# Another strange product request **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647 "2001-02-01T01:50:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/1 "2001-02-01T01:50:21Z")
The massive problem with the Internet is you need to know what the name of the product you are looking for. Typing “uh, a thing that like squeaks” into Google doesn’t quite do it. Anyhoo, for those of you who helped me find Prince Ruperts’ Drops and a quincunx, I have another challenge. And I know it exists because I’ve seen it (once) before. This time, I’m looking for a thing you put on your desk. It’s kind of a page holder, made of wood, that is adjustable from a lap desk style, to a page holder etc. The wood thing is about the size of a small briefcase all folded up, but can be extended/unfolded to have a “wingspan” of 3-4 feet. It looks like something that was ordered out of a catalog…but I have no idea. I saw it about 2 years ago, and it is not an antique item. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/2 "2001-02-01T02:14:30Z")
There’s a scene in _Better Off Dead_ in the math class where the teacher asks to see the students’ homework. The first guy has a printer in a briefcase. The second student pulls out one of those expandable file thingys I think you speak of (although it appears to be made of metal). I don’t know what it’s called and I can’t put my hands on an office supplies catalog right now. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/3 "2001-02-01T02:17:15Z")
I think it’s a desktop bookholder. Try Levinger’s the “booklover’s source” – or somesuch motto. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/4 "2001-02-01T02:24:13Z")
Could it be some kind of portable lectern? No, the other answers sound better really, but this gives me a chance to remark that as soon as I glanced at the thread title, I guessed without even trying to who had posted it. **Sethdallob** I’m sure when you are a wizened old character of 75, you will be running a marvellous antique/junk/objets trouves shop. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/5 "2001-02-01T02:32:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > \*\*Could it be some kind of portable lectern? > > No, the other answers sound better really, but this gives me a chance to remark that as soon as I glanced at the thread title, I guessed without even trying to who had posted it. **Sethdallob** I’m sure when you are a wizened old character of 75, you will be running a marvellous antique/junk/objets trouves shop. \*\* Aww, I have a reputation! 🙂 I still do need to find those Prince Rupert’s Drops in a larger size…the one’s that I ordered are tiny tiny tiny. Anyhow, I could probably open up that store now. I think Levinger might be correct, it sounds familiar. I’ll hunt around and see what pops up. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/6 "2001-02-01T02:39:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > \*\*I think it’s a desktop bookholder. Try Levinger’s the “booklover’s source” – or somesuch motto. \*\* This sounded very familiar, so I did a Google and Ebay search, and nothing appeared… And **Celyn** , my dear, it is not a portable lecturn. When folded up, it resembles a solid wood briefcase. IIRC, it could be adjusted to be used as a lecturn. To use a bad analogy, it was kind of a “swiss army knife” of wood. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/7 "2001-02-01T06:02:09Z")
I just wanted to give this one more try before I let it drop… ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/8 "2001-02-01T14:21:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I think Levinger might be correct, it sounds familiar. You want [http://www.levenger.com](http://www.levenger.com). The Editor’s Desk isn’t exactly what you describe, but it might fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/9 "2001-02-02T07:29:43Z")
Thats it! Thanks again to everyone! I would have emailed this directly to **Scarlett67** , but there is no email address for her. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-strange-product-request/52647/10 "2001-02-02T15:47:09Z")
You would have sent it to **Scarlett67???** How about the guy who put her on the scent in the first place? Jeez!