Plate lifter explained

A plate lifter or plate wobbler is a novelty item^[1] consisting of a tube with a small flat^[2] bladder on one end and a bulb on the other.^[3] The bladder is to be placed under a plate; inflating it will make the plate wobble.^[4] This fake demonstration of psychokinesis^[2] is intended to provoke surprise and merriment.^{[5] [6]}

A free plate wobbler was included with the first issue of the British comic magazine Monster Fun and promoted as a "monster mirth maker".^[1]

In industry

"Plate lifter" is the name of various devices used in industry for handling heavy metal plates.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blimey! It's another blog about comics!: Free Inside! - Part 5. Stringer. Lew. Lew Stringer. 3 December 2010. 12 February 2013.
2. Book: Jillette, Penn . Penn Jillette . Penn and Teller's How to Play with Your Food . 1992 . Villard Books . 978-0679743118 . 66 . registration .
3. Book: Nyberg, Tim . The Practical Joker's Handbook . February 13, 2013 . 2004 . Andrews McMeel Publishing . Get a 'plate lifter' at your local joke/novelty shop. This is a long tube with a little bladder on one end and a bulb on the other. The original joke was to hide the bladder under the table cloth under plates to make them jump up and down when the bulb was squeezed. . 0740741985 . 160 .
4. Book: Kibble-White, Graham. Graham Kibble-White. The Ultimate Book of British Comics. 2005. Allison & Busby. 9780749082116. 175.
5. Web site: Plate Lifter KA94 . Fright Depot . February 13, 2013.
6. Web site: Plate Lifter . The Joke Shop . February 13, 2013 .
7. Web site: Sheet Lifter and Plate Lifters . Bushman Equipment, Inc . February 13, 2013.
8. Web site: Plate Lifter . Caldwell Lifting Solutions . February 13, 2013.