It is not necessary to imp
ress
upon your mind the value of GOOD FIGURES. Your figures
play a great part in your act, and you should have
figures that LOOK THE PART.
So why not have them made by one who understands such
figures and knows how to give them EXPRESSION, etc.,
that will "Hold the People" and "Make your act go?"
Our years of experience in the professional field, as
performers and as figure makers, and our long
association with the best ventriloquists, has proven
to us the WOOD is the BEST material from
which-desirable and satisfactory-ventriloquial heads
can be made. You can readily understand the value of
GOOD WOOD-HEADS over Mache, Plastics, or poorly carved
and expressionless wood ones.
To begin with "PINXY" figures are made of a light
weight wood, and are hollowed out inside and made in
two (2) parts so they can be taken apart easily should
anything go wrong inside.
They are carved by a skilled artist who understands
exactly how to give them the expression and character
you most desire.
If you have any special ideas of an expression, one
that you think would be individual and suit your act,
just send us a sketch, or write us your ideas as
explicit as possible and we will carry them out, we
are in a position to do this, we are fully equipped
for this and understand how it should be done, and
furthermore this kind of work is more satisfactory
done in wood. Your ideas are strictly confidential.
We have experimented and understand the proper
procedure for making heads of other materials, which
are really cheaper to make but we recommend "WOOD as
the BEST".
A to Mouth Movements there are two
kinds, first the KID MOUTH, preferred by most
ventriloquists,-in this type the mouth ONLY moves, the
chin is stationary, the most natural mouth as there
are no slits or grooves on the sides. The other Mouth
Movement is the Cut-Away mouth, the whole mouth and
chin are cut away from the face and the Jaw drops in
its own groove and the kid leather is put down on the
neck. This is the most practical for small figures
that require a mouth movement.
Some prefer one style and some prefer the other.
Whichever style you want you can be assured that Pinxy
makes the BEST that can be made in that kind of mouth
action.
The painting of Pinxy figures are of a
warm flesh color so tinted and blended to bring out
every feature. The faces can be washed when soiled.
That Bright-Clean finish is very important, giving
that professional and artistic look.
The bodies are strong and well made yet light and easy
to handle and have nice carved wood hands. The figure
comes to you complete, dressed in a neat suit made to
fit the body, in either velvet-corduroy, or good
suiting material, unless otherwise ordered.
PRICES
A PINXY PROFESSIONAL KNEE FIGURE, AS
DESCRIBED, 40-42 inches high, packs in standard 26
inch suit case, in Irish, School-boy, Fresh-kid, or
Negro complete, ready to work -$25.00.
Same figure with REAL HAIR WIG-$4.00 extra.
HEADS ALONE without the body-$15.00 Hand Carved Wood
Hands-$4.00 a pair.
Special Costumes such as Tuxedo, Bell-Hop, etc. priced
on application.
Other characters made to your individual order, priced
to you personally.
CLUB SIZE FIGURES, 20-24 inches $25.00.
SPECIAL MOVEMENTS
that may be installed in
PINXY WOOD-HEAD figures.
ONE WINKING EYE - (right or left) - $3.50.
BOTH EYES TO WINK - $7.00.
There are two kinds of winking eyes. 1st-the eye
turns downward to make the wink. 2nd-Eye-Lids are put
on to pull down over the eyes. When Eye-lids are used
both eyes must have the lids.
UPPER LIP TO RAISE UP IN SMILING EFFECT - $4.25.
CRYING EFFECT, real water tears, complete with Bulb
and Tubing - $5.00.
RAISING EYE BROWS - $3.50.
SMOKING or SPITTING ATTACHMENT, Complete - $3.50
CREPE HAIR FRIGHT WIG - $3.00.
WAGGING OR FLAPPING EARS - $3.50.
AIR-BULB MOUTH ACTION, with pressure bulb and 6 ft. or
tubing - $7.00 (figures mouth works readily at 6 ft.
distance).
REAL DENTAL TEETH ON PLATES, UPPERS and LOWER -
$10.00.
OTHER MOVEMENTS priced upon application.
Will be glad to quote prices on any special ideas of
your own.
IF IT CAN BE MADE IN WOOD, PINXY CAN MAKE IT.
"NONE-BETTER"
PINXY PUNCH & JUDY FIGURES ARE
Constructed with Hand Carved Wood Heads each with it's
own character expression Carved into the face, no two
alike in any set. The heads are 5 to 6 inches from
Chin to top of fore-head, just the right size for
professional work, and all have solid, glass eyes.
Pinxy figures have that perfect BALANCE so necessary
for Quick, Smooth, Action and are easy to hold and
handle. Being Punch workers for many years, we know
the exact requirements for the best working figures.
Beautifully and Artistically Costumed
in keeping with their characters and with a long
sleeve to cover the worker's arms. Pinxy Punch
figures are QUALITY PLUS.
A set of six figures - Punch, Judy, Policeman, Negro,
Devil and Alligator, as described above wit h
Instructions and Patter $40.00 and a Pinxy Sterling
Silver Punch reed-free with the set. Single figures,
etc.,
as follows: - Punch, $8.50; The
others, $7.00; Special Characters or moving moths will
be priced upon request. Sterling Silver Punch Reeds,
$1.00. The Best, None-Better.
PINXY MARIONETTES are strictly
professional made. Strong, Light and Flexible.
Correctly strung on perfect working controls, easy to
handle.
All have HAND CARVED WOOD HEADS, and are NEATLY and
ATTRACTIVELY costumed. Made throughout with the very
best materials obtainable. Pinxy Puppets are the most
satisfactory to be had. Used and recommended by the
big successful acts of today.
ANY type or Character wanted; Such as CLOWN; BALL
JUGGLER: BAR PERFORMER; MASTER of CEREMONIES; DANCERS;
DRUNKEN SAILOR; Straight and Comedy characters and
Animals.
TRICK FIGURES - such as DANCING SKELETON which falls
apart and re-assembles; SCARAMOUCHE a comedy figure;
INSTANT TRANSFORMATIONS and TURN-OVERS. Any trick
figure priced upon application.
LIVING MARIONETTES
Living Marionettes
are
the kind of puppets where their bodies are fastened
around the performers necks, making a living head with
a small dwarf-like body. The hands and legs are
manipulated from the back. Living Marionettes are
worked inside a cabinet very similar to a Punch $ Judy
cabinet, the performers are hidden behind a back
curtain and only their heads are seen. Singing,
dancing and monologue acts can be worked with this
type of puppets as the performer's head acts as the
head of the puppet.
Living Marionettes are priced upon request and
according to size and character wanted.
COLTA & COLTA of Harrisburg, Pa. whose living
Marionette act has played all over America in the past
25 years says "Our Pinxy figures are the best we have
ever had." They also own a full set of Pinxy Punch &
Judy figures.
RECOMMENDATIONS
GEORGE PRENTICE Master Puppeteer, who
has just returned from two years booking in Europe,
played the largest theatres in the prominent cities in
Europe and gave a command performance for the Duke of
Windsor.
Prentice writes - "Pinxy, I want some more figures
made by you, they are the best in the world, they
bring me big success." Here is a man who has been
using Pinxy figures for nearly ten years and has seen
and examined every make of figures in Europe and
America, is still using Pinxy figures and wants more.
He knows from actual experience the Pixy makes the
best.
MR. B. SAVAGE - connected with the Art Department of
the Hearst Publications says, "I am very much pleased
with the Punch & Judy figures I got from Pinxy,"
THE BILLBOARD - April 6th 1929 - Page 74, a notice
about Punch Allen reads. "He recently received a dandy
set of Punch & Judy figures from 'PINXY' of Chicago,
which he says are the BEST he has ever owned, and
that's covering a lot of territory, as Allen is one of
the old boys in the game."
ED WYNN - who will still be remembered as "The Fire
Chief "- used only Pinxy Puppets in his Punch & Judy
act, and featured it with "The Laugh Parade" for two
seasons.
LEN VINTUS, Winnepeg, Canada, the 1st
president of the International Brotherhood of
Magicians, first publisher of the Linking Ring, - made
a trip to Chicago, to get the best Punch & Judy
figures he could find - now owns a beautiful set of
Pinxy Puppets and writes, "I am delighted with my fine
new figures."
There must be - a reason why - people who come to
Chicago, from all parts of the country, looking for
figures and puppets, almost always but Pinxy figures.
They come and see for themselves that Pinxy figures
are just what we claim for them the best and most
satisfactory to be had. We DON'T misrepresent our
figures or our work. We are TRUTHFUL and dependable
and HONEST with our Customers and in all our dealings
as will as in our advertising.
DR. GEORGE SMITH of Peoria, Ill., whose widely
advertised Course in Ventriloquism is known around the
world, is a Pinxy friend and booster, and always
recommends Pinxy figures as the BEST.
MR. JOE CORRELI., brother of the famous ANDY of "AMOS
& ANDY," on a visit to the Windy City, looking for a
Ventriloquial figure, carried home a PINXY wooden head
boy.
ON THE FRONT COVER of the SPHINX Magic Magazine, for
Sept. 1925 is a picture of Ernest Schieldge, with his
Pinxy Vent figure. Mr. Schieldge was the 1st Vice
Pres. of the I.B.M. He writes: "The figure that I
bought from you is giving excellent satisfaction."
And later wrote: "The Punch and Judy outfit received
I am will pleased - it is the finest set I have ever
seen."
SIGNOR VITTORIO PODRECA, owner of the "PICCOLI"
Marionettes, largest and most famous Puppet Show in
the world, who toured the U. S. in 1933, wanted some
special "Made-in-America" Puppets. Searched for and
examined figures in every city, finally selected -
Pinxy's make as the best and only ones that compared
with his own Italian made figures. Placed his order
with Pinxy and said, "He was delighted with the
puppets we made for him."
NED FRAILEY, Magician, Lancaster, Pa.
says - "I received the Vent. head and I must say I am
more than pleased, I have had many different makes of
figures in my time, but the one I have just received
from you is the TOPS."
DON FRASER, State Representative of Salem Conn. is
delighted with his new special Pinxy Vent figure. He
writes, "Red headed Elmer, arrived in good shape, let
me congratulate you in the manufacturing of a Great
figure both mechanically and artistically, it is just
the type I wanted - Elmer became famous over night,
having made a decided hit before the Swanky and very
exclusive Lotos Club, in N. Y. City."
Successful ventriloquist everywhere are using "Pinxy"
figures and others are fast changing their old figures
for Pinxy figures.
We have so many nice letters from
friends and customers it would be impossible to give
them all here but we appreciate every one. Here are
just a few, you may know some of them, they will all
vouch for the honesty of Pinxy figures. ELWOOD &
RIPEL, Philadelphia. MADOLE the MAGICIAN. R. S.
BAILEY, Los Angeles. THE STERLINGS. entour for Red
Path. Murry Bliss Butler. Eli Nasser.. Ernest
Bribane, London England. Maxwell the Magician, and
many others. They all say
- "NONE - BETTER" -
THE SUN NEVER SETS NO PINXY FIGURES
Pinxy figures are now owned around the entire world -
Hawaii - Cuba - New Zealand - Nova Scotia - The
Philippines - Europe _ Africa - Chili - Mexico -
British Columbia and nearly all the Provinces of
Canada - and every State in the United States. Used
by the best performers of today.
We sell direct to the performer. Our prices are as
low as it is possible to make high quality, genuine
professional figures, and "Pinxy" figures are giving
perfect satisfaction. There is a reason-
TO ORDER: - Cash, or Half Cash must accompany all
orders, the balance C.O.D. No figures sent without a
deposit. Send all money by Post-Office or Express
Office order or Bank Draft payable to - PINXY, 1212
NORTH WELLS ST., CHICAGO, ILL.
(all personal checks must be certified by your bank
before shipment is made).
Above 1930's pamphlet from the
Pinxy Co. Chicago
George "Pinxy" Larsen, of
Chicago, shaping the head for a ventriloquist dummy.
Note the special vise.
IN A SMALL workshop on the north side of Chicago,
George Larsen a member of the Chicago Carvers and
Craftsman's Club.
Photographs and letters from foreign ventriloquists
give an indication of how far his dummies have
traveled.
His friends and business associates call him Pinxy
because that was his stage name when he and his wife
toured America as ventriloquists, Punch-and-Judy
operators, and magicians. In those days they always
made their own figures, and their carvings attracted
such favorable attention form fellow performers that
in 1914 Professor and Madam Pinxy decided to devote
the greater part of their time to the manufacture
rather than the operation of such figures. But both
have kept active in their old profession. Pinxy was
the first person to give a Punch-and-Judy show on the
radio, and his wife, in 1931, produced similar shows
for a series of experimental television broadcasts.
Pinxy claims the distinction of being one of the two
professional carvers of "blockheads" in America. Each
head is made by building up several layers of basswood
blocks so that after the head is carved it can be
split easily to hollow out the inside.
A sheet of paper is glued between the sections to be
split. The only machine operation is the rough sawing
of a face contour; all the other work is done by hand
manipulation of ordinary carving tools without the use
of calipers or measuring devices. The heads are made
to order and any expression the performer desires is
given to the face. No two heads are alike.
Article from Popular Science
Dec.1939
Page background, carves
heads for ventriloquist dummies by Pinxy.
Below - Pinxy Flyer
