Built By: Roovers Brothers of Brooklyn, New York
Year Built: 1892 to the 1930's
Number Made: Unkown
Designer: Roovers Brothers
Country of Construction:USA
Special Features: Fortune tellers such as The Educated Donkey (also known as Madame Hee-Haw and Donkey Wonder)
were produced by the Roovers Brothers of Brooklyn, New York from about 1892 to the 1930's.
First produced in 1892, electrified in 1910, Donkey Wonder was a crowd pleaser.
This exact reproduction is of the early all mechanical automation version.
Place one cent in the round opening, pull the lever all the way down and Donkey Wonder comes to life.
She turns her head, lifts the rod in her right hand, chatters her little lips, moves her ears,
checks you with her "eye piece" and then spins the ship's wheel which rotates rapidly until it slows down
and stops on a number. You read your fortune from the two sheets on her sides as it correspondes to the
number on the ship's wheel. Total of 24 fortunes.
#6 "Your opportunity is close at hand. Do not be asleep when it reaches you." I think she is trying to tell you something!
The craftsmanship of this penny arcade is outstanding. Hight to top of marque 6' 7 1/2". Donkey is about 21" high.
Cabinet is about 14" wide, 24" high.
If you have a fortune teller machine for sale in any condition or if you have information of pictures to add to the archive please contact me.
