Ecorse Grandmother Patents Idea of Puppets with Feet
Ecorse Grandmother Patents Idea of Puppets with Feet
May 1951
It was a child's curiosity that brought out the latest inventive genius of an Ecorse grandmother.
In 1949, Mrs. Marie C. Wirth of 3662 High Street, Ecorse, was showing her young grandson, Gerry Pittman, the wonders of the toy department in a Detroit department store. Coming to the doll section, young Gerry couldn't understand why hand dolls, more popularly known as "puppets," had no feet. This started his grandmother Mrs. Wirth, to thinking.
"Their hands and arms move, but where are their feet?" young Gerry asked his grandmother.
Up until this point in time, puppets always had a head and arms and a long costume. The puppeteer draped the entire doll over an arm and with his fingers manipulated the head and arms. The long costume hid the operator's motions, but there were no legs and feet.
At home, Mrs. Wirth decided to do something about the legless puppets.
On November 30, 1948, she applied for a patent for her creation. Last month the patent was approved. When Mrs. Wirth's invention reaches the market, there should be no more legless puppets. Hands, feet and head will all respond to the operator's will.
Under the costume of the doll an adjustable spring connects the arms and feet. The first and third finger of the operator manipulated these extremities while the middle finger makes the head do the usual puppet tricks. With experience the puppet can be made to dance, jump and do any number of interesting feats.
Mrs. Wirth has developed three sizes of her dolls. The largest and most popular is about 18 inches tall. The history of puppets is a long and interesting one. n this country the first puppet was patented in 1901. This original had only a head a long costume. The doll was slipped over the forearm and one finger made the head gyrate at the operator's will. Mrs. Wirth's newest puppet is a tremendous advance in the perfection and performance of hand dolls.
Last fall, these new puppets were displayed on aWXYZ television show. They will soon be seen on television in the nation's capital.
Mrs. Wirth has recently joined the National Society of Inventors. This organization is assisting Mrs. Wirth in finding a manufacturer to put the dolls on the market.
May 1951
It was a child's curiosity that brought out the latest inventive genius of an Ecorse grandmother.
In 1949, Mrs. Marie C. Wirth of 3662 High Street, Ecorse, was showing her young grandson, Gerry Pittman, the wonders of the toy department in a Detroit department store. Coming to the doll section, young Gerry couldn't understand why hand dolls, more popularly known as "puppets," had no feet. This started his grandmother Mrs. Wirth, to thinking.
"Their hands and arms move, but where are their feet?" young Gerry asked his grandmother.
Up until this point in time, puppets always had a head and arms and a long costume. The puppeteer draped the entire doll over an arm and with his fingers manipulated the head and arms. The long costume hid the operator's motions, but there were no legs and feet.
At home, Mrs. Wirth decided to do something about the legless puppets.
On November 30, 1948, she applied for a patent for her creation. Last month the patent was approved. When Mrs. Wirth's invention reaches the market, there should be no more legless puppets. Hands, feet and head will all respond to the operator's will.
Under the costume of the doll an adjustable spring connects the arms and feet. The first and third finger of the operator manipulated these extremities while the middle finger makes the head do the usual puppet tricks. With experience the puppet can be made to dance, jump and do any number of interesting feats.
Mrs. Wirth has developed three sizes of her dolls. The largest and most popular is about 18 inches tall. The history of puppets is a long and interesting one. n this country the first puppet was patented in 1901. This original had only a head a long costume. The doll was slipped over the forearm and one finger made the head gyrate at the operator's will. Mrs. Wirth's newest puppet is a tremendous advance in the perfection and performance of hand dolls.
Last fall, these new puppets were displayed on aWXYZ television show. They will soon be seen on television in the nation's capital.
Mrs. Wirth has recently joined the National Society of Inventors. This organization is assisting Mrs. Wirth in finding a manufacturer to put the dolls on the market.