April 15, 2007

Three Frenchmen and A Goat

Felix emailed me a link to this amazing catalog from the DeMoulin Brothers. The company manufactured supplies for masonic rituals, including bucking goats, fake guillotines, electric chairs, and other oddities used to haze new members. The DeMoulin Brothers left the masonic supply business during the great depression, but the company still exists today as a manufacturer of marching band uniforms. Below are some highlights of the catalog. A book about the company is available here.

"Fuzzy Wonder" is a spectacular Goat in every respect. Every part is substantially made of steel and so constructed that it affords less resistance in order to bring about the desired results than any other Goat on the market. Attendants do not have to exert themselves to demonstrate the galloping, rearing, wobbling, kicking and bucking antics but the up and down motion of the handlebar.

This extra large cannon fires a large shell and is a heavy smoke producer... The action is intensified by the use of electric chair.

Whether it be the Camel, Tiger, Elk, Eagle, Moose, Owl or Goat, there can be no more appropriate ceremony than serving the candidate with the spirit and life of the organization.

Because we show here the Devil in the act of branding a candidate, we would not have you construe this as an inference that every new member belongs to his Satanic Majesty. (The Electric Brand is harmless in action, no objectionable features.)

The candidate kneels before the altar in all meekness and sincerity, to take the obligation. How thankful he is that it is all over; that all he has to do is pledge himself not to reveal the secrets of the sublime degrees through which he has just passed. When lo! The room is darkened; up before him jumps a skeleton with large, illuminated, glaring eyes; a blank cartridge is exploded; a stream of water hits him in the face; an electric shock is shot into his knees.

See suggestion for introducing, page IX in back of catalog.

Posted by Alex at 04:29 PM