Magic - Old and New - Conjuring from the 16-20th Century
Sat, Aug 27, 2016 11:00AM EDT - Sun, Aug 28, 2016 11:00AM EDT
Live Auction
Lot 48
Enchanted Talking Tea Kettle
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $5 |
| $30 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Enchanted Talking Tea Kettle. Columbus: Nelson Enterprises, ca. 1965. Oversized faux teakettle appears entirely innocent. When the kettle's spout is held to the ear, a ghostly voice emanates from within, answering questions posed to it. The voice is not pre-recorded; any questions can be answered in any manner, even though they have only been thought of by the spectators participating in the experiment. 8 7/8Ó diameter, 6Ó high. Very good condition. Sold with a file of documents and instructions relating to the kettle and Nelson's ÒSecret Invention,Ó including brochures, TLSs from Nelson, advertising, photographs, and more. Lacks ÒdetectaphoneÓ (floor coil) required for operation. Rare. In the 1950s, Nelson Ð the leading dealer and manufacturer of supplies for mind readers and fortunetellers -- offered his Enchanted Talking Tea Kettle for sale for the astounding price of $365.00. Based on an idea first developed by David P. Abbott of Omaha, Nebraska, the kettles were most likely built for Nelson on request by the famed electronics wizard of Louisville, Bill Dodson.
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