Katharina Buczek
As an attorney, Bond knew that Kennard would be unable to obtain a patent unless they could prove that the talking board truly worked. So, Bond brought the board to the patent office in Washington and allowed the chief patent officer to use it.
The officer apparently demanded that if the board could accurately spell out his name– which was supposedly unknown to Bond– it would be deemed accurate.
And after they all sat down, the chief patent officer reportedly became “white-faced” once the board accurately spelled out his name. Whether there was truly some spirit present in the patent office that day or if Bond did some prior research before his trip remains unknown.
Nonetheless, the team won its patent on February 10, 1891– and the ouija board’s widespread market success has continued for over one hundred and thirty years now.
The first time the talking board was portrayed in a movie was the 1973 release of The Exorcist. And after that, the horror genre essentially changed forever– with possessions and demons becoming one of the most popular segments of the genre.
Moreover, the board became known as a “tool of the devil” almost overnight. This even prompted its denunciation by religious groups as a means of communicating with satan.
Still, though, one question has remained unanswered– the truth behind how ouija boards really work. But, this spine-tingling puzzle may forever stay a chilling mystery.
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