Dominoes that play God Bless America

I?m not kidding. Arnie DeJaynes, age 92, of New London is still at it. Everyday, like a faithful grandfather clock that keeps on ticking, he goes downtown to his shop on Main Street and enters a world of nuts-and-bolts, machines-and-gadgets, and inventions in various stages of creation. He owns 10 patents.

His latest patent, U.S. Patent 8,695,983, is for ?Domino Pizazz.? Domino Pizazz has over a thousand ?dominoes? that run on a track similar to a model railroad?around curved banks, up-and-down hills, and through tunnels. The dominoes set off caps, blast a cannon, play ?God Bless America,? and unfurl an American Flag. If you want to see a video that was made of ?Domino Pizazz,? go to my Facebook page, Curt Swarm.

Domino Pizazz took Arnie six years to build. The ?dominoes? aren?t real. These dominoes have been molded by Arnie, in molds that he made himself. He?s worn out a couple of sets of molds. The dominoes are top heavy, tapered, and have a hole through the bottom so that they will stay on the track and climb hills.

Arnie?s intention is to sell Domino Pizazz to a toy company. Not a marketer (?The big money is in marketing.?), he has enlisted the help of a toy salesman who is showing the video of Domino Pizazz to various toy manufacturers. It?s an arduous process, but if there?s one thing Arnie has learned in life, it?s patience.

Arnie initially applied for the patent himself, and was promptly, and not very politely, denied. ?There are other domino machines that do similar stunts,? the patent office informed Arnie. They sent him literature on these machines. Arnie looked at the literature. Using a stair-stepping mechanism to climb hills, they were nothing compared to his Domino Pizazz. So, he hired a patent attorney. The patent attorney sent the patent office the video that was made of Domino Pizazz. The patent officials were so impressed, they immediately granted Arnie?s patent. By the way, ?Domino Pizazz? is a working title?the patent needed a name. Arnie is open to suggestions.

He routinely demonstrates Domino Pizazz to friends in his crowded shop on Sunday afternoons. But space is limited, and tripping hazards numerous. One Sunday afternoon, 19 people showed up for a demo, and Arnie had to turn a few people away and reschedule them.

In this troubled time of terrorist attacks and crazy politics, we need a display of good, old-fashioned patriotism, flag waving and drum beating. Arnie is a U.S. Navy, World War II Veteran. He was instrumental in helping organize the Honor Tour?an expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. for veterans to view the World War II Memorial. Arnie also helped design New London?s memorial to veterans.

A coffee klatch, which includes New London?s mayor, meets every weekday morning at 10 a.m., in the rear of Arnie?s shop. They solve the world?s problems and keep an eye on Arnie. Stop in for a cup, y?all are welcome.

Arnie?s brother, Paul DeJaynes operates Kelly?s Klock Works in the front of the building. If you?re need?n watch repair, drop off your watch with Paul, and traipse on back for a cup of joe with Arnie and the gang. Your watch might be ready to go when Arnie kicks you out so he can get to work.

I mean, have fun.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook. Curt?s stories are also read at 106.3 FM in Farmington.