On a Ouija board there is the alphabet, the numbers 1 to 9 with 0 at the end, and the words yes, no and goodbye. It is used to contact the spirits by using a small object called a planchette, with a small window in it, the users fingers lightly touch the planchette, while it is on the board, and someone ask the spirits a question, the planchette may then move over the board spelling out the answers.In 1850 Charles Kennard formed the Kennard novelty company, with two business partners, which produced these boards, he called it the Ouija, he thought this meant good luck in Egypt, but later found out this was not true. It is probably of a combination of the French word oui and the German word ja both meaning yes. In 1892 kennard was forced out the company
And William Fuld took over the company. At this time the interest in spiritualism increased and other company’s began to make similar designs calling them talking boards, due to this William was joined by his brother Isaac in 1901, and renamed the company to Ouija Novelty Company and he patented the name and design. All went well till he fell out with his brother and removed him from the company, he them renamed his business again calling it William Fuld Company. He ran the business until his death in 1927 due to a fatal accident, it passed onto his children who ran it until 1966, they then sold it to to the Parker brothers, they kept the original Fuld design, this continued till productions ceased in 1999. They still own the patent but Hasbro are now known for making the boards.