Ajack-in-the-box is a children'stoy that outwardly consists of amusic box with acrank.[1] When the crank is turned, amusic box mechanism in the toy plays amelody. After the crank has been turned a sufficient number of times (such as at the end of the melody), the lid pops open and a figure, usually aclown orjester, pops out of the box. Some jacks-in-the-box open at random times when cranked, making thestartle even more effective. Many of those that use "Pop Goes the Weasel" open at the point in the melody when the word "pop" would be sung.
In 2005, the jack-in-the-box was inducted into the U.S.National Toy Hall of Fame,[2] where are displayed all types of versions of the toy, starting from the beginning versions, and ending with the most recently manufactured versions.
A theory as to the origin of the jack-in-the-box is that it comes from the 14th-centuryEnglishprelateSir John Schorne,[3] who is often pictured holding aboot with adevil in it. According tofolklore, he once cast the devil into a boot to protect the village ofNorth Marston inBuckinghamshire. In French, a jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte" (literally "devil in a box"). The phrase jack-in-the-box was first seen used in literature by John Foxe, in his bookActes and Monuments, first published in 1563. There he used the term as an insult to describe a swindler who would cheat tradesmen by selling them empty boxes instead of what they actually purchased.[4] It also featured in the Chronicle of the Greyfriars of London in 1547 where it was noted as being used pejoratively to refer to thereal presence of Christ in the Eucharist:[5]
Also this same tyme was moche spekyng agayne the sacrament of the auter, that some callyd it Jacke of the boxe, with divers other shamfulle names
In the early 1500s, the first jack-in-the-box was made by a German clockmaker known as Claus. Claus built a wooden box, with metal edges and a handle that would pop out an animated devil or "Jack" after cranking the handle. It was built as a gift for a local prince's fifth birthday. After seeing this toy, other nobles requested their own "Devils-in-a-box" for their children.[6][7][unreliable source?]
In the early 18th century, improved toy mechanisms made the jack-in-the-box more widely available for all children and not just royalty.[7]
Originally, the jack-in-the-box was made out ofwood, but with new technology the toy could be constructed from printed cardboard.[8] Around the 1930s, the jack-in-the-box became awind-up toy made fromtin. Additionally, the rare, contemporary ones would play songs other than Pop Goes the Weasel, such asBrahm's Lullaby,Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,Rock-a-bye Baby and more.[9] Over the years, the jack-in-the-box has evolved into characters other than the clown, such asWinnie the Pooh,The Cat in the Hat, theThree Little Pigs, generickittens, genericdogs,Curious George,Santa Claus, genericgiraffes,Mickey Mouse and so on.[10]
Starting in 1935 and continuing for 20 years, the first company to take on the distribution of the toy was a very small firm named Joy Toy. The company is located inItaly as well as theNetherlands. Since then,Fisher Price,Chad Valley,Mattel andTomy have all played a major role in distributing the jack-in-the-box.[6][10]
Media related toJack-in-the-box at Wikimedia Commons