Plate lifter

A plate lifter or plate wobbler is a novelty item[1] consisting of a tube with a small flat[2] bladder on one end and a bulb on the other.[3] The bladder is to be placed under a plate; inflating it will make the plate wobble.[4] This fake demonstration of psychokinesis[2] is intended to provoke surprise and merriment.[5][6]

A free plate wobbler was included with the first issue of the British comic magazine Monster Fun and promoted as a "monster mirth maker".[1]

In industry

"Plate lifter" is the name of various devices used in industry for handling heavy metal plates.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Stringer, Lew (3 December 2010). "Blimey! It's another blog about comics!: Free Inside! - Part 5". Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b Jillette, Penn (1992). Penn and Teller's How to Play with Your Food. Villard Books. p. 66. ISBN 978-0679743118.
  3. ^ Nyberg, Tim (2004). The Practical Joker's Handbook. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 0740741985. Retrieved February 13, 2013. Get a 'plate lifter' at your local joke/novelty shop. This is a long tube with a little bladder on one end and a bulb on the other. The original joke was to hide the bladder under the table cloth under plates to make them jump up and down when the bulb was squeezed.
  4. ^ Kibble-White, Graham (2005). The Ultimate Book of British Comics. Allison & Busby. p. 175. ISBN 9780749082116.
  5. ^ "Plate Lifter KA94". Fright Depot. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  6. ^ "Plate Lifter". The Joke Shop. Retrieved February 13, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Sheet Lifter and Plate Lifters". Bushman Equipment, Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  8. ^ "Plate Lifter". Caldwell Lifting Solutions. Retrieved February 13, 2013.