That bright copper colored bus you saw parked in front of the DeMoulin Bros. factory in Greenville this morning belonged to none other than David Copperfield himself.

The illusionist came to Greenville early this morning to visit with DeMoulin officials and see more of the early-era DeMoulin items that he is famous for collecting. WGEL spoke with Bill Marsden, owner of DeMoulin Bros., who told us about the visit.

Copperfield came to the DeMoulin factory today for his first visit there. He is an avid collector of the side item paraphernalia that was made by DeMoulins at one time. Both Marsden and Copperfield had a great time. 

As Copperfield told me yesterday, he and Marsden have become very good friends over the last several years.
They travel around together and try to locate side item paraphernalia from the early days of the DeMoulin factory.

DeMoulins were able to get one of the artifacts to Copperfield several years ago. That's how they met. Since then, they've been able to help him find many more. they showed him several pieces today and he took all of them. Marsden said he had a wide grin on his face when he left. 

Marsden said that Copperfield did not get a chance to see much of Greenville on this visit.

However, Copperfield told him that he would be making a return visit very soon, when he's not touring so he can stay longer.

COPPERFIELD ON DEMOULIN BROS.

Last summer, WGEL's Martha Radcliff did a special report on novelty items that were once manufactured by the DeMoulin Bros. factory in Greenville. The head of the organization at the time, Edward DeMoulin, invented items such as chairs that would explode, spank you or shoot you with water. Stories circulated for some time after that story aired that illusionist David Copperfield was a serious collector of those items made by the DeMoulin Bros. factory right here in Greenville.

WGEL's Ryan Mifflin had the opportunity to speak with David Copperfield today and he confirmed to me that he does, in fact, have a tremendous interest in the DeMoulin items. He told me how he first learned about them.

The interest started about 15 years ago. Copperfield would go to a magician friend's house and the friend had a collapsing chair. Copperfield wanted one, and set out to find one. When he did find it, it had a DeMoulin logo on it. He researched the catalog and began collecting and seeking the items in the catalog. The novelty items were generally used by lodges to initiate new members. He has a lot of fun with the hobby.

We also discussed the extent of his collection. He's trying to collect the entire catalog. There are lots of actual catalogs in existence with these items in them. Copperfield says what's really amazing is that the company still exists, although they make band uniforms now rather than the novelty items. The owner of DeMoulins is Bill Marsden, who Copperfield said is a friend of his who helps him find the items for his collection. He has chairs that spank you and collapse, thrones and alters with skeletons that pop out and other items that explode and really
surprise you.

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David Copperfield's bus was parked in Greenville for his visit to DeMoulin Bros. & Co.

Copperfield looks over vintage catalogs and other original marketing materials from DeMoulin's past.

Copperfield, Bill Marsden and Mr. DeMoulin look over classic DeMoulin marketing materials.

Bill Marsden presented Copperfield with a number of original items from the DeMoulin archives before he left town.

Links:

DeMoulin Bros. & Co.

David Copperfield Official Site

WGEL Radio