- An early type of radio, methinks. - chromatix
- The lamp housing is not earthed. Tsk tsk. - chromatix
- Dude doesn't even care about electrocution, he just wants to shoe that box who's boss. - Jonathan M. Kennedy
- I think one of the biggest problems here is that he's using scissors on a dial. And who pushes off the lamp with their freakish pinky finger? This guy, obviously. - dokujitsu
- This mincing affectation was always destined to eventually do him in. - One of those Allans
- Damn nose hair trimmer is always the culprit! - TheLongestRoad
- This is not a dial, it is a brass cup for the crystal. He is using scissors to chip the crystal to expose better sweet spots for the cat whisker seen to the right. - n3gxh
- Ist hier Ihr Katzen Whisker. - n3gxh
- This looks like a far, far greater threat of electrocution and/or pinching. - badlittlemunky
- this takes a lot of practice to achieve. holding the scissors steady and with the little finder touching the lamp at the same time. - michael06il
- Terrorist - Sohny2007
30 Ways to Shock Yourself
Here are 30 illustrations from the book Elektroschutz in 132 Bildern. These diagrams outline causes of electrical accidents
If you end up linking to this, it would be nice if you attributed me as bre pettis and linked to brepettis.com/blog.
Comments and faves
kloppervok!, techmikeva, brainphat, Cennydd, and 35 other people added this photo to their favorites.
kloppervok! (42 months ago | reply)
This happens to me ALL THE TIME.
Count Spatula (42 months ago | reply)
Toenail clipper plus mystery death box equals not good.
~wishiwasanotter~ (42 months ago | reply)
hehehehe... "mystery death box" ..... ROFL!!!
tuckerch (42 months ago | reply)
"Throw me out of the Acadamy, will they? Laugh at my theories, will they?
Well, with my MYSTERY DEATH BOX I'll show them!
I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!!!!
ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
bogiwoye (42 months ago | reply)
ROFL!!!
:) :) :) ha ha ha ha :)
I love you people! Best laugh I had in days...
rolypolyrolypolyrolypolyrolypoly (42 months ago | reply)
Nothing captures so eloquently the fear and loathing of 1930 Germany. By 1936 everyone in Berlin was walking around looking like this.
Getdownthump (42 months ago | reply)
Stabbing the MYSTERY DEATH BOX with scissors is perfectly safe, just don't touch the friggin lamp when you do it. Some people are so stupid.....
Panama (42 months ago | reply)
My guess is that the Mystery Death Box is a crystal radio.
Ask your grandparents about them - they worked with no batteries. Shock death attachments optional.
hikerfromnc (42 months ago | reply)
Yes, that's a crystal set. It was a primitive diode rectifier, with a "cat's whisker" contact that touched one point on the crystal. The cat's whisker is that little squiggly thing on the raised gizmo. He's scraping the crystal to get a better contact before lowering the cat's whisker back onto the crystal. The mystery death box is only deadly because it provides a ground. The hot side is provided by his little pinky finger touching the (faulty) lamp housing. No doubt his grumpy expression indicates "This verdammte Krystal is giving me a pain im Kopf"
Kevbo (42 months ago | reply)
Ze mind kontrol device muzt vork or elze eez off to gulag!!
Rudolf Tiberius Schultz MacMillan III (42 months ago | reply)
He is obviously evil and would have died in an electric chair anyways.
Roberta X (42 months ago | reply)
It's a crystal set -- and well-earthed, alas.
Rule 1: Don't do that "mannerly" thing with your pinky while doiking with the xtal set. You may get electrocuted and possbly even die.
2: STOP POKING AT THE DETECTOR WITH SCISSORS! You'll put your eye out and ruin the crystal. Or, you know, get electrocuted and die.
3: Buy only well-insulated desk lamps. No matter how cheap the Howling Death brand is. 'Cos you'll get electrocuted. And die.
See1,Do1,Teach1 (42 months ago | reply)
This is my favorite. Look at his face.
tsancio (42 months ago | reply)
The picture doesn't show the ends of the electrodes on the questioned person's forehead. As a matter of fact, it looks like a beta version of the Enigma machine.
teddlesruss (42 months ago | reply)
Crystal Set O' Death... hehehehe
halljonathan (42 months ago | reply)
At least he is a gentleman. Only the finest Death Box owners extend their pinky while murdering the Death Box Button with sharp metal objects.
jasonsargo (42 months ago | reply)
Pardon me, do you have any soul-grinding existential depression in your illustration?
fixermark (42 months ago | reply)
Mad Science Does Not Pay (TM)
Daxagon (42 months ago | reply)
Maybe a spy's sapping his table?
goopuddle (41 months ago | reply)
Radio my foot.
It's an electro-shock torturing device used by the SS to obtain plans and answers from the Allies.
It was being faulty as the direct contact was contaminated.
It just wasn't lighting up his interrogation subjects testicles properly and if he doesn't get the 'statement' for Herr Furher it will be his turn on the other end of the electrodes.
And he was trying to demonstrate poise and grace, as he cleaned the contacts, to his interrogation subject.
bcgrote (40 months ago | reply)
OMG, I was at the Petereson Automotive Museum, where they had a GREAT exhibit of camper trailers. Part of the 'ambience' set up in front of one trailer was a Black Box of Death!
Thankfully, no one was allowed to get closer than about 15 feet to it. I'll post the zoom shot I took here....
andyosier (38 months ago | reply)
Mr. Rogers's science project went tragically wrong. Possibly a chain reaction o' death as he was working in the bather's basement.
überRegenbogen (34 months ago | reply)
And you can still get mystery de—er— crystal radio kits. ☺