Ypsilanti is a place where people go to die, not a place for people who want to live.
Sorry to be bugging you, then.
Not bugging me at all, DQ, but as you can imagine, my time and energy are severely limited at the moment.
I hate to put this thread to “bed” as it were, as there’s so many things about death rays which we haven’t discussed. My interest in them mainly comes from the connection with Preston Tucker, and I have a Tuvian built death ray (it’s a Chömei) simply because it was a steal on eBay. I’ve done some research on them, of course, but it’s been mainly limited to US corporations and suggested modifications for my Tuvian model.
Given the extensive amount which both Wells and Verne wrote about them, and the fact that such an isolated place as Tuva could have a thriving industry manufacturing them, tells me that from at least a foreign angle, this discussion hasn’t played itself out as of yet.
Oh, Brutus, most of Tucker’s research was done in Ypsilanti, it being his home town and all. Reminds me, Tucker was a Packard rep in Memphis, TN, perhaps I should hie myself down there and start poking around to see if I can find anything there about him and his work.
I’ve received breaking news that they found at least some of the Tucker Death Ray papers. More word on this as the story develops.
So are we going to get 1920’s Style Death Ray forum now.
bump 
i just didnt wanna be the only person to not reply to this thread =)
Me either. 
So all this time I’ve been wondering where the 1920s Style Death Ray lore started and it turns out the legendary thread was right under my nose?
Shooting for 1000…
…shamelessly…
Sorry about the delay, I haven’t had computer access in a while.
Anyway, it turned out that some of the Tucker papers were bound in a book, and that this book was (presmably accidentially) donated to Drexel along with most of the Barris papers. However, due to a clerical mistake, it was accidentially put in the general circulation part of the library. It was discovered by a researcher (possibly Servo or Golden, although no name was listed in the article) using the card catalog.
Ah, they’re 1920’s-style “Death Rays.”
Wait! What are you doing? GET AWAY FROM ME AAAAGGHHHH!!!
yeah me too, i thought i would just post on here because it looked like everyone else had too…i vaguely remember something about …death rays…or…i don’t know. if we keep going we WILL get to a THOUSAND posts…lets keep our fingers crossed!
Does anyone have assembly instructions for a Heath Kit death ray? The box says 1920’s style death ray, but was originally bought circa 1955. I think it is the women’s model. There aren’t any model numbers or anything on the box.
Any information anyone has about it would be great.
Wow! I get to shamelessly increase the thread’s post count and my own!
772/264.
I have no shame. Hey, can I have no shame?
It’s not really a Death Ray, 'beast.
It’s a vibrator.
In my “History Of Funky Sex In America” class, we learned that it was illegal to ship vibrators through the US mail in the 50’s, so they used a variety of dodges, including referring to them as “Battery-power massagers” and, yes, as “Ladies’ Model 1920’s Style Death Rays”.
So, there’s no way to get a Death Ray out of that, although, depending on your gender/proclivities, you might be able to find another use for it.
Backing Bosda up…
The Heath Kit company never, at any point, sold build-it-yourself death rays.
I think Tandy had one, which was sold at Radio Shack under the Realistic name. Not wanting to market an actual death ray, though, it was only a stupor ray.
Coincidentally, I tested that very stupor ray on xash, bibliophage, and DrMatrix. It seems to have worked far too well.
I’m still looking for a Hemi powered death ray.
I have a Hemo powered death ray. It’s positively vampiric.
:eek:
Ah, they’re 1950’s style “Sex Toys”.