The Ouija board was never meant for communicating with the afterlife, but its commercial success transformed it into a symbol of spiritualism.
Origins of the Ouija board
The Ouija board was never intended as a tool for communicating with the afterlife. Its 1891 patent, filed by Elijah J. Bond, describes it as a simple commercial toy, with no mention of spirits or spiritualism.Movement explained by science
The movement of the board is attributed to the ideomotor effect, a phenomenon where micro-muscular movements are unconsciously triggered by the players’ brains, often without their awareness.Patent details and history
The patent, titled "Toy or game," was granted on February 10, 1891, and is still accessible today under American patent number 446 054. The application was dated back to May 1890, recorded under serial number 353 410.Authorship and commercial rights
Elijah J. Bond, a lawyer from Baltimore, sold the rights to Charles Kennard and William H. A. Maupin, founders of the Kennard Novelty Company. However, the true authorship of the invention remains unclear, with conflicting claims and earlier similar boards reported in Ohio.Patent approval process
The patent office initially refused to grant the patent until it received proof that the object actually worked. Bond went to Washington with his sister-in-law, Helen Peters, who claimed to be a medium and supposedly spelled out her name using the board.Scientific validation of the effect
A 2012 study in the journal Consciousness and Cognition tested the ideomotor effect and found that participants' responses via the board were significantly more accurate than their verbal responses, supporting the scientific explanation for its movement.Commercial success and sales
In 1967, Parker Brothers sold approximately 2 million Ouija boards, surpassing even Monopoly sales that year. The board’s commercial peak came after World War I, when spiritualist Pearl Curran popularized its use for divination.Modern ownership and continued production
Parker Brothers acquired the game from the Fuld company in 1966, and in 1967, around 2 million units were sold. Hasbro bought Parker Brothers in 1991, inheriting the Ouija board, which has continued to be produced and sold since.Legacy of the Ouija board
Born from a simple commercial patent, the Ouija board has become one of the most enduring symbols of popular spiritualism, despite its origins as a mere toy.
