A plate lifter or plate wobbler is a
novelty item
A novelty item or simply novelty is an object which is specifically designed to serve no practical purpose, and is sold for its uniqueness, humor, or simply as something new (hence "novelty", or newness). The term also applies to practical items wi ...
consisting of a tube with a small flat
bladder on one end and a bulb on the other. The bladder is to be placed under a plate; inflating it will make the plate wobble. This fake demonstration of
psychokinesis
Psychokinesis (from grc, ψυχή, , soul and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), or telekinesis (from grc, τηλε, , far off and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), is a hypothetical psychic ability allowing a person ...
[ is intended to provoke surprise and merriment.
A free plate wobbler was included with the first issue of the British comic magazine '']Monster Fun
''Monster Fun'' was originally a weekly British comic strip magazine for children aged seven to twelve. Published by IPC Media, it ran for 73 issues in 1975–1976, when it merged with '' Buster''. '' and promoted as a "monster mirth maker".[
]
In industry
"Plate lifter" is the name of various devices used in industry for handling heavy metal plates.
References
{{Reflist
Practical joke devices
Industrial machinery