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Show 11. More of the dictionary next month. When ve were children. and the children of today still do it. ~ke their own toys. One of the most popular toys vas and is. •the Whimmy-Oiddle•. J•d like to share the vay to make and operate "The Gee-Haw '-'limmy-Oiddle". The Gee-Hav Whimmy-Oiddle has past-off many an hour for generations of mountain children. Here's how to make one. You need 3 straight green twigs. about as thick as a pencil. Cut one 9 inches long. another 6 inches long. and the last one 2 inches but Oak or Maple will work just as well. '·*i. :.5 :: , ;~p~;:~az~ a:> ,3 CONSTRUCTION STEPS: long. Mountain people prefer Laurel 1. Shave the bark from the 9 in. stick, also any bumps. Fig. 12 2. Do the same for the 6in. stick. Fig 13. 3. Place the 9in. stick in a C-clamp or vise. Hold it securely. 4. Measure in 2~ins. (see Fig 12) on the 9 in. stick. measure from the smaller end. Mark the spot with a knife or a pencil. 5. Continue to measure in the same direction.from the small end. be very accurate with this measurement. make a mark every 3/16th of an inch, until you have 7 marks. 6. At each mark, cut 7 1/Sth inch notches in as straight a line as you can. Fig. 12. 7. Now make the propeller. Take a stick(Fig.l4) and cut off a piece 1% ins . long. Smooth off the ends. 8. Measure in 3/4's of an inch from each end and mark a spot. Fasten this in your vise and 1/32nd drill bit, drill a hole straight thru the middle. 9. Now whittle this down so it will be like Figs. 15 and 16. 10.The prop should end up about 1/16" thick in the middle, when your done. 11. To attach the Prop., use a 1/16" dia. screw and attach it to the exact center of the notched stick{Fig.f7). Make sure that the prop spins freely. YOUR WHIMMY-DIDDLE IS NOW COMPLETE. NOW YOU NEED THE SECRET KNOW-HOW TO OPERATE IT. THE SECRET OF THE APPALACHIAN WHIMMY-OIOOLE.(THE GEE-HAW WHIMMY-DIDDLE) Take the handle of the propeller-tipped stick into your left hand. and the 6in. stick in your right hand. To make the propeller turn clock-wise(to the right) this is called. "Gee-ing it, let your forefinger extend over the notched stick to touch or cause pressure to be placed on the opposite side of the stick.(See Fig.fA) To make the propeller turn counter-clockwise(Left), this is called Haw-ing it, remove your forefinger and place your thumb firmly against the side of the notched stick(See Fig. IB). To Gee or Haw your Whimmy-Diddle, both positions of the fingers, rub the 6 inch stick evenly and rhythmically back and forth at a rapid pace against the notches of the 9 inch stick. ~~f~~~ .. i)<'~ t B This is a very ~ient toy. The origins of it, I have no idea. Next month I will cover the "Whirly-Gig" and the "Thing-A-Ma-Bob•. These are real simple toys that are easy to make. |
