually have brads laying around! The copyright on this is 1935 and was produced by Modern Features, Inc. I'm surprised it wasn't made by something like Prognostication Products Ltd. I love absolutely everything about this wheel, especially the fortune teller AND the delightful warning noted at the bottom. Most of the questions relate to marriage or money. There are 450 available answers, which is what makes this wheel so good. Hours of fun! I thought it would be fun to test it out. I chose "What is my foremost quality?" I followed the instructions and the fortune teller told me, "Has anyone ever accused you of having one?" Hmpf! I guess I should have taken the warning more seriously. I asked another: "Who is trying to deceive me?" The wheel told me, "Gaze into the mirror and you shall see." I guess I shouldn't fool with my fate. I think we can all agree that this is a charming little wheel. Patent Pending! You can make a lot of different, funny faces with this. I hope someone had some fun with it. Someone wrote a name on the back. I'm having trouble making out the first name. Any guesses?
This wheel is 3.75 x 5.375. Weird, non-standard size, huh? I've seen pictures of this wheel with other advertising. I would certainly choose this for any business venture I was involved with! I couldn't find any evidence that either Northfield Milk or Gowan-Lenning-Brown are still in business. It's too bad we can no longer buy Northfield Evaporated Milk by the can or, as this wheel advises, by the case. It's the wheel you've been waiting for! I don't know what "GTA" refers to. Graphic Training Aid? Government Test Acceptance? Grand Theft Auto? And I don't know why it's called a whiz wheel, either. I tried to find out, but all I got was creepy paramilitary websites, so I thought it was best just to back away.
This is from 1975 -- September, to be exact -- and is four inches in diameter. It's made of flexible plastic and has lots of interesting and clever symbols on it. Just dial up the lethal device you're interested in and the wheel does the rest: type of warhead, maximum effective range -- the whole magilla! Of course, the best part about it is that it's called "Societ Weapons Whiz Wheel". I'll bet it was a pretty handy little wheel to have. Guess what? I actually know what this is! VOR stands for "very high frequency omni-directional range" and is the system used by a series of stations around the world to help pilots figure how to get where they're going. This is, literally, how they get their bearings.
You may have seen some of these strange little stations off in the distance while driving out in the middle of no where. You can see a picture (and read a very brief explanation) here: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/gbng/vor/ Each one sends out a signal. Pilots configure their equipment to head for these stations as they leapfrog across the country. I understand that, due to GPS, this system is becoming obsolete. This wheel has four discs and is made of a very sturdy, heavy plastic. It's four and a quarter inches long along the longest point. Don't ask me how it works, though. Here is the obligatory 4th of July post: a wheel about the American flag. This one is from the 40s and, like the Wonder Bread wheel, is shaped like a slice of bread. This one is in very good shape and I'm guessing is about five inches across. I'm way to lazy to get up and measure it. Sad, isn't it?
This wheel is intended to assist in the proper display of the flag. It even instructs you on how to affix it to the hood of a car. Notice anything different about the Pledge? Some wheels are made for fun, some for advertising. This one is strictly for work. That is not to say it lacks the the elements of good wheel design. It's a striking design, yet is not ostentatious. It is easy to use, contains all the relevant information needed for the job, and is durable enough to meet the demands of its users.
I think this is, indeed, a handsome wheel. It looks good on the wall, which is essential for me since I have no practical use for it. I don't know how old it is, but it looks pretty ancient to me. 1920s? The company was founded in 1900 and was licensed in Canada, where the mines were. Ore was sent to the UK for processing. Eventually, the company was eaten by today's Vale Limited. According to Grace's Guide to British Industrial History: Ludwig Mond discovered nickel carbonyl, a gas formed from carbon monoxide and metallic nickel. Mond developed a valuable method known as the Mond process for extracting nickel from its ores by use of this carbonyl. In the process, carbon monoxide passing over the crushed and smelted ore containing nickel produces the volatile nickel carbonyl; this is decomposed to yield metallic nickel. Now, back to the wheel. I love the colors, of course, but take a look at the mischievous little sprite playing air guitar at the top! The wheel is made of a very heavy cardboard and has certainly seen some wear. The inside disc is a bit warped. Otherwise, it's perfectly usable. It measure nine inches across. Don't let the simplicity of the design fool you; there is a lot of information on this wheel. It's full of recipes for nickel alloys! The statement at the bottom reads, "Remember that nickel is recommended in order to obtain the best results from a good quality mixture and not to cure deficiencies in a poor iron." So, the next time you need to make some marine propellers or heavy valve bodies, let me know and I will consult Mond's wheel. (By the way, look up the company's address on Google Maps. The old building on that site is massive!) Gain family harmony! Detect dishonesty! Get yourself a giant (12") Script-o-Wheel! Made by Alabe Crafts, Inc., inventors of the original Magic 8 Ball!
I really need to spend some time playing with this wheel. I'm sure it provides hours of fun. Remember yesterday's arithmetic wheel? It has a picture of a little girl in a classroom holding up the wheel. She has all the answers. Well, I have jury duty next week. If I get selected, imagine me in the jury box gleefully holding up this wheel! There is a lot of information on this thing. It practically throws psychiatry out the window. Send me a sample of your handwriting and I'll send you my assessment. No charge! If there's one thing that is not E-Z for me, it's arithmetic. I'm not sure this would have helped me in school, either. I can't even get the addition instructions to work. Where is the mysterious O that is supposed to appear in the square opening?
At at any rate, this wheel was produced in the 1930s by the U.S. Pencil Company. Just look at the charming schoolhouse scene where the little cheater tries to get the teacher's attention. I so wish some kid had written her name on the back. I do like the old timey design of this wheel and, of course, the pinked-style edge always appeals! And see the big E-Z? Those lines are called "speed whiskers" in the graphic design world. This is in pretty good shape and measures 9.5 inches. |
AuthorI have a cat. Archives
September 2019
Categories |