Snake Nut Can
Encyclopedia
A snake nut can is a practical joke device
that closely resembles a can of nuts, but contains a long wire spring
covered by a cloth or vinyl sheath, printed like snake
skin, which leaps out of the can and startles the unsuspecting victim.
The item was invented by Samuel Sorenson Adams
of the S.S. Adams Co. circa 1915. Adams' wife Emily had been complaining about the jam jar, saying that it wasn't properly closed or that it was sticky. Adams, inspired by her nagging, then invented a spring snake - a coil of wire wrapped in a cloth skin, and compressed the two-foot snake into a little jam jar so that it would jump out when the lid was removed.
The snake jam jar then evolved into a whole array of products, including the snake peanut brittle can, the snake mint can, and the best-selling snake nut can. In the 1990s Adams' grandson produced snake potato chips.
Practical joke device
A practical joke device is a manufactured prop or toy intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish...
that closely resembles a can of nuts, but contains a long wire spring
Spring (device)
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
covered by a cloth or vinyl sheath, printed like snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
skin, which leaps out of the can and startles the unsuspecting victim.
The item was invented by Samuel Sorenson Adams
Samuel Sorenson Adams
Soren Sorensen "Sam" Adams was an inventor and manufacturer of novelty products, including the Joy Buzzer.-Biography:...
of the S.S. Adams Co. circa 1915. Adams' wife Emily had been complaining about the jam jar, saying that it wasn't properly closed or that it was sticky. Adams, inspired by her nagging, then invented a spring snake - a coil of wire wrapped in a cloth skin, and compressed the two-foot snake into a little jam jar so that it would jump out when the lid was removed.
The snake jam jar then evolved into a whole array of products, including the snake peanut brittle can, the snake mint can, and the best-selling snake nut can. In the 1990s Adams' grandson produced snake potato chips.
See also
- Whoopee cushionWhoopee cushionA whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device, used in a form of flatulence humor, which produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges...
- Chinese finger trapChinese finger trapA Chinese finger trap is a gag toy used to play a practical joke on children and unsuspecting adults...
- Joy buzzerJoy BuzzerA joy buzzer is a practical joke device that consists of a coiled spring inside a disc worn in the palm of the hand...
- Chewing gum bugChewing Gum BugA chewing gum bug is a practical joke gag used to play tricks on people, usually adults. The appearance is of a 5-pack of chewing gum, with one stick of gum remaining. The trick works when the prankster tricks the victim into pulling out the last stick of gum...
- Fake vomitFake vomitFake vomit is a flat plastic disc with indentations and protrusions designed to look like mucus or vomit. It is a practical joke often used by pranksters to disgust victims....