The village's administration sees to it that no technology is wasted, that previous devices can be developed to a new use, such as the "Magic Box" pictured here. Basically it is a money box, when a coin is put in the slot the mechanism is activated, and a little hand comes out of the box, collects the coin and disappears back into the box, along with the coin. The "Magic Box" was adapted at once, and is now part of the security system in the Town Hall, to collect "Security Pass Discs." {I happen to have one of those magic boxes, exact to the one seen in the pictures below. No.56 has to tap the "Security Pass" disc a second time to make the gadget work, and that is absolutely correct, that's just what I have to do with mine!
Yet more dramatic technologies have been developed right here in the village. Electrical force fields which guard the entrance of the Town Hall, and security points within the Town Hall. Cordless telephones, automatic opening doors such as we see with 6 private and No.2's residence the Green Dome, as well as a number iof different computers. Then there's the "Beam" which when used to disable "living things," such as a Pigeon which was brought down as I recall with the "Beam" set at minimum strength. I think the search team did very well in finding that one Pigeon, downed by the "Beam."
Then there was the General, adapted for use here in the village along with Speedlearn. Although the General was actually developed by the Professor. The "Sublimater" which is used in conjunction with Speedlearn, puts the information, subliminally, onto the cortex of the brain.
Not so sure about the periscope though, I've no idea what that is in aid of. Although I do recall seeing a film in which a number of technicians are in a sealed room watching something through a number of periscopse, but I cannot recall fully what it was about. It might have had something to do with the testing of an atomic bomb.
So you see, the villages administration does not simply deal in information, but also relies upon technology, and allows nothing to go to waste that cannot be adapted for another use here in the village. Take the Tally Ho dispenser for example.
This contraption puts me in mind of my old mum's washing mangle, if you know what one of those were!
Be seeing you
Before the ARRIVAL of fully fledged automatic washing machines by the early 1960s my parents and grandparents used to do the washing with the help of at least 3 separate devices. One was merely a giant kettle mostly powered by wood or coal where the laudry was being boiled, next was a centrifuge or spin-dryer and before that, if I recall correctly, would be the mangle to squeeze out the surplus water. I wonder what the depicted device or gadget means to much younger people. To me it's use in The Prisoner is as much exhilerating as it is surreal. - Be seeing you!
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in the dorms at Helsinki University we had a mangle in the laundry room. It pressed my sheets, but good! I'm glad it didn't expose me as an unmutual at the same time...
ReplyDeleteTo be a bit more precise the "printing mangle" in The Prisoner is slightly different from ours, it was operated by a crank and the two drums were much closer of course. Perhaps the prop was altered for this purpose. Nevertheless, it's a great sight. - Be seeing you!
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous and nr6de,
ReplyDeleteYou are perfectly correct about The Tally Ho dispenser, if the design was based on an old mangle, then the two drums would be closer together. But the Tally Ho dispenser is operated by turning a crank handle.
My old mums washing mangle was a real beast of a thing, green as I recall, with a damned great handle that needed turning. The two drums were adjustable, when the two drums were almost touching, so to press the washing as tight as can be {to get as much water squeezed out} the handle took some turning as I recall.
Only with dicussing 'the Prisoner' could one end up by discussing social history - "It's great" as No.2 once said.
Kind Regards
David
Be seeing you