Hello!

I've meant to bring this up before, but am just now getting around to it. I'm sure someone will have the answer.  8-)

In scenes filmed in the interior of the court house, I've noticed some boxy, trough-like objects located at the bottom of the window blinds. I'm wondering what their function is.

Wish I had a photo to post of them -- I'll bet someone has a shot in which they appear.

Hope someone comes up with an answer, so I won't lay awake another night wondering about this... ;D

It's preying on yer' mind, in other words?

I think they were there to catch the venetian blinds when lowered all the way.

Malcolm, (I know I shouldn't call a rich man by his first name, but you seem like a good chap  :)) I would have to agree with Briscoe. They seem awfully big and obtrusive for such a seemingly small function wouldn't you say?

Fly catcher.
For when Barney swats them, they go to die there and are easily collected.

;D

I thought they died on the pickle jars! ;D

Hey, thanks for the responses!

I guess they were multi-purpose gadgets, kind of a venetian blind holder and dead fly catcher, all in one.

Puddingtame, you may certainly call me "Malcolm." I am much less uppity since spending some time with the Taylors, and learning to enjoy the simpler things in life. I never knew how fulfilling it could be to peel an apple without breaking the peeling... ;D

Me too Malcom.  I posed this question a few years ago and we came up empty.  Briscoe's response is the best we could come up with.  Fully down and with the window open (it is an openable window) it would keep the breeze from blowing the shades if they were completely down. 

As a young man I think I've seen these before, not on TV.  These boxes might not have a bottom.  This would allow the breeze to come in, then be directed down so that you don't get a direct cross wind across the desk to rattle papers.

Pierre wrote on Jan 18^th, 2012 at 9:21am:

Me too Malcom.  I posed this question a few years ago and we came up empty.  Briscoe's response is the best we could come up with.  Fully down and with the window open (it is an openable window) it would keep the breeze from blowing the shades if they were completely down.  As a young man I think I've seen these before, not on TV.  These boxes might not have a bottom.  This would allow the breeze to come in, then be directed down so that you don't get a direct cross wind across the desk to rattle papers.

Makes sense to me, Pierre!

maybe, as George Carlin once said, a 'Toledo Windowbox'...just on the inside! ;D

widow bradshaw wrote on Jan 21^st, 2012 at 6:44pm:

maybe, as George Carlin once said, a 'Toledo Windowbox'...just on the inside! ;D

No wonder everyone in Mayberry is in such good spirits all of the time!

;D

Barney don't 'llow MaryJane into Mayberry County!  >:(

Pierre wrote on Jan 27^th, 2012 at 8:19am:

Barney don't 'llow

righto! remember the quiet Sam stakeout? ;D

widow bradshaw wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 12:29pm:

righto! remember the quiet Sam stakeout? ;D

That's the scene I was referring to.  Did he call it "Mary Jane" or "Marry Joo Wanna"?

I noticed yesterday on TVLand that the boxes don't have a bottom, you can clearly see the 'adjustment' strings for the blinds going in the top of the box and coming out the bottom.

widow bradshaw wrote on Feb 7^th, 2012 at 9:50pm:

I noticed yesterday on TVLand that the boxes don't have a bottom, you can clearly see the 'adjustment' strings for the blinds going in the top of the box and coming out the bottom.

I guess that the purpose of the boxes is to keep the bottom of the blinds in place during windy conditions, as Pierre suggested.

My spouse says she remembers seeing these in 'govenment buildings' as a child...and I asked "buildings, like the courthouse?"