i Sl 1: saying 1 a i 4 i i The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 22, 1995 .5 As Iwas Jack Hilsher 60 | SCOT MY oo Inkeeping with the season that «is fast creeping up, here is a story oiabout a terrific Christmas gift for 1 kids. It is a hand-crafted wooden toy described elsewhere and while niyou don't necessarily have to build oithé toy to enjoy the story, it helps. It can also help brighten Christ- oimmas for some youngster. If that 2dneans a grandchild, you should «know that a toy made by a relative ~d4s wsually handed down as an ‘heirloom. Wooden toys are scarce items these days, surrounded as -iwe are by plastic. There is some- i+thing intangible about a wooden (toy. whether painted or not, that 2i$€ems to have an eye appeal that plastic lacks. ~=r The toyfeatured, “Ziggedy Man,” has just that...terrific appeal, es- pecially when it is in motion. Yes, motion, for it comes from a book called “Working Wooden Toys," by ‘a 'Scotswoman named Marion Millett, written while in her 80s. I made Ziggedy Man for my <'granddaughter, who was learning >to work a “walker” and she would ‘come hell bent from anywhere in "the house as soon as she heard the “toy operate. For if the little wood Z'man' is placed at the top of a pegged two-foot board and then ='released, he makes his way down “the complete length of the board !"by himself, emitting a satisfactory ‘i “plonkety-plonk” sound as he slips - from one peg to the next one down. 2%" 1%" "There are undoubtedly some readers who, at this point, think to themselves, “Jack has lost his marbles,” but you have to see and hear the toy operate to understand “how you can get hooked. I have seen grownups unable to pass it by without at least one trial. As for 212" x. do was convince my editor, Jim Hunyadi, who was also their food editor and other stuff besides. Jim was a colorful newshound type, colorful in the sense of yellow shirts and purple flowered ties. He also chain smoked and love to eat, anything, anytime. Hunyadi liked the Ziggedy idea but had to be talked into my other idea. During the '72 flood over one hundred 1/4" wood dowels floated into our yard and I kept them. (One does not throw away that many dowels!) So I asked Jim to print this next to the Ziggedy Man feature: FREE DOWEL OFFER “The Times-Leader has a supply of 1/4” dowels, each long enough to make one toy. They are yours free for the asking, one to a person, as long as the supply lasts. In- quire at the Information Desk.” Jimagreed, reluctantly, because he said these offers never work, L3 A terrific holiday toy you can make at home we're wasting space, and we'll be lucky if we get 10 replies. The feature appeared on a Thursday morning, late in Novem- ber in 1988. About eight o'clock that morning the T/L receptinist called me athome and asked, “Jack doyou have something to give away about a toy?” She had five re- quests already. “Yes, dear, I do,” I replied, and saddling up old Paint I took my entire supply over to North Main Street and they were all gone in- side of three days! (The Hunyadi reaction, when I bragged about a sellout that he didn’t even want to print, was only a grunt!) So not to be outdone by my previous publisher, The Dallas Post also has a free dowel offer. If you will stop into our office and ask the receptionist, a free 1/4" wood dowel long enough to make one Ziggedy Man will be yours. And Happy Holidays to you! Step by step instructions for Ziggedy Man You'll need these tools: Drill (hand or electric) with 1/4" wood bit; coping saw or jig saw (borrow one?); medium and fine sandpa- per; acrylic or non-toxic paints (optional.) You'll need these materials: A two-foot long board, 4" wide and 1/2" or more thick. White pine is best, but any smooth and flat board will do; two feet of 1 /4" wood dowel; a small piece of 3/8" thick plywood about 4"x5" - do not substitute here. This is for the man and must be 3/8" plywood; some wood glue. Cutand sandoneedge of 18, 1"- long pieces from the dowel. Make them all exactly the same. Very carefully, mark up the board with center dots for the peg = 12" fe kids, even if the man hops off part way ‘down, that accident causes squeals of delight. 4" ~~ +1 Oh yes, the story: I wrote a Scale: Full Size. (Note that hole spacing dimensions are center to center.) rsenior column in The Times Leader SIDE VIEW holes and drill them about 1/4: deep. Copy the drawing exactly. Glue in all the pegs so they are perfectly upright. Trace the man pattern on the 3/ Free Dowels ‘back when, plus a feature or two. A “How-To” piece on Ziggedy Sseined ike a goods ek All had to f 11 goto Ziggedy Man details are printed by permission from Sterling Publishing Co., 2 Park Ave., New by Marion Millett. 1t'S even more convenient to get bread. Commonwealth Bank is pleased to announce the opening of a full- service branch at Orloski's Quik Mart, 300 Memorial Highway, in Dallas. Our new branch offers a four-lane drive-thru, a drive-up ATM, safe deposit boxes, and new account services with expanded banking hours. And now through January 31, 1996 you can get these special offers: @ Free Regular Checking through April 30, 1996 for new customers. @ Free starter pack of 50 antique-style checks for new Regular Checking accounts. @ A first-year-free small safe deposit box”, or credit towards a larger one. @ No service charge though April 30, 1996 for new Business Advantage Checking customers. @ No service charge through April 30, 1996 for new business checking customers. Come visit Commonwealth Bank at Orloski's Quik Mart and discover the true meaning of convenience banking. ExPANDED BANKING HOURS LOBBY DRIVE-UP 9am - 6pm 8am - 6pm 9am - 7pm 8am - 7pm 9am - 4pm 8am - 4pm Phone 717-675-0213 Monday-Thursday Friday Saturday Commonwealth Bank a division of A @ Meridian’ WEEPSTAKRKES Stop by and get coupons for our banking specials and bring in this sweepstakes entry form to win: = EQUALHOUSNG LENDER *Subject to availability MEMBER FDIC NAME ADDRESS CITY 1ST PRIZE: A $200 gift certificate for Orloski's Quick Mart. "2ND PRIZE: 25 car washes at Orloski's Quick Mart Car Wash. SRD PRIZE: A certificate for $100 in Shell gasoline at Orloski's Quick Mart. Zip PHONE No purchase necessary. Winners will be chosen on January 31,1996 by random drawing. Offer good only at 300 Memorial Highway, Dallas location. York, N.Y., distributors of "Working Wooden Toys" 8" plywood, or, paste the pattern on cardboard, then cut and trace around it. Either works. Cut out the figure; watch the underarm curves and the arm lengths. These are critical dimen- sions that make the toy work. Sand the man to remove sharp edges and send him down the board, tilting the board slightly. (Some affix an eye hook to the top so it can be hung up.) If you have followed instructions and dimen- sions your man willl “plonk™ his way down the first time. If not, you can “fine-tune” everything...use fine sandpaper. Maybe the underarm curve needs more angle; maybe the arms, or one only, are a bit too long. If you watch where the figure “hangs up” you'll be able to figure it out. If, after considerable fine-tun- ing, you still don't have free and easy downward travel, don't de- spair. Make another man! The Dallas Post has a supply of dowels needed to make Ziggedy Man. If you'd like one; just stop by the office-any week day between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to pick one up. Tele-Media Company is sponsoring a Fund Raiser Contribute to your own Entertainment and feed a heedy family at Christmas Time. e Witha contribution valuedat $10ormore, Tele-Media is waiving its installation charge for all new accounts (A 34.35 Value) e Allproceeds benefit needy families in this area. e Must live within our cabled area, some restrictions may apply. OFFER GOOD FROM NOVEMBER 27™ TO DECEMBER 20™ CALL TODAY!!! 639-1171 or 333-4442 * Offer for new subscribers only.
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