When I wrote the blog about all the effects of ventriloquist figures our friend Lee Dean wrote in about having a moving leather lower lip on a slot jaw. That got me to thinking because of his description. You can read his statement here:
So in checking over my selection of figures I have found that rings and levers were offered for controls on figures right up into the 1970’s. I do have a Ken Spencer figure that is from the 1970’s with a ring pull for the mouth.
The reason I am bringing this up is because it is very possible that ring pull controls may have been an easier way to activate functions over levers. You see your fingers are inserted in to the rings which always keeps that function available for the user at any time. You don’t have to find it the way you do for levers.
Talking with another collector I was asked if all functions of a human have been done on a ventriloquist figure. I had to laugh because the answer is very close to saying yes. Even bodily functions have been done with ventriloquist figures.
I can make a list of functions that I personally have seen which are:
This is one of the best renditions of a “cheeky boy” Nosey figure I have seen from Conrad Hartz. He just has that Jerry Mahoney look that we all love and adore.
I have spoke about this subject before but in the past few days I have been contacted by some folks, not ventriloquists, that wanted to know about restoring their figures and if it was going to be worth the cost. I wanted to be as helpful as I could but sometimes reality of the situation prevails.
When a ventriloquist figure, either wood or paper mache, is left unattended for decades in a basement or cellar there is always the possibility of water damage.
