MEMORIES:
princessdiana remembers...I made a jacob's ladder in girl scout troup one year. More »
Posted on 09/30/06
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Toys come and go, and often it is the ones simplest in their construction that can boast the longest popularity. The Hula Hoop, Yo-Yo and Frisbee are all examples of these rudimentary playthings. But none have the boasting power of Jacob’s Ladder, a toy with a history that dates back quite possibly to the pharaohs of Egypt. Based upon the biblical story of a man named Jacob who envisioned a stairway to heaven, Jacob’s Ladder is the epitome of simplicity, and as such, has withstood a test of time that literally spans centuries.
Jacob’s Ladder is basically a three-dimensional optical illusion constructed typically from six wooden blocks, all held together by a couple of pieces of ribbon, which act as the hinge. By holding the top block at the edges, the rest fall in unison, making a click-clack noise (and, in fact, the toy is also known in some circles as a “click-clack”. Imagine that.) But the magic is really in the wrist, for with a mere half-rotation of the top block, the remaining blocks appear to fall yet again, and again, and again - for as long as a kid’s little heart desires … or until nearby adults grow annoyed with the continuous click-clacking cacophony.
History suggests that Jacob’s Ladder was popular with Puritan kids, as it was often the only toy they were allowed to play with on Sunday, thanks to its biblical connections. And back in the day, they were likely mesmerized for hours on end. Of course, for today’s attention-deficient children, the novelty tends to wear off a tad more quickly. Granted, a dollar bill tucked under one of the ribbons will miraculously appear and disappear with each flick of the wrist, but even this monetary spectacle isn’t really enough to compete with a Gameboy or even a rousing round of Hungry Hungry Hippos. But back in the day, this was all it took to capture the attention of kids everywhere - who have played with this simple plaything for about as many years as toys have been in existence.
