Figure 1.--.

Thanks to Cecil and Beany, the modern concept of beanies includes a propeller. HBC at this time has little information on propeller beanies. We know they were worn by boys. We had thought perhaps that the propeller began as early as the 1920s, but we are unable to confirm this. We also do not know, however, how common they were. Presumably they were for younger boys. There are several accounts dealing with the origins of the propellar beany. HBC can not yet document the accuarcy of these accounts. A HBC reader tells us that the propellar beanie was a children's gimmick which did not emerge until the 1950s. It was introduced by a toy inventor. We are not yet sure of the name. One reader recalls that his name was Max, but does not recall the last name. He also invented the Rock 'em Sock 'em Boxing Robots. We believe that the compamy who put out the first ones may have been the Marx toy company. nother source ties them to science fiction. Several companies made beanies of one form or another. There are even companies that make beanies today. One of the best is Interstellar Propeller. They offer both true beanies (without brims) as well as baseball caps with propellers.

Television Shows

Bob Clampett produced the first Beany puppet show on television, apparently 1949 to 1955. Clampett would have had to be the 'director' of the show Ray Nrelson speaks about. You can find several sites for this by searching for "Time for Beany" on Google. About his headgear, Beany seems to have had a propeller beanie from the first, which was February 28, 1949. No mention is made of any change in it. One site provides a picture claimed to be from the early '50s, where Beany has his propeller beanie. I cannot imagine it is not bonafide. [Dengrove] Much better known is "Beany and Cecil". The program was a popular ABC Saturday morning series for children that ran 1962-67. The TV program did not originate the propeller beanie, but it certainly popularized it. As a result, the modern concept of beanies often includes a propeller.

Chronology

HBC at this time has little information on propeller beanies. We know they were worn by boys. We had thought perhaps that the propeller began as early as the 1920s, but we are unable to confirm this. Onesource says that they weeinvented in the late 1940s a part of a science fair comptition. Another source sates them to the 50s. Harry Warner in his 1969 All Our Yesterdays wrote that the propeller beanie George Young wore at Torcon was purchased for 10 cents from a five and dime. I know he was a very competent journalist but I do not know what his source was.

Popularity

We also do not know, however, how common they were.

Age

Presumably they were for younger boys.

Origins

There are several accounts dealing with the origins of the propellar beany. HBC can not yet document the accuarcy of these accounts.

Ray Nelson

Another source ties them to science fiction. A HBC reader writes, "I have been doing research on the history of the propeller beanie, and I hope to write an article. Right now I am working on it from another angle than you, that of science fiction fandom. My interest was sparked when I came upon an letter in an amateur journal by a Ray Nelson. He claimed that he invented the propeller beany. ... I contacted George Young, whom Ray mentions as having actually introduced the propeller beanie to science fiction fans. And the friend said that Ray had indeed thought the idea up. They were 16 or 17, and members of the big Michigan science fiction club in 1948. Ray came up with the idea in order to make the club distinct. George and Ray made their own propeller beanies, which, I bet, was no great feat. Ray, George and a Ben Singer, another member of Michigan fandom, were going to wear them to the Toronto science fiction convention in July, Torcon. Only George did. Ben wore a beanie with something else on the top, which he bought for 10 cents. And Ray could not come." [Dengrove] Ray Nelson has kindly provided us a detailed account of the inventiob of the propeller beanie.

Toy inventor

A HBC reader tells us that the propellar beanie was a children's gimmick which did not emerge until the 1950s. It was introduced by a toy inventor. We are not yet sure of the name. One reader recalls that his name was Max, but does not recall the last name. He also invented the Rock 'em Sock 'em Boxing Robots. We believe that the compamy who put out the first ones may have been the Marx toy company.

Fad

Whether inspired by "Time for Beany" or not, the propeller beanie was a fad among kids at one time. Al Capp in his comic strip Li'l Abner had a criminal, Ankles Aardvark, disguise himself as a kid. Among other things, he wore a propeller beanie with triple propellers. I am afraid the character did not last more than two or three strips. [Dengrove]

Manufactreres

Several companies made beanies of one form or another. There are even companies that make beanies today. One of the best is Interstellar Propeller. They offer both true beanies (without brims) as well as baseball caps with propellers.

Adults

Another thing I want to add, other groups beside young children have worn propeller beanies, or at least been associated with them. You know about science fiction fans. In the early years, it seems to have been limited to the Mid-West. A Roger Sims said he wore one in Michigan fandom in the late '50s. Now they have become of the symbol for an early science fiction fan. In the '80s and '90s, computer geeks seem to have been associated with propeller beanies. I do not know how many ever wore them. In definition after definition on the web -- at least when I looked -- a propeller head is a computer geek. I think the Interstellar Propeller web site has something about it. [Dengrove]

Sources

Dengrove, Richard. E-mail message, July 7, 2003 and January 26, 2004.

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Created: July 7, 2003
Last updated: January 26, 2004