Nostalgic wooden toy

[myxpykalix]

When i was a kid i was given a thing that at that time was called a "whirlygig".

It is not the thing you think of that sits in your yard but is similar but small.

It was about 6" in length made from a small branch or twig that had a bend in it so you kind of held it like a gun in one hand.

It had a series of notches in the top of the branch close together and on the end of the twig it had a small twig attached with a nail to look like a propeller.

You took a seperate small twig and rubbed it forward and backward across these notches and depending on the angle you held the twig would determine the direction the propeller would spin.

It did not spin due to any breeze you generated by rubbing and i never figured out what caused it to do that.
Did anyone ever have one of these, and can explain how it worked or where i might get one?

I guess i could get my whittling knife out and make one but i was told it was made from a branch from a magic tree and so far i haven't been able to find one of those trees....I imagine it's in the back yard next to the money tree the kids thought i had growing in the back yard when they were growing up.

[gerryv]

Hi Jack, One of my family had for some time. I'll see if I can track it down and post a photo. They do work as you describe, and very well I might add. Kids young and old love them and you can whittle (or bot) one out using about 3 cents worth of wood (danged inflation). As I recall the 2-blade propeller needs to be loose mounted on the nail that forms the axle. I'm guessing its driven by vibration and I think maybe the notches were offset but I'm not really sure about that. I'll see what I can find out. - Gerry

[harold_weber]

You have the name wrong, its the gee-haw whimmydiddle, and you can read how it works here:
http://countryplans.com/vintage_farm//kids/PSMar60FolkToys.pdf

[landdesign]

Jack this is your lucky day!

by happenstance I am just getting ready to trim my magic tree out back of my shop. it's been getting way too bushy and needs to be worked over.... if you will just send 40 bucks to help cover shipping I'd be glade to share a cutting with you. now mind you this is a west coast magic tree and might take some extra care when transplanted elsewhere.

I'd love to make sure you can make your whirlygig so if this will help just let me know.

Erik

[myxpykalix]

Harold....THATS IT!!! haha boy that brings back memories. Thanks

[supertigre]

Jack

I make these by the hundreds for one of my clients. Any hard wood will do, I use Basswood as my client supplies it. The spacing of the notches is not critical but needs to be fairly close to even. The spinner fits fairly loosely on a smooth 2P nail. There is a secret to getting it to spin in either direction, I could tell you but then my client would hunt me down and buy me lunch (he's done it before).

8950

[myxpykalix]

Thanks for posting the pic Guy. I remember the "secret" for making it spin in either direction, its all in the way its held. But WHY it does it is still a mystery.

[zeykr]

Here in the Ozarks we call them Hooey Sticks. You have to say Hooey to get them to reverse direction!

[dray]

here is a video describing the mechanism behind the curtain that makes it work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtuqjFf7-N4&eurl

[sawdust535]

Now I get it.

[sleepy]

Ken
Where can I get the Huey sticks I used to have a source but no longer do
David
Sleepys

[zeykr]

David,
Don't have a source, I've just made a few from sassafrass sticks lately when a cust requested. I plan to make a few this winter if I get time. Are you in new shop yet?

[myxpykalix]

David,
Contact Guy Hilliard (above) he says he makes hundreds, i'm sure he can make a few more for you...

They don't look that hard to make, so you might try it yourself.