Elijah Bond
Elijah Jefferson Bond (January 23, 1847 in Bel Air, Maryland - April 14, 1921 in Baltimore, Maryland)[1][2] was an American lawyer and inventor.
Inventions
Although he invented and patented items, including a steam boiler, he is best remembered for patenting what became known as the Ouija Board. He filed for a United States patent on May 28, 1890. Charles W. Kennard and William H. A. Maupin were listed as assignees. The patent was granted on February 10, 1891.[3]
By 1907 Bond had relocated to West Virginia where he registered a trademark on the word "Nirvana" on June 18, 1907. The mark incorporated a swastika as its logo and the company which produced these boards was named The Swastika Novelty Company.[4]
Death
Bond died at age 74, and is buried in Baltimore, Maryland's Green Mount Cemetery, beneath a marker that resembles an Ouija board.[5]
- Gravestone front detail
- Gravestone rear detail
- Gravestone rear three quarter
References
- ↑ www.elijahbond.com
- ↑ "Elijah Bond's Official Biography". Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ Mitch Horowitz. "Ouija! How this American Anomaly Became More than Just Fun and Games". Esopus Fall 2006 Edition. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
- ↑ "Image of Nirvana board with description". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
- ↑ http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elijah-bond-s-ouija-board-grave
Bibliography
- Edmund Gruss, The Ouija Board, (New York: P&R Publishing, 1994) pp. 13–15.
Sources
- The Official Website of William Fuld and home of the Ouija board
- The Official Biography of Elijah Bond
- Elijah Bond at Find a Grave