12 Components of a 19th-Century Vampire-Killing Kit
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WALL STREET JOURNAL, October 30, 2016 --
This Halloween, crown your curio cabinet with this tool set, allegedly assembled and sold in the late 1800s to arm citizens against exsanguinating fiends. Includes:
Antique Vampire killing kit by Professor Ernst Blomberg. Wooden stake, silver bullets, gun, crucifix,garlic. Circa 1895. Vampire killing kits for sale at M.S. Rau Antiques
This box contains the items considered necessary, for the protection of persons who travel into certain little known countries of Eastern Europe, where the populace are plagued with a particular manifestation of evil known as Vampires.
1. Pistol. With gunpowder flask (1.a) and percussion caps (1.b). Aim carefully—your target won't wait patiently while you reload a 19th-century firearm.
2. Silver bullets. The famous bane of werewolves is allegedly no fun for vampires either.
3. Hypodermic needle. To administer serum (see 4).
4. Professor Blomberg’s New Serum. A proprietary fluid concocted specifically to deter vampires, containing garlic, honey, salt and holy water (no MSG!).
5. Brimstone. Also known as sulfur, this element has no special powers but burns easily. Handy as a distraction or party trick.
6. Holy water. Sacred to man, anathema to the undead. A burning splash should deter even the lustiest neck-muncher.
7. Powdered garlic. The clove’s pungent smell can temporarily repel mosquitoes; it’s worth a try against their larger, more charming bloodsucking cousins.
8. Wooden hammer and stake. TTo nail Dracula to a coffin floor so he can’t rise again.
9. Mirror. Critical for positive I.D. Legend says vampires lack souls so cast no reflection.
10. Bullet mold. For melting down the family sterling. Silver shot wasn’t purveyed at 19th-century big-box stores.
11. Crucifix. Nothing wobbles a vampire’s knees like this powerful symbol.
12. Candle (under crucifix). To light your way through the dank catacombs your wretched prey calls home.
— Keith Blanchard
Antique Vampire-Slaying Kit, $14,850 from M.S. Rau Antiques, www.rauantiques.com
