A Manual for New York Workers at the World's Columbian Exposition

I was pleased to discover this publication since it is quite the opposite of hundreds of others handed out at the WCE. This one was only handed out to the staff and workers for the state of New York, while the myriad others were handed out with zeal to everyone passing by a booth, exhibit or entire village.

This terrific in it unknowingly provides an insight into the business and political world of 1893, what was expected, how to do the job, what to share with visitors and so on. I can't think of many other such publications.

I have not done the research to verify my memory of not seeing a similar publication in my 45 years of involvement with the history of the Columbian Expo. Wouldn't it be great to have a manual for operators at the Ferris Wheel or Ice Railway just to mention a couple. As an aside, as a historian with obsessions about too many very different topics, just this last week of November I found a similar treasure.

I just ran across a poorly photocopied manual for operating (including parts list!) A MOLD-A-RAMA machine. I have been fond of Mold-a-Rama souvenirs since I was fortunate at 10 years old to discover them when they were first introduced to the population at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Dozens of the machines remain around the country at zoos and museums and other locations where tourists would like a nice 3D souvenir of their day excursion or major vacation.

For those uninitiated in the wonders of the Mold-a-Rama machines, they produce waxy miniature statues that visitors can watch being made in the see-through plexiglass top of the machine. They extrude hot wax into a mold and in a matter of seconds spit out the very hot finished hollow product--an airplane, the Space Shuttle, submarine, the map of Florida, Bowling ball and pin, giraffe, bust of presidents and on and on. I think I've seen a list of at least 300 different animals or products and of course they are available in a rainbow of colors. And the same molds were ussed in multiple locations. A lion or penguin or other animal was/is available from multiple different zoos, for example.

And at the very first place they were introduced they produced thousands of Space Needles, Washington State Water Power exhibits, a Monorail on its track and of course, the world's fair logo. Unbeknownst to everyone but the fastidious among collectors is the fact that yes, there were FOUR statues of Century 21 Expo attractions. But the machines also produced two souvenirs that had NOTHING to do with the Seattle world's fair--a statue of Hotei (Buddha) and of three monkeys demonstrating hear no, see no, speak no evil.

I am so much of a nerd when it comes to these things that if another of you shares this interest of mine, contact me and I'd be glad to send you a photocopy of the Mold-a-Rama manual.

And if you also share my deep interest it he World's Columbian Expo, you probably are excited to see this New York State manual for how things were to be done at the 1893 world's fair. I have seen a few of the very many similar products from New York's 1939 and 1964 world's fairs, also; and those are voluminous.

As I've noted before on small publications they can be sent via first class mail alone in an appropriately sized flat envelope for $2.00, but no tracking is provided and you cannot use thick cardboard to protect the product. I personally opt for regular tracked mail whenever I am buying. I'm happy to have you opt out of the safer, bukier packaging and if you do, I will refund your $3.00 after your item is paid for.