VooDoo 1930

"Voodoo" Tipping Table, American Manufacturing Concern, late 1930s.


Founded by the Falconer family in 1807 just outside of Jamestown, New York, the American Manufacturing Concern produced furniture, wooden toys, novelty items, and games, along with more mundane products such as paint stirrers and rulers. Though they have changed ownership and names several times, they remain the oldest continuously-operating promotional products business in the United States.

The Voodoo table in full, folded-out glory, ready for tipping!

The Voodoo table in full, folded-out glory, ready for tipping!


This hands-on instructional tipping table is by far the biggest planchette-like device we know of. Basically a lavishly-illustrated card table, complete with printed-on hand placement guides, the VoodDoo Table's underside conceals its three fold-out legs and pasted directions, which instructs users to charge their bodies by rubbing their hands together and their feet on the carpet, followed by chants in unison of the magic word: "Voodoo, Voodoo, Voodoo!" At least users could rely on static electricity for the confirmation of a spiritual influence! This item was one of the last products produced in the company's lean Depression-era years before the family sold the company to the Nussinow Brothers, who changed the name to the American Falcon Manufacturing Corporation.

The table's bottom-pasted instruction sheet.

The table's bottom-pasted instruction sheet.