Noise makers

Click on Details if you would like to download a PDF of this e-news.

E-newsletters like this one are sent out four times a year, highlighting recent additions to the website. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the curator.

The September 2022 issue included:
– three seldom seen tricks.
– a little known Davenport shop.
– two jokes for your drinking and card playing friends.
– Jimmy’s Magic Pencil.
– magicians and their families
– noise-making novelties.

To see all the other e-news, click on Website e-news.

When spinning quickly the wheel makes a whining noise. Made in Japan.

When the item is twirled round on the end of the string it makes a noise like a motorbike. Made in Germany.

By turning the metal handle the device makes a loud clacking noise. Experience teaches that it pays to keep your fingers well out of the way of the mechanism when you turn the handle.

The way to make a realistic bird song is to hold the trunk of the tree and push it upwards towards the top. When you then twist the trunk, the resultant squeaking noise is very like bird song. The bird revolves as it sings. Attached to the tree is a sample tag with 640/3 on it. The probable place of manufacture is Germany.

This is a traditional noise maker. Hold the beads at the end of the double strings, one in each hand, and spin the noise maker around to wind up the strings. When you then pull outwards on the strings the spinner in the middle starts rotating. As you repeat the process the spinner revolves faster and faster and starts to make a loud whirling noise. Made in Germany.

When the two base boards are pulled apart against the pressure of the spring, and then released, as they come together air is forced out through the horn. As a result of the spiral metal (on the left hand side of the photograph) altering the speed of the base boards coming together, the horn produces a very impressive squawk.

This is a simple but effective noise maker. When the two pieces of metal are squeezed together, the circular depression visible on the underside piece of metal suddenly pops outwards with a loud report. When the pressure is released, the metal returns to its depressed state, emitting another loud pop.

When held vertically, this fluorescent green tube creates a strange noise each time it is inverted. Made in Taiwan.

Hold the stick & twirl the frog around to generate the noise.

To obtain incredible noises from this device, simply hold the outside of the cylinder with the spring at the bottom. When you shake the cylinder from side to side, this makes the spring vibrate, the noise from which is amplified by the membrane on one end of the cylinder. This creates noises that rival the sound of loud thunder.

This bee is made from bamboo. Hold the stick and twirl the bee around to generate the noise. Purchased new by John Davenport in Japan.