What Is A Ouija Board?

A Ouija board consists of a flat surface printed with letters, numbers, and other symbols, to which a planchette or movable indicator points.

The Ouija board has two arced rows of letters, one above the other. The upper row goes from A to M, and the lower row runs from N to Z. Under these is a row with numbers One through Zero. On the upper left of the board is the word Yes, and at the upper right, the word No. Close to the bottom of the board is Goodbye.

A tiny three legged heart-shaped device rests on the board, which moves smoothly over the board's surface. The fingers of 2 participants are placed on the planchette that then moves about the board, purportedly on its own power, to spell out messages.

The Ouija board does not have a straightforward history, there are several varied hypotheses.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century the first genuine ouija board was invented. There is significant disagreement as to who actually invented it - names brought up include Elijah Bond, E.C. Reiche and Charles Kennard.

The first patent for the Modern class of talking boards was registered in 1890 and listed Elijah Bond as the inventor with Charles W. Kennard and William H. A. Maupin as assignees.

Charles Kennard and associates set up the Kennard Novelty Company and began to produce and sell Ouija Boards commercially.

The rights to ouija board production were sold to Parker Brothers who own them to date. It is interesting - if not slightly dismaying - to think that what began as an instrument for spiritualists, psychics and mediums can be bought today as a children´s toy.

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Note: I do not advocate or encourage the use of Ouija Boards. This article is intended only as information.