This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/29/2020
“Mombo The Talking Shrunken Head.” Columbus: Nelson Enterprises, ca. 1950. The shrunken head, isolated at the center of a room or on stage, whispers answers to questions posed to it or written and sealed in envelopes, to those who ask. With contemporary cloche dome, wooden base, and stand for display. Does not include induction coil. Height (in dome) 13”. Rare. While the basic secret behind this bizarre effect was devised by David P. Abbott of Omaha, it took Robert Nelson’s marketing savvy to keep the effect fresh and interesting long after the idea of radio waves became commonplace. Nelson owned, operated, and sold many versions of Abbott’s Talking Teakettle. This variation is among the strangest, and sold for the astounding sum of $360.00 in the 1950s and 60s. Many of these devices were built by Bill Dodson for Nelson.