Sliders, Spinners, and Wheels

Gilbert's Guide. Along the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania from the Ohio line to Philadelphia. To find the distance between two places, move the slide to the name of place at top of card. The number in the first row opposite the name on slide is the distance in miles. Daniel Gilbert, Chambersburg, Pa. Eddie Herr. Quality auto insurance. Service that satisfies. -------- Ohio Line, Beaver Falls, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Ligonier, Jennerstown, Bedford, Everett, McConnellsburg, Chambersburg, Caledonia, Gettysburg, Abbotstown, York, Wrightsville, Lancaster, Coatesville, Paoli, Philadelphia.

A paper toy spinner intended to be given out to children on "Rally Day," a special celebration held by some Protestant churches in September or October to promote family attendance at church services and children's participation in Sunday school. "Glad you are here on our Rally Day. Insert pin and spin. Be a ten point member. 1. Attends regularly. 2. Comes on time. 3. Contributes weekly. 4. Studies the lesson. 5. Is attentive. 6. Seeks new members. 7. Is friendly. 8. Reads the Bible daily. 9. Prays for himself and others. 10. Attends church."

Don't forget to make time for stunts during your Halloween party! This handy dandy Whirl-O spinner makes it easy. Who wouldn't want to "Whistle ' Yankee Doodle ' with a saucepan on your noodle" or "Throw ten feet, never fail, three potatoes in a pail"? You'll find out who can "Squirm and wiggle, then laugh and giggle" or who's more likely to "Keep a straight face for a while, let nobody make you smile." Of course, you'll have to prepare ahead of time. In addition to a saucepan, potatoes, and a pail, you'll need some string, a broom, a blindfold, an apple, some balloons, needle and thread, and a bunch of other stuff. Check out the full list of stunts below. You may want to practice each one before the party so that you can demonstrate for your guests. -------- Whirl-O Halloween Fortune and Stunt Game Take a string and where you stand, tie a knot with just one hand. Ride a broom around the floor, come back where you were before. Leap like a frog and give a croak. Walk a strait line to the end, never slip or descend. Turn blindfolded ten times round point to your love. On your tip-toes nice and fine, cross the room in one strait line. Push an apple, nothing more, with your nose across the floor. Stand up and bow, and moo like a cow. Squirm and wiggle, then laugh and giggle. Try your wind and see how soon you can burst a toy balloon. Take a needle, shove thread in it, all in less than half a minute. Throw ten feet, never fail, three potatoes in a pail. Swing an apple on a string, bite it on the second swing. See if you can show this knack, tie a bow behind your back. Whistle Yankee Doodle with a saucepan on your noodle, Bite and chew as fast as able five marshmallows from the table. Keep a straight face for a while, let nobody make you smile. Stand on your toes and wiggle your nose. Spin like a top until you have to stop. Make a spoon linger on your little finger.

"Whirlpool Humming Spinner. RCA Whirlpool Home Appliances. Spin it!" This 1960s advertising giveaway came with string and instructions for removing the pre-punched center disk, opening holes to thread the string through, and pulling on both ends of the string in order to spin the disk, which produced a humming or whirring sound (the illustrations of the boy and girl show how this worked). Homemade "button buzzer" versions use a button instead of a cardboard disk. I was surprised to discover that this toy has a long and varied lineage. As Wikipedia explains in its buzzer (whirligig) article, "A buzzer (buzz, bullroarer, button-on-a-string) is an ancient mechanical device used for ceremonial purposes and as a toy. It is constructed by centering an object at the midpoint of a cord or thong and winding the cord while holding the ends stationary. The object is whirled by alternately pulling and releasing the tension on the cord. The whirling object makes a buzzing or humming sound, giving the device its common name." Wikipedia also mentions that Native American made buzzers out of wood, bone, and stone for use in ceremonies and as toys as far back as 500 B.C. It's amazing to think that counterparts to the Whirlpool Humming Spinner were in existence more than twenty-five hundred years ago!

"Recording of your favorite Christmas carols as sung by your L&M T.V. Quartet. 33½. rpm, 200 plays." A cardboard picture disc. Whoever cut it out didn't follow the circle precisely. Even though the disc is a bit misshapen, it looks like it might still play. I'm not sure what television show the L&M T.V. Quartet appeared on, but they look like an enthusiastic group of fellows.

"Monkees. Colgems, full fidelity, 33⅓ rpm. 1. The Monkees (Theme), 2. Teardrop City, 3. Papa Gene's Blues, 4. (The) Day We Fell in Love. This is record no. 1." A Monkees cardboard picture disc, circa 1970 or 1971, that someone unevenly cut out from the back of a box of Post's now-defunct Frosted Rice Krinkles cereal. Notice that Mike Nesmith's head is missing--he had already departed the group by the time this appeared. As I was searching for information about this disc, I learned that Rhino recently re-released--on cardboard, nonetheless!--some of the Monkees songs that originally appeared on cereal boxes. And I was also surprised to discover that a brand new Monkees album is due out at the end of this month (on May 27). For another cardboard picture disc, see Christmas Carols as Sung by Your L&M T.V. Quartet :

"Multiplication Table from 1 to 12 of Simple Numbers. H. C. Barnhart, bookseller & stationer, 27 West Market St., York, Pa. Multiplication Table from 1 to 12. Designed and copy-righted 1891 by Richard Raby." Handwritten note on the back: "Got from teacher H. D. Rebert. Jennie May Case." A Victorian-era vovelle or wheel chart that rotates to provide students and others with a line-by-line version of a multiplication table for numbers from 1 to 12 (with calculations from 1 x 1 = 1 up to 12 x 12 = 144). Henry C. Barnhart advertised his bookstore in York, Pa., by stamping his name and address on this wheel chart.

Advertisement on the back: "All leather Triangle Brand Shoes. Sturdy good looking shoes for husky boys. Dainty styles for growing girls. They last longer. Pleasant View Store, general merchandise, Nuangola Sta., Pa." This wheel chart or volvelle was an advertising giveaway intended for children, who could turn the interlocking paper wheels to display information about each American state. The arrow at the top of the wheel points to Pennsylvania ("Penn."), for instance, and corresponding text visible in the small windows on the map reveal that Pennsylvania's capital is Harrisburg, its principal city is Philadelphia, it gained statehood in 1787, and other tidbits of information. See below for a variety of other wheel charts on various topics.

This advertising wheel chart for Gübelin watches and clocks displays the difference in time around the world and includes a "bright Swiss coin" to "bring you luck."

Know Your Presidents. Note: The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. indicate order of succession. The abbreviation D for Democrat, R for Republican, Fed for Federalist. Swing to Ortlieb's, Philadelphia's famous beer. Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Co., Phila., Pa.

Outer Space Guide Instructions: Find desired planet on this wheel. Set it opposite arrow on bottom piece. In windows provided find answers. Diameter in miles. Period of revolution around sun. Mass (Earth = 1.00). Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

This Cuthbertson wheel chart displayed the different conjugations for German verbs, but versions for other languages were also available.

"To accompany any key the student should know either the name of the key or find the number of sharps or flats in the piece he will play. Then turn the disk until the arrows point to the desired key or key signature...."

"1. Set arrow to city nearest starting point. 2. Read mileage in window of destination. 3. Principal highways are shown in red."

1. Turn calorie wheel to "0" in small window. 2. Insert finger in notch indicating the calorie count for each item of food eaten. Push notch to bottom of slot. 3. Read total calories in window. It will add up to the total for each meal. For extremely heavy meals, where calorie wheel makes more than one complete revolution, add 1000 to total shown.

For the other side of this wheel chart , see How Quickly Can You Stop? (below). "Keystone Automobile Club Safe Driving Calculator. Miles per hour: 55. Feet per second: 81. Average stopping distance: 271. See other side."

For the other side of this wheel chart , see the Keystone Automobile Club Safe Driving Calculator (below). "How Quickly Can You Stop? The average stopping distances in the Keystone Calculator are based on the average breaking distance plus the distance covered in ¾ of a second, which is the average 'reaction time,' the period which elapses between the instant danger is observed and the actual application of the brakes. . . . Keystone Automobile Club. The Motorist's Friend Since 1906."

In January 1934, the Philadelphia Electric Company (now PECO) was the first utility to license the Reddy Kilowatt character to promote electricity usage, according to Wikipedia. The early date may explain why Reddy's first name is misspelled as "Ready" on this advertising wheel chart , which demonstrates how far 5 cents worth of electricity goes in operating appliances like clocks, coffee percolators, and radios. See also the other side of this wheel chart. Philadelphia Electric Company For 5c spent for electricity you can operate your electric appliances fort the number of hours indicated in opening, says Ready Kilowatt (Your Electrical Servant). Hours--If your monthly electric bill is from 75c to $2.75; $2.75 to $5.00; over $5.00. 100 watt lamp. Hand iron. Vacuum cleaner. Washer. Radio. Toaster. Percolator. Fan. Clock. 60 watt lamp.