Earlier this afternoon, I noticed that the City of Dallas Store's selling a Stoelting Model #22608 lie detector, which was the go-to "Emotional Stress Monitor" for the U.S. Armed Forces upon its release in the mid-1960s. I also noticed that 14 people have thus far bid on the item, which shot up the price tag from $25 to $195 with eight more days left to go. I was waiting on some return phone calls, so I rang up store operator Richard Matthews with a few more questions -- like, was this actually used within the confines of City Hall once upon a time?
Absolutely, he said -- just like the other two he's sitting on. (One's a 1999 Lafayette Ambassador 76740; the other, an Associated Research Keller Polygraph Model 6303
.) "The Stoelting made its way through City Hall over the years," Matthews said. "It'd be cool to see who it belonged to. And I must say, I'm surprised by the response. It's a talking piece, I guess."
At which point we began talking about the other items of intrigue at the city store, which I've only seen in our once-upon-a-time blurry and rather underwhelming slide show. Most of what's for sale is either lost-and-found junk, DPD-confiscated goods (lots of stolen bikes) or city surplus items, like old teevees. But Matthews said, why, matter of fact he's got this old collapsible Corona typewriter circa 1917 -- which could very well have been used in City Hall decades ago.
Says Matthews in a follow-up e-mail: "It still contains all of the keys, ribbon and the original cleaning brush with original box." He's just not sure how to sell it. So I said: Shoot me a picture, and maybe a Friend of Unfair Park will want it. God knows we've got plenty of history buffs 'round these parts. He's asking, oh, maybe $100 -- seems plenty fair. Here's his e-mail address if you're interested. The city could sure use the dough.
We're just like the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Only, the opposite.
