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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1336 Posts |
I've posted in Sidewalk Shudffle, but will try here.
I'm looking for a suitcase with attached folding accordion type of legs. Attached is a picture from an old twilight episode that is what I'm looking for.... Any help would be greatly appreciated... Click here to view attached image.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Called a kiester or keester. I haven't seen one since I was a kid watching pitch men working Canal St in NY.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yup!
IIRC, the kiester was the "suitcase". Many pitchmen used those as pictured by imgic, ("accordion" legs). The "Billboard" (magazine for show people) had a column, titled: "Knights of the tripes and kiesters". It had news for pitchmen. Some pitchmen used a tripod instead of the accordion. The tripods were similar to the "Eureka" bases used by magicians. I remember using a tripod "cymbal stand" back in the '60s. They were relatively inexpensive at music instrument stores. I haven't seen ANYTHING like the old "accordion" type kiesters, in ages.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
A similar suitcase table is being made by Abbott's Magic again after all these years. Guess they found one in a estate sale. It cost $700.00. Only 2 Left!
http://www.abbottmagic.com/Briefcase-Tab......oryId=-1 |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I had a friend magician once, that could find anything somehow, this was even before the Internet. You have to go to all the 2nd hand type stores in the country to find something like this, there may be on setting in a corner being ignored somewhere. If you can guess things from the 1920's to 1940's, are not being made anymore, you should try looking on sites that sell old things, not a magic website.
Google can now search by picture, edit that picture and try a picture search. Video demo of Abbott's Briefcase Table. |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I read your other post, and it seems you do not realize what was the norm in the 1930's and 1940's, things were just as expensive then as now, and everyone could not afford leather. In the 1940's cardboard was the most popular suitcase material for average people. You would have go back in time much more for leather cases for everyone.
That is why the old western Carpet bags were so popular in the old days, people could afford them. Salesman used what was called vulcanized cardboard. It was light weight and tough. Just in the last 20 years that has disappeared and been replaced by the last Vulcanized cardboard company in America changing over to a tough plastic material. Still retaining the sales case designs of yesteryear. My point is none of us know what you have in your mind, and could not guess what your idea of a perfect old case with accordion stand legs would look like. I have done some searching and nothing has turned up, except suitcases with screw-on legs. You also have to remember, that prop is from a movie, they make many of the props used on movie sets. I still have my 1st cardboard and wood suitcase set I purchased as youngster at the 5 & dime store in about 1958. They are like new, that was my 1st magic prop cases in gray vinyl. And now everyone wants one. The accordion legs would just tear out of the cardboard, even riveted in. In the end, I think it would just be heavy to mess with as in the movie pictures you posted. It has been 3 months now, and you should have your home made model done by now. We would like to see a picture of it. If not I wish you luck in finding one, that is to your expectations. This brings back memories of the door to door salesman ringing the doorbell and mom hiding in another room so he did not see her. Our front door was usually open, or they could see through the glass in the door's upper half. |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I bought a "suitcase" from Ikelheimer & Ernst, NY,NY in the late '50s. Made of vulcanized fiber, and relatively inexpensive. It was, IIRC, 30" x 15" x 10". I used it for about TEN seasons, on the road! I was finally able to downsize to a 13" x 20" x 8" case, made by Ikelheimer. It still functioning after 30 years!!! (a few scuffs, etc.) Those old Germans understood how to build!!!
There was a comedian/salesman, on radio (before we had TV) in the '30s. I think his name was Jack Pearl. His opening was (knocking on door) "Nobody home, I hope!" Your video of Greg and Percy's (?) old tripe and kiester, reminded me of the last time I had seen one! I can "see" why it's $700! I wonder how much "space" there is INSIDE! (room for a Svengali deck, and a TT?) I had a Harbin style table made of 1/4" plywood, it's sturdy and holds my 20 lb prop case, easily. --Only problem is, it must pack in a separate fiber "attache" case. Cost me $150. about ten years ago. Usually, I use a waiters tray stand, but, occasionally the Harbin is more practical, now that I'm retired.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Harvey Stone did a pitchman act every week on the Milton Berle show. He would open his act by setting uphill tripe & kiester. Stone did a pitchman' act for many years, before and after haevwas on the show. " You say you're not satisfied. Ya say you want more fer your money. Tell ya what I'm gonna do.......". I used to look forward to seeing him.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Harvey! Egad! I had forgotten! Thanks for jogging my memory!
The late Tommy Windsor, published, I think, one of the first, if not, the first "pitch acts". It was fast & funny! Tommy pitched three "handy devices", and demo'd how practical and useful they were, as he did simple tricks like the blooming flower, and, IIRC an arm chopper! He could walk on, open his valise on a waiters tray stand, do 15 minutes, and, walk off. My old friend, the late George "King" Lyon bought Windsor's manuscript and did it for years. George had "just the right voice"! George told me that, in later years, his "problem" was that he had to explain to the booker, what a sidewalk pitchman WAS! The late Al Flosso, the "Coney Island Fakir", broke in as a shill (there's a dated term!) for Henry Gordien. Gordien pitched the "Hoo-Coin", and Flosso as a young teenager, would step up when Gordien said, "Any child can do it!" Those dimes helped feed Henry and Al! Many years later, the late Earl "Presto" Johnson, shilled for (#$%%) I can't remember whom!). Only the "slum" he helped sell, for fifty cents, was a "Coin-Go". But,the pitchman didn't "know" the practical way to hook up the gimmick!. An old circus sideshow magician showed me the "way", and, I've sold thousands of them at my lectures for $5.00! A magician friend just emailed me to send him a half dozen!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 27, 2017, imgic wrote: Ed Winn on Twilight Zone. "One For the Angels" A traffic doll pitch, and a traffic performance.
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1336 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 16, 2020, ringmaster wrote: Yes, that's where I got the screen shot from. Trying to find design for how to build it. Hopefully will have time and energy in January to start mucking around with it.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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Wravyn Inner circle 3480 Posts |
Though not quite it, I would imagine that with a little thought, it may be adapted...
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/edito......le-base/ |
David French Veteran user 374 Posts |
Check out www.spiderlegs.com
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I suppose someone could use a clothes-drying rack as the legs.
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Alan Munro, has mentioned the ladies cloths drying rack, used years ago. It is the same accordion design only wider. Women woould dry their delicate things on the rack indoors.
There is nothing hard about this design to make, just time consuming. wood dowels, sticks cut for the ends, and screws and bolts to put it together. I don't think they are made any more. I have not seen them at Walmart. Well I just did a web search, for indoor cloths drying rack, and they are being made today, in all kinds of materials. Wayfair, some kind of second company for Walmart has them. They are only $20. https://www.google.com/search?q=indoor+c......ie=UTF-8 |
mhsam New user 51 Posts |
Hi Alan and Bill.
Years ago, I toyed with the idea of using a wooden clothes rack (I had both a wooden and metal one) like you mentioned. I also purchased a lightweight vulcanized fiber vaudville suitcase from Keith Stickley. The problem is that the z-fold/accordian clothes rack is not sturdy and is extremely wobbly. I even asked Jay Leslie if he could create such a bottom stand for my ultra-light suitcase, and he said he couldn't citing the same stability problem. In addition, there is the question of locking the stand in both the collapsed and upright positions... If I were only an engineer! |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I guess I'll stick to a tray stand.
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