fortune telling

Whenever it comes time to write the old CQ column, hubby & I find ourselves wondering what to write about. Today I went to consult the wise oracle, the old Magic 8 Ball — but, being the old Magic 8 Ball, it was dried up and so there was no blue-black liquid to bounce a reply to me (not even a “reply hazy, try again”). Sure, hubby has a Simpsons Magic 8 Ball (not the talking one; the classic one, with a yellow top and red-ish bottom), but I don’t like, let alone trust, the Simpson’s. And he couldn’t find his CDW Tech Support ball — but even if he could have found it, it has 18 answers — none of which would help me at all.

Aghast, I could have turned to another of my vintage divination devices; but this would not rectify the problem of no Magic 8 Ball. And life is difficult enough without living sans Magic 8 Ball. So I need a replacement Magic 8 Ball. But in looking for one online, it’s easy to be distracted by all the other possibilities…

The Helpful Instant Excuse Ball

There are a plethora of licensed Magic 8 Balls, like Disney’s Hannah Man-Hand-a Montana Magic 8 Ball; there’s the Magic 8 Ball Date Ball (for the insecure &/or immature dater), the Instant Excuse Ball (certainly useful for women who still have not learned to say “no”), the Sarcastic Ball (for those who, perhaps without excuses who ended up doing too much and are now too tired to deliver their own snark), and Dr. Freud’s Therapy Ball (which, like any good therapist, never gives you answers, but makes you work to find your own).

But before I buy & collect such spheres of influence, I must get the original Magic 8 Ball. Not just because it’s the one I remember from my childhood, or even because it’s the iconic toy oracle, but because it’s always been right. Even today, unable to “play,” it performed well, instructing me to write about Magic 8 Balls. So here’s a little history on the retro classic.

Vintage Syco-Seer

According to Tim Walsh (in Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them), the Magic 8 Ball was invented by Albert C. Carter, son of a supposedly famous Cincinnati clairvoyant named Mary, and then Carter sold the patent to Abe Buchman. But this is all umm, hazy… As Walsh reports, there are many confusions due to similar names; read his book for the dizzying details. But in 1946, Carter’s “Miracle Home Fortune-Teller” was first produced by Alabe Crafts, Inc. (a novelty company formed by Max Levinson, Al Carter & Abe Bookman, with Alabe being derived from Carter & Bookman’s first names). Called the Syco-Seer, the 7 inch tall tube toy is the earliest version of the Magic 8 Ball. Next came the Syco-Slate.

At some point the tube became a ball and the oracles went from being made by Alabe Crafts to, at some time in the 1970’s, being manufactured by Tyco. In 1997, Mattel took over Tyco and therefore the rights to the Magic 8 Ball name and market. Since then, well, the outlook’s been great for the Magic 8 Ball.

Along with all the different themes, there’s been plenty of character licensing & movie tie-in items, including Magic 8 Ball mechanisms inside other shapes & figures, like the Empire Strikes Back Yoda (1980).

If you’re looking for a collectible that is easy to find year after year, the Magic 8 Ball has plenty of new incarnations, including ornaments, keyrings etc. And the long history of the fortune telling toy means there’s plenty of old versions & ephemera to collect as well as interesting themed items. Who knows where collecting will lead you? Old or new, Magic 8 Ball is sure to delight you. Without a doubt.

Vintage Alabe Syco-Slate

I have a modest collection of ‘New Age’ items. It started with an antique gypsy book containing spells and fortune telling information — including face readings and other unusual tips. From there, I was hooked.

Many of the collection is in books and manuscripts, but there are other items as well. Some are decorative items, such as this collectible cup and saucer set which shows how to read tea leaves.

Now my collection includes the areas of herbal lore, Astrology, spirit boards, Ayervedic & Chinese Medicine, Phrenology and physiognomy, good luck charms and amulets, divination and various other occult items from many cultures. In fact, collecting in this area easily transcends or crosses categories, like this much sought-after round handkerchief with the astrological signs.

One of the largest areas are fortune telling cards. This includes not only ‘authentic’ and antique cards, but vintage sets and even modern Tarot decks — which are quite popular based on rarity, the artist etc.

Like many collections, it’s easy to have the collections run away with itself. One book or Tarot deck can easily lead to another area. For example, fortune telling cards may lead to fortune telling games; a dragon themed Tarot deck may lead to pewter and other dragon items; a Phrenology book may lead to other quack medicine items or a passion for a particular illustrator. Your fortune telling collection blends and blurs much like the future itself!

An easy way to become bewitched by this area of collecting, is like I did: with an old book of secrets across many areas. But beginners need not start expensively. You can begin with more common items such as Magic 8 Balls, which come in so many themes, it could keep you busy at your local mall for years.