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49-492: A planchette ( / p l ɑː n ˈ ʃ ɛ t / or / p l æ n ˈ ʃ ɛ t / ), from the French for "little plank ", is a small, usually heart-shaped flat piece of wood equipped with two wheeled casters and a pencil-holding aperture pointing downwards, used to facilitate automatic writing . The use of planchettes to produce mysterious written messages gave rise to the belief that the devices foster communication with spirits as

98-458: A third rail as a protection for those who fall off a platform This article about joinery, woodworking joints, carpentry or woodworking is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Roman Catholic Diocese of Viviers The Diocese of Viviers ( Latin : Dioecesis Vivariensis ; French : Diocèse de Viviers [djɔsɛz də vivje] ) is a Latin Church diocese of

147-790: A G.W. Cottrell "Boston Planchette". Plank (wood) Usually made from sawed timber, planks are usually more than 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in (38 mm) thick, and are generally wider than 2 + 1 ⁄ 2  in (64 mm). In the United States, planks can be any length and are generally a minimum of 2×8 ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ×  7 + 1 ⁄ 4  in or 38 mm × 184 mm), but planks that are 2×10 ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ×  9 + 1 ⁄ 4  in or 38 mm × 235 mm) and 2×12 ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ×  11 + 1 ⁄ 4  in or 38 mm × 286 mm) are more commonly stocked by lumber retailers. Planks are often used as

196-510: A Mass at Viviers on the "Fête de la fédération" on 14 July 1790. Though he hesitated over approving of the Civil Constitution, he finally took the required oath, one of only four bishops who did. He then resigned his bishopric, and successfully stood for election as constitutional bishop of Ardèche. As a constitutional bishop, he proceeded to consecrate as bishops two of his vicars, and, in 1793, travelled with them to Grenoble to consecrate

245-422: A ceiling or floor is called a joist . The plank was the basis of maritime transport : wood floats on water , and abundant forests meant wooden logs could be easily obtained and processed, making planks the primary material in ship building . However, since the 20th century, wood has largely been supplanted in ship construction by iron and steel , to decrease cost and improve durability. A plank that covers

294-543: A disciple and subdeacon of Polycarp of Smyrna (died 155), brought Christianity to the Vivarais under Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211), and was martyred in 208. This story is based on the hagriography of the Breverarium Lugdunensis. Andeolus and his companions also brought Christianity to Marseille and Lyon. The "Old Chart" ( Carta vetus ), drawn up in 950 by Bishop Thomas, the most complete document concerning

343-556: A doctor of theology, who had known Martin Luther in Saxony, began preaching in public against the cults of saints and other superstitions. He was driven out, but in the next year another ex-Franciscan, Étienne Rénier, who preached a similar policy, was arrested, taken to Vienne, and burned at the stake. By 1562, there were enough Protestants in Viviers that Noë Aubert, Seigneur de Saint-Alban, assembled

392-627: A force of Huguenots in the Dauphiné, crossed the Rhône, and seized Viviers. The cathedral of Saint-Vincent was pillaged, the residences of the bishop and of the canons damaged, and the relics burnt. Viviers became a protestant stronghold. After the massacre of Huguenots at Vassy on 1 March 1562, led by the Catholic François, Duke of Guise , the Protestant Louis de Bourbon, Prince de Condé , abandoned

441-496: A form of mediumship . The devices were popular in séances during the Victorian era , before their eventual evolution into the simpler, non-writing pointing devices for ouija boards that eclipsed the popularity of their original form. Scientists explain the motion is due to the ideomotor effect , but paranormal advocates believe the planchette is moved by the presence of spirits or some form of subtle energy . Planchettes took on

490-407: A scribbling planchette in their satirical "Political Planchette Board" cartoon. The illustration depicts Roosevelt's struggle between Independent Democracy on one hand, and Progressive Republicans on the other. Roosevelt's planchette form is writing out "Victory" over the two factions with the planchette's pencil. Use of a planchette is featured in the 1948 novel No Highway by Nevil Shute , where

539-515: A series of coded negative or affirmative knocks. In other instances, sitters received more complicated messages of spelled-out words and phrases by transcribing letters indicated by the knocks or raps as the participants called out the alphabet into the empty air. Believers in these spirit communications soon began to experiment with refining and expediting various forms of communication, including pointing to letters printed on alphabet cards, automatic writing , direct channeling , and other methods. In

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588-491: A variety of forms during the height of their popularity. American planchettes were traditionally heart- or shield-shaped, but manufacturers produced a wide range of shapes and sizes hoping to distinguish themselves in the highly competitive and profitable market of the devices' late-1860s heyday. Manufacturers espoused the wonders and benefits of different materials (including various hardwoods, India rubber, and even glass), insulated casters, and various attachments meant to "charge"

637-424: A work surface on elevated scaffolding , and need to be wide enough to provide strength without breaking when walked on. The wood is categorized as a board if its width is less than 2 + 1 ⁄ 2  in (64 mm), and its thickness is less than 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in (38 mm). A plank used in a building as a horizontal supporting member that runs between foundations, walls, or beams to support

686-786: The Catholic Church in France. Erected in the 4th century, the diocese was restored in the Concordat of 1822, and comprises the department of Ardèche , in the Region of Rhône-Alpes . It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lyon . The city of Viviers is located on the west (left) bank of the Rhône River, just south of the confluence of the River L'Escoulay and the Rhône, about 52 km. north of Orange. Andeolus,

735-507: The Comte de Crussol their chief and conservator of the country until the majority of King Charles IX of France , who was only twelve; and the Sieur de Cournonterral the governor of the Vivarais. In December 1562, the real Estates of Languedoc were summoned by Vicomte Guillaume de Joyeuse , royal lieutenant-general of Languedoc. In February 1567, Noël Aubert made a second attack on Viviers, and ordered

784-473: The Constitutional Church. In the reestablishment of the ecclesiastical order, Vienne disappeared as a metropolitan archdiocese, and became a suffragan diocese of the archbishopric of Lyon. Viviers, a former suffragan of Vienne, is not mentioned. The diocesan structure of France was re-established by Pope Pius VII on 27 July 1817, by the bull "Commissa divinitus". The diocese of Viviers was included in

833-499: The Diocese of Viviers was disputed for a long time by the metropolitan Sees of Vienne and Arles . From the eleventh century its dependence on Vienne was not contested. John II, cardinal and Bishop of Viviers (1073–1095), had the abbatial church of Cruas consecrated by Urban II and accompanied him to the Council of Clermont . In the 17th century, the diocese of Viviers was a suffragan of

882-596: The French court and met the Protestant lords at Orleans on 11 April 1562; the city of Viviers joined his party, along with Privas, Tournon, Annonay, Aubenas, and Villeneuve-de Berg. In November 1562, the reformers held an assembly in Nîmes, which they called the Estates of Languedoc; it was only a meeting of representatives of the cities, however, most of whom were Protestant, including Noël Aubert, who represented Viviers. They appointed

931-752: The Grand Vicar of Viviers, Régis Vernet. On 9–10 November 1799, the Coup of 18 Brumaire resulted in the establishment of the French Consulate , with Napoleon as the First Consul. To advance his aggressive military foreign policy, he believed it necessary to make internal peace with the Catholic Church. Negotiations began immediately, and resulted in the Concordat of 1801 (July and August) with Pope Pius VII , which

980-452: The Lee & Walker sheet music company of Philadelphia debuted the song "Planchette" with words by Elmer Ruan Coates and music by Eastburn. The song includes the chorus "Planchette, planchette, oh! Let me see/What luck you have in store for me!" In 1870, Oliver & Ditson sheet music company of Boston published "Planchette: The Celebrated Comic Song" with words by G.A. Meazie Jr, as popularized by

1029-528: The archbishop of Vienne. The population of the city alone was about 2,000 persons. In 2021 the population of Viviers was 3,674. Afterwards, it is said that Conrad III gave Lower Vivaraisas to Bishop William (1147) as an independent suzerainty. In the thirteenth century, under the reign of King Louis IX of France, the Bishop of Viviers was obliged to recognize the jurisdiction of the Seneschal of Beaucaire . By

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1078-522: The attention of the Bishop of Viviers , who railed against their use in a pastoral letter in 1853. Despite their respected status in the growing religion of Spiritualism, planchettes remained a specialized novelty for adherents for the next 15 years, produced only within a small cottage industry or on special request by scientific instrument manufacturers. During this period, they remained popular only among devout séance circles and enthusiastic Spiritualists, who at

1127-711: The beginning of the spiritualist movement of the mid-19th century, planchettes predate the popularization of talking boards by nearly four decades. Planchettes rose to prominence in the years following the establishment of spiritualism in America, which began with the purported spirit communications of the Fox Sisters in 1848 and the resulting popularity of supernatural-themed parlor games, séances , and experiments in mediumship and table-turning . Participants in these events would experience strange movements of tables, and communicate with spirits that indicated their messages through

1176-399: The bishopric of Viviers, but was firmly rebuffed by the clergy of the diocese, led by the Grand Vicar. While Bishop de Savine was in schism and apostasy, the administration of the diocese of Viviers were entrusted to the archbishop of Vienne, Charles d'Aviau, by a special grant of powers by Pope Pius VI . With the permission of the archbishop, daily administration was placed in the hands of

1225-420: The boundaries fixed on 26 February 1790, with the institution to be effective on 4 March 1790. A metropolitanate called "Metropole du Sud-est" was established, which consisted of nine departments, one of which was "Ardèche". It's administrative center was fixed at Viviers. The National Constituent Assembly then, on 6 February 1790, instructed its ecclesiastical committee to prepare a plan for the reorganization of

1274-635: The cathedral to be pulled down and the episcopal palace, which had been built by Bishop Claude de Tournon (1499–1523) to be demolished. The reign of Louis XIII witnessed the revolt of the Calvinists (1627–1629) against royal authority, which ended in the capture of Privas by the royal army; the Dragonnades under Louis XIV after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes ; the war of the Camisards (1702–1710). One of

1323-631: The cleaner, faster communications of these new "talking boards". Though writing planchettes would enjoy brief revivals in subsequent years as the Ouija's popularity similarly waxed and waned, by the 1930s only British toy companies such as Glevum Games continued to produce true writing planchettes in any worthwhile numbers. By the Ouija revival that followed the Second World War, true writing planchettes were no longer being manufactured in any significant numbers anywhere, having been finally completely taken over by

1372-493: The clergy. At the end of May, its work was presented as a draft Civil Constitution of the Clergy , which, after vigorous debate, was approved on 12 July 1790. There was to be one diocese in each department, requiring the suppression of approximately fifty dioceses, especially along the Rhône River. The new dioceses were grouped into ten "Metropoles", one of which was the "Metropole du Sud-Est," which contained both Rhône-et-Loire (with

1421-586: The commercial introduction of the Ouija board by Charles Kennard's Kennard Novelty Company and acquisition of the talking board patent by his partner Elijah Bond on 1 July 1890, automatic-writing planchettes took a secondary role to the suddenly popular Ouija board and the many imitators its success spawned. Though early press articles had dubbed the Ouija the "new planchette", the patentees were initially quick to differentiate their devices from classic automatic writers by pairing them with paddle-shaped, pencil-less pointers far different in shape from other planchettes of

1470-596: The constitutional bishop of Isère, Henri Reymond. On 1 December 1793, he resigned all his episcopal functions at the departmental assembly, and became a supporter of the Cult of Reason . Driven out of Viviers, he took refuge in Annonay, Tournon, and then Embrun, but eventually was captured, sent to Paris, and imprisoned. After the death of Robespierre he was freed, and found a job at the Arsenal library. In 1800, he made an effort to regain

1519-635: The devices in use at séances in Paris, and returned with several of them. Their friend, the Boston bookseller G.W. Cottrell, became the first to manufacture planchettes on a large scale the following year. In 1867, the British publication Once a Week published a sensational piece on planchettes. The article was reprinted in European and American newspapers, and by 1868 dozens of booksellers and toy manufacturers were producing

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1568-524: The devices or insulate the user from malevolent spirits. In Great Britain, planchettes took on the classical shapes popularized in early illustrations and newspaper depictions, with round, blunt noses and flat backs. Regardless of their shape or country of origin, almost all planchettes were equipped with brass casters and small wheels of bone or plastic, and their sometimes lavishly illustrated boxes were often packed with blank parchment, pencils, ouija-like folding letter sheets, and esoteric instructions espousing

1617-454: The ecclesiastical province of Vienne, which was returned to metropolitan status. The terms of the bull are re-enacted in the bull "Paternae Charitatis" of 6 October 1822. The diocese then included almost all the ancient Diocese of Viviers and some part of the ancient Diocese of Valence , Vienne , Le Puy and Uzès (see Nîmes ). On 24 September 1821, in the bull "Novam de Galliarum," at the request of King Louis XVIII , Pope Pius VII assigned

1666-482: The first acts of the French Revolution was the abolition of feudalism and its institutions, including estates, provinces, duchies, baillies, and other obsolete organs of government. The National Constituent Assembly ordered their replacement by political subdivisions called "departments" , to be characterized by a single administrative city in the center of a compact area. The decree was passed on 22 December 1789,

1715-478: The items to meet an insatiable demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Kirby & Co., the undisputed kings of planchette manufacturing, claimed to have sold over 200,000 in their first season alone. Over the years, planchette manufacturers included such established firms as Selchow & Righter , George G. Bussey , Jaques & Son , Chad Valley , and even the great magician and crystal seer Alexander . Following

1764-610: The metropolitan seated at Lyons) and Ardèche (Viviers). Both the establishment and the suppression of dioceses, however, was a canonical matter, and was reserved to the pope, not to the National Constituent Assembly. Charles de Savine had been bishop of Viviers since 1778. He was not elected by his clergy to the Estates General which met in Versailles in 1789. His liberal sympathies were demonstrated when he presided at

1813-405: The more popular Ouija as they faded into obscurity. During the initial craze in the late 1860s, planchettes became the subject of several popular songs sold in sheet music form. In 1868, the C.Y. Fonda sheet music company of Cincinnati published the "Planchette Polka", composed by August La Motte, dedicated to Kirby & Co, which was the dominant planchette manufacturer of the day. Also in 1868,

1862-455: The mysterious communicative powers of the items. Though planchettes experienced great surges of popularity in Victorian times, in modern usage the term is most commonly associated with the heart-shaped pointers for Ouija or "talking boards". Rather than writing, these devices "dictate" messages by pointing to the board's printed letters and numbers. As writing planchettes were popularized during

1911-490: The period. The design changes and focus on the elegantly varnished boards and their clearly stenciled letters arching across their fronts seem to have had the intended effect, and the items were enthusiastically welcomed by the public in much the same way planchettes had experienced their own craze some 23 years previously. From this point on, the pencil-equipped planchettes that had facilitated often-garbled spirit writing for nearly four decades were quickly shoved aside in favor of

1960-404: The planchette in use in his watercolor "La Planchette" in the 1960s. Drag queen Sharon Needles wore a "Mystic Hand" planchette on her forehead as a fashion statement when she was crowned "America's Next Drag Superstar" on RuPaul's Drag Race , April 2012. Ms. Needles has confirmed on her Facebook wall that the planchette was a 1940s original, not a modern reproduction. The wooden planchette

2009-412: The primitive Church of Viviers, names five bishops who lived at Alba Augusta (modern Alba-la-Romaine): Januarius , Septimus, Maspicianus, Melanius and Avolus. The last was a victim of the invasion of Chrocus , rex Romanorum , the exact date of the destruction is unknown. In consequence of the ravages suffered by Alba Augusta, the new bishop, Promotus, transferred the see to Viviers. It seems that

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2058-509: The singer Henry Clay Barnabee. Barnabee described the song as "named after a little pseudo-psychic machine, a fad of the hour". The 9 July 1892 Volume 103 edition of Punch included a cartoon depicting an impish devil pushing a planchette toward a prediction of the next Derby winner, claiming the device would "put an end to all speculation". The 25 March 1907 edition of the Washington Post famously depicted President Teddy Roosevelt as

2107-473: The spirit suggested the group secure a pencil to a small upturned basket, allowing multiple participants to cooperatively write out messages from the attending spirits. After some refinements to construct a more sturdy wooden plank, word of the invention spread throughout Paris and into England, where a cottage industry sprang up to produce the devices. The use of planchettes in Europe became popular enough to attract

2156-474: The time still largely relied on the services of celebrity mediums (such as the Fox Sisters and D.D. Home ) to lead spirit communications, rather than using planchettes and other "do-it-yourself" devices. Mediums, seeing their monopoly threatened, often rallied against the devices and warned of the dangers of amateur experimentation. Planchettes came to America in 1858 when Spiritualist and social reformer Robert Dale Owen and his friend Dr. H.F. Gardner observed

2205-497: The treaty of 10 July 1305 Philip IV of France obliged the bishops of Viviers to admit the suzerainty of the kings of France over all their temporal domain. Viviers was often troubled by religious conflicts: the Albigensian Crusade in the thirteenth century. The first example of protestant activity in the Vivarais was at Annonay, northwest of Viviers, in the mountains. In 1528, a former Franciscan named Étienne Machopolis,

2254-460: The winter of 1852–53, the fervor of the Modern Spiritualism movement and spirit communications reached Europe, where the French educator and eventual founder of Spiritism , Allan Kardec claimed that on 10 June 1853 a séance participant received a spiritual message proposing a more expedient alternative to the laborious processes of alphabet-calling and rapped responses. According to Kardec,

2303-465: The written message obtained by automatic writing provides the information necessary to locate of the tail plane of a crashed aircraft. In The Haunting of Hill House , a 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson , Mrs. Montague uses a planchette in an attempt to communicate with spirits in Hill House, while Mr. Montague and the original group disagree with her charlatanic methods. Artist Frederick Sands depicted

2352-414: Was highly favorable to Napoleon's interests. As under the ancien régime , the nomination to bishoprics belonged to the head of state, and the pope reserved the right to approve or reject the candidate. The bishopric of Viviers and all the other dioceses in France were suppressed by Pius VII in the bull "Qui Christi Domini" of 29 November 1801. This removed all the contaminations and novelties introduced by

2401-634: Was manufactured c. 1940 by the Haskell Manufacturing Corporation in Chicago, Illinois, and was sold with a version of a Ouija board called the "Hasko Mystic Board". In August 2012, the Baltimore Museum of Industry hosted the first-of-its-kind retrospective ouija board exhibit. The exhibit featured two rare planchette specimens to represent the early evolution of talking boards, including a Selchow & Righter "Scientific Planchette" and

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