It’s all in the hat!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKcbk6xnSz4
From the Threadbanger Channel on You Tube -- visit there for lots of great how to videos
Some quick facts about the Mad Hatter
What is this 10/6 thing anyway?
It was added by Tenniel (The original Illustrator for the Alice in Wonderland Book) as something whimsical. It’s not a date it is the price of the hat in pre decimalized sterling. It is a price tag or an order. (Well Minnie Pearl did the same thing with her straw hats).
In the old currency:
4 farthings = 1 penny
2 farthings = 1/2 penny
12 pennies = 1 shilling
3 pennies = 3 pence (a threepenny bit)
6 pennies = 6 pence (a six penny bit)
20 shillings = 1 pound
21 shillings = 1 guinea
10/6 was 10 shillings and 6 pence, it also represents a half guinea. Gentlemen bought stuff in guineas, auctions were in guineas and you bought a horse using guineas. Confusing eh? Enough to drive you mad!
How come he was the “Mad” Hatter?
Some say that hatters were mad from Mercury used in the process of making felt hats in the 19th Century.
What is the answer to the Mad Hatter’s riddle?
The Mad Hatter had a riddle “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Originally this was supposed to be a riddle without an answer but later some people made suggestions! Who cares though!
POST SCRIPT
Next Spring 2010 there is a new Alice in Wonderland Movie coming out with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. In the movie Alice Returns to Wonderland and sees her old friends. You can view the trailer at the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA
It seems that TweedleDum and TweedleDee have lost their schoolboy caps -- that’s a shame. I’ll be sure to see it though.
