The 1930 DeMoulin Bros. & Co. Fraternal Supply Catalog No. 439 Burlesque and Side Degree Specialties; Paraphenalia and Costumes
Stunt Props, Tricks, Pranks, Practical Jokes, Humor, Magic, Goat Riding Carts, Paddling Machines, Electric Carpets and much, much, more!!!
Pictured at left is the cover of the 1930 edition of the DeMoulin Bros. & Co. catalog titled “Burlesque and Side Degree Specialties, Paraphernalia and Costumes.”
We believe that this was the best and last “side degree” catalog the DeMoulin Bros. produced, as this company suffered the same fate that many businesses did with the onset of the Great Depression. Today, they are one of the largest suppliers of marching band uniforms in the country. In the broken economy of the 1930’s, the fraternalism items this company produced and sold were not considered a high priority on the “need or necessity” list of many Lodges. Yet, the side degree specialties that they sold were the very items that increased Lodge membership, their donations to charities and interest in “Lodge Life” itself. These side degrees added to the “degree of laughter” early Lodge Brethren engaged in when initiating new members! We have reproduced the DeMoulin Catalog here in its entirety. Pay particular attention to the various testimonials at the bottom on some of the below catalog pages. These testimonials were sent in by the Woodmen and Odd Fellow Lodges who purchased this paraphernalia and they described how it worked for them. (Note: Although Freemasons joke about “Riding the Goat” with their new initiates they never engaged in this activity inside of any Masonic Lodge.) In the end you’ll see that the wholesome fun… “light hazing,” endured by the candidates made them feel more apart of the Lodge and fostered Brotherly Love and Affection.
(Legal Notice: Be advised that Phoenixmasonry, Inc. will not be held responsible for any accidental property damage, injury or loss of life due to any irresponsible manufacture or use of the items listed in or made as a replica shown in this catalog or pictured on this website.)
Now you can get a reprinted copy of this catalog when you purchase
The Extraordinary Catalog Of Peculiar Inventions, by Julia Suits
Table of Contents
Page 1… About the DeMoulin Bros. & Co. Factory
Page 2… About their different catalogs
Page 3… About their credentials
Page 4 & 5… The Catalog Index
Page 6… Policies and their Salesman
Page 7… Terms and Conditions (Their Fine Print)
Page 8… A Page of Suggestions
Page 9… A Low-Down Buck (Their latest goat)
Page 10… The Rollicking Mustang Goat
Page 11… The Fuzzy Wonder Goat
Page 12… The Bucking Goat
Page 13… Ferris Wheel Coaster Goat
Page 14… Whiz Bang Aeroplane
Page 15… The Submarine
Page 16… Trick Bottom Chair
Page 17… Trick Chairs
Page 18… Electric Chair
Page 19… A Pointed Affair
Page 20… Bomb Stunt
Page 21… Electric Bench
Page 22… The Trick Camera and Surprise Chair
Page 23… The “Jag” Producer
Page 24… The DeMoulin Trick Guns
Page 25… Plate Breaking Stunt
Page 26… Iron Test
Page 27… Balloon Ascension
Page 28… Trick Desk Phone
Page 29… The Guillotine
Page 30… DeMoulin’s Patent Lung Tester
Page 31… Traitor’s Judgment Stand
Page 32… Drinking the Goat’s Blood
Page 33… Baby Doll
Page 34… Moral Athletics
Page 35… Liquid Air Tank & Zig-Zag Road
Page 36… Tooth-Pulling Stunt
Page 37… Trick Mirror / Trick Comb & Brush
Page 38… Portable Jump Spark Battery
Page 39… Batteries and Magnetos
Page 40 & 41… Electric Carpets / Runways / Carpet of Tacks
Page 42… Stick-Em-Up
Page 43… Fencing Contest
Page 44… Tug O’ War
Page 45… Electric Spiked Pathway / Wooden Shoes / A Current Affair
Page 46… Crossing the Swinging Bridge & The Rocky Road to Dublin
Page 47… Electric Cane & Embalmed Meat or Bad Egg Test
Page 48… The Pledge Altar
Page 49… Sea Serpent
Page 50… The Human Centipede or Night Mare
Page 51… Family Skeleton Turned Loose and Electric Blanket
Page 52 & 53… Coffin Stunt or Funeral of Al. K. Hall
Page 54… Baby Bouncer
Page 55… Bird Cage
Page 56… Electric Stretcher
Page 57… Charleston Girls
Page 58… The Electric Razor
Page 59… Golfitis
Page 60… The Glad Hand & Electric Wheel Barrow
Page 61… The Devil has ‘Em on the the Run
Page 62… No Man’s Land
Page 63… Electric Branding Iron
Page 64… Electric Teeter Totter
Page 65… Dog Show Stunt
Page 66… An Electrified Smoke
Page 67… The Molten Lead Test
Page 68… Lifting and Spraying Machine & The Muscular Test
Page 69… Treadmill & The Fountain of Youth
Page 70… Trick Loaded Smokes & Trick Coffee Urn
Page 71… Spanker / Electric Spanker / Slap Sticks / Stuffed Clubs
Page 72… The Striking Maul & Greased (?) Pole
Page 73… Invisible Paddle Machine
Page 74… Lifting and Spanking Machine
Page 75… Home Brew
Page 76… Knife Throwing Stunt
Page 77… The Branding and Whirling Table
Page 78… Rejuvenating Machine
Page 79… Trip Through a Stormy Desert / Trilby Feet / Trilby Hands
Page 80… Electric Tunnel
Page 81… Trick Tray
Page 82… Say It With Flowers
Page 83… Hulu Hula Bull Dance
Page 84… Jewish and Swiss Naval Battle
Page 85… Big Busy Bertha
Page 86… The Devil’s Slide
Page 87… Upward, Onward, Downward
Page 88… Thrown of Honor
Page 89… Sliding Stairs or the Seven Ages / Spikey Block
Page 90… Tunnel of Trouble / Electric Sandals / Roller Pathway
Page 91… Pillow Fight & The Toss-Up
Page 92… Pillory & Lycopodium Flash Torches
Page 93… The Bucking Couch
Page 94… Pie Table
Page 95… Ice Cream Table
Page 96… The Blarney Stone & Bleeding Test
Page 97… Saw Mill & Electric Saw and Buck
Page 98… All Balled Up
Page 99… Deceptive Glasses & Wind Machine
Page 100… The Rickety Rackety / The Rooter / Telegraph Call and Whistle
Page 101 & 102… Noise Makers
Page 103… Improved Song-O-Phones
Page 104… Table Covers / Crepe Ribbon / Banquet Plates / Wreaths / Plumes
Page 105… Camp Fires / Wood Alcohol / Rubber Tubing / Tripods / Kettle / Napkins
Page 106… Letter File / Dater / Rubber Stamp / Ink Pad / Revolver / Cartridges
Page 107… Emblematic Knife / Burlesque Rituals / 300 Stunts / Parliamentary Rules
Page 108… Hoodwinks
Page 109… Masks
Page 110… Ballot Boxes
Page 111… Seals & Cases
Page 112… Gavels / Gavel Block and Case / Spears
Page 113… Novelties & Masquerade Goods
Page 114… Theatrical Hair Goods
Page 115… Masks, Beards & Wigs
Page 116… Beards and Wigs
Page 117… Large Papier Mache Heads
Page 118… Large Papier Mache Human Heads
Page 119… Large Papier Mache Animal Heads
Page 120… Masks of Nations
Page 121… Masks of Celebrities
Page 122… Skeletons, Skulls, Etc.
Page 123… Smoking Camel & Cow Bells
Page 124… Animals
Page 125 thru 130… Burlesque Costumes
Page 131 thru 134… Burlesque Costumes
Page 135 thru 138… Burlesque Costumes
Page 139 thru 142… Race Costumes
Page 143 thru 146… Costumes
Page 147 thru 150… We Manufacture Uniforms
Page 151… Sashes for Marshal
Page 152 & 153… Swords and Sword Belts
Page 154… Picnic and Parade Umbrellas
Page 155… U. S. Flags / Bunting / Stands / Belts / Staffs
Pages 156… Banners
Page 157… Badges
Page 158… Lodge Furniture / Chairs / Altar and Pedestal
Page 159… DeMoulin’s Portable Lodge Stereopticon
Page 160… Gongs
Suggestions & Directions for Introducing and Using our Burlesque and Side Degree Paraphernalia
A Novel Way to Introduce the Goat – Trick or Surprise Chair – De Stink or Bad Egg Test – Courage Test, or Meat Test – The Trick Camera – The Devil’s Slide – The Cannon
Trick Guns – Back-Action Gun – Electric Branding – The Pledge Altar – The Molten Lead Test
The Spikey Stool – The Mutoscope – Trick Coffee Urn – Treadmill – The Guillotine – Trip Through a Stormy Desert – Moral Athletics – The Electric Wheel Barrow – Electric Carpet – The Tack Test
Pages XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX
The Electric Carpet (another way) – The Electric Spiked Pathway – A Current Affair – Crossing The Swinging Bridge – Rocky Road to Dublin – Electric Razor – The Jag Producer – Invisible Paddle Machine – Improved Lifting and Spanking Machine – Lifting Machine – The Muscular Test – DeMoulin’s Patent Lung Tester
Pages XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XV
Traitor’s Judgment Stand – Tunnel of Trouble – Baby Doll – Striking Maul – “Upward, Onward, Downward” – The Wireless Trick Telephone – Pillow Fight – The Toss Up – Pillory – Throne of Honor – Liquid Air Tank – Zig Zag Road – Cleanliness is Next to Godliness – The Coin Test – Electric Fountain
Spanker – Trick Mirror – The Blarney Stone – Bleeding Test – Electric Saw and Buck – The Bucking Couch – The Saw Mill – Deceptive Beer of Wine Glass
Brought to you by Phoenix Masonry
[…] = "4428440695"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; It reminds me of the pranks in the Demoulin catalog of Fraternal Supplies from the 30′s. I wonder if it was the inspiration for the short […]