The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep: The Friday Quiz: Rebels Rule

After their victory earlier this month, at the conclusion of the almost-endless 2006-2007 mind-meld that was the Q.U.I.Z., the unstoppable cranio-syndicate The Whiskey Rebels have nominated bootsy3000, a.k.a. The Lady B. Yogurt, a.k.a. Laura, to take the reins this week and stump us all in good old-fashioned post-yer-best-guesses Friday fashion. No points, no teams, and no excuses. Fail at your peril.

Straight from the source:

This common object was first used in the 1920s, and its target demographic was car owners, but the concept was articulated in 1887 by Edward Bellamy and described in his novel Looking Backward. In 1950, a the market for these objects was consolidated by the formation of a company still in existence today. In 1966 a widely known British corporation launched the UK version of this sub-breadbox-sized item. In the US, many states require a parent's signature to use this thing.

What is it?

First correct answer posted to comments wins a bowl of Three-Sean-Bean salad, in which the tasty legumes come in the form of various endearing and nutritious Sean Bean characters from Sharpe to The Hitcher. Actually, because it's only Three-Sean-Bean salad, you really only get one other character, and unfortunately it's the traitorous and megalomaniacal ex-M.I.-6 agent from Goldeneye and not the more nuanced fake-S.A.S. dude from Ronin. At least you don't have to sink your teeth into Bean's overcooked Irish terrorist from Patriot Games, although you'll probably wind up catching it on TNT one night. No Googling or watching TNT (the latter has nothing to do with the Quiz, but it's probably for the best, anyway). You may comment a gadzillion times, honestly, but please, only one guess per comment.

Comments

The well-known and practical "condom-dispensing rear-view mirror."

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 06:02 AM

Erroneous, Errata.

Bill, you started with my back up question! And for the lucky winning wombateer, it's 10 bean salad!

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 09:34 AM

Edward Bellamy was nothing if not articulate.

And clean.

Flare gun.

Posted by: boxjam | February 2, 2007 10:15 AM

Not a flare gun.

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 10:28 AM

Sorry, Bootsy. I couldn't figure out how to edit down the detail of the other one easily.

Posted by: BT | February 2, 2007 11:07 AM

'sokay, I'm not complaining, it's just nice to be at the driver's wheel for a spell. I'll rejigger if necessary.

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 11:10 AM

Must be the preeminent invention of mankind: the novelty baseball cap with dual can holders and beer delivery-system straws.

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 12:59 PM

You're of course right general idea, but wrong about the specifics. Not intoxicating haberdashery.

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 01:11 PM

Oh, the in-car no-spill cup.

I know I've had to sign a ton of paperwork for my kids to drink out of mine.

Posted by: boxjam | February 2, 2007 01:38 PM

Sorry former teammate. Don't focus TOO much on the auto-owners part of the question.

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 01:44 PM

a non-land-based phone.

Posted by: boxjam | February 2, 2007 03:48 PM

How's about CB radio?
The prescient Bellamy foreshadowed the c. 1970's smash hit, "Convoy." 10-4, good buddy.

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 03:54 PM

Goggles

Posted by: Jonathan | February 2, 2007 05:31 PM

Breaker breaker good buddies --- not a correct answer on our fuzzbuster here.

Here's a hint: it's smaller than a wallet.

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 05:37 PM

A smaller than usual wallet.
(sorry, it's Friday, and I'm punch-drunk).

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 05:52 PM

Wait, maybe wallet was a hint.
How about a credit card?

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 05:53 PM

A night-vision monocle.

Posted by: boxjam | February 2, 2007 05:56 PM

A wombat "package"

Posted by: boxjam | February 2, 2007 05:58 PM

Hooray! Errata's got it---credit card! (Teeny tiny credit card, apparently.)

Posted by: bootsy3000 | February 2, 2007 05:59 PM

I owe my success to your genrous hint. All this strenuous quizzing has given me an appetite. I'm off to keep the economy going by using my own credit card for some celebratory grub. Happy weekend all!

Posted by: Errata | February 2, 2007 06:04 PM

Thanks, Laura, for a great guest-quiz job.

My own personal guess was pine-tree car air freshener.

Posted by: BT | February 3, 2007 07:26 AM

Coincidentally, Bellamy's next book, "Looking Askew," presaged the advent of the pine-fresh scented credit card. His batting average as a futurist soon waned.

Posted by: Errata | February 3, 2007 08:59 AM

The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep

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The Friday Quiz: Rebels Rule

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