A colleague of mine with a frightening imagination clued me into this. Check out the Little Shop of Patent and Trademark Horrors from the US Patent and Trademark Office Kids’ Pages. It’s pretty scary what some inventors come up with…..
Below is an 1889 invention by Wilbert Blakeman of Shelton Connecticut that would foretell your future. Not sure what the future held for this invention, but I do find it strange that in the drawing the pointer is aimed at “Better Not”. For Karma’s sake (and maybe to convince the Patent Examiner to approve it) wouldn’t you want it pointed to “Yes” or “Soon” instead?

Toy Fortune Wheel

