Pin Nose Gremlin - [Aviation Gremlin]

Pin-nose Gremlin. - [Aviation Gremlins] - (Latin: Stickato gremlinicus.) - aka: 'Sword or Sharp-nosed gremlins .'

• About this Gremlin: An annoying greenish gremlin with a long snoz. Ending with a pin needle point! It enjoys making landing gear "POP" mid-air usually just as the pilot focuses his gun. they especially delight in slashing up sea-plane pontoons. something of an engineer; It pokes off scrap metal from older bi-planes to make its gliders. - When its nose point eventually dulls, it retires to the lower atmosphere causing itchy and unpleasantness for the grounded pilots. 

[Not to be confused with the similar "Schnozolica Gremlinicus" [The "Nosey" gremlins which enjoys sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, presenting an entirely different threat; more on them another time.]

• History & Early appearances: This gremlin was earliest illustrated by Eric Solane in his Gremlin Americanus [1942] the entry about it with correspondence form Edo Aircraft Corp, goes as follows: 

"Pin-nosed Gremlin... The Pin nosed gremlin prides himself upon being the champion cause of annoyance. as much pilots like and respect the gremlin breed they sometimes get plenty angry with this rascal. 

It is he who causes tires to blow out in mid-air. he takes particular delight, too, in punching holes in flying-boat wing pontoons.

Often for want of something better to do, the Pin-nosed gremlin manages to bump into the pilots seat striking his posterior and causing him to jump or shout, usually at the precise Time when he is aiming a machine gun or taking a celestial sight.

When after years of using his nose to punch holes in thing that count the pin nosed gremlins probiscus becomes dulled; he then retires to the easy and mild acitivity of just good natured tickling, causing itching sensations when and where they are most likely to embarrass the pilot.

Dear Mr Solane – you will be glad to know that edo floats are now treated with the new anti-gremlin lotion. As a result the pin nosed gremlin that punctures wing floats is becoming practically extinct in U.S.naval aviation bases – Cordially, George Post, Vice President Edo Aircraft Corp, college point Long Island"

• About the correspondence: Edo Aircraft Corp also known as "Edo floats" was best known for making naval aircraft and pontoon airplanes, the "long island point building" was a factory built in 1940, where they supplied such planes to the US military. (Not much else to explain but they did have flying fish as a logo) – Humorously; George B. Post also seems to have played a roll in encouraging & helping promote the concept of "Aerial Crop Dusting" in his early career with an obscure 1924 article about “Boll Weevil Control by Airplane” – Weather or not this link was intentional or not, 'bug control' certainly matches up well with the theme of his correspondence. 

[EDO's flying fish logo]

[1941 Edo aircraft corp via Library of Congress]  

• "Anti-gremlin lotion, Powder & other Preventative measures" 

The mentioned "Anti-Gremlin lotion" is of course parallel to "Anti-Gremlin powder" (occasionally Anti-Gremlin juice) mentioned rather frequently in newspapers and media as either a 'preventative' or 'cure' for Gremlins used by British Pilots (along side "Mystical exorcism & Eating a salted peanut" [pictured below, 1942]) The powder also gets name dropped in several American advertisements & comics from the era, with some heating, metal & car companies dubbing themselves as "gremlin-proof" or otherwise offering "gremlin insurance" - Other Ads also mention "Anti-gremlin metals and kitchenware" for the home. (What exactly that means is unclear however overall, more than likely a gimmick to help sell more spatulas.) similar to this, it seems that Edo Corp developed an anti-gremlin lotion for their pontoons. 

[October 1942]

On the note of "Anti-Gremlin charms" it seems that for a while "Anti-gremlin bells" where also produced as good luck charms for bikers [they're better known today as guardian or angel bells] by Honda & other bike companies.  – (I'll probably do a deeper dive into this subject along side the biker/car gremlins another time.)

"The legend of the Gremlin Bell" - "This bell is more than just decoration it has a specific function, one of life's mysteries is the little gremlin that lives on your bike, it is responsible for most of your bikes problems. Road gremlins cant live in the presence of a bell, they get trapped in the hollow then the constant ringing and confined space drives them insane, they lose their grip and fall on the roadway. the bell severed its purpose if you have picked up a bell of your own the magic will work if your bell was given to you as a gift, the power has been doubled." 

• Similar Gremlins | Variants: The bat eared British RAF variant, (known instead as "Duticallatus Prangiferous") as drawn in 1942 newspapers, as is a British variant its likely pre-dates the above yarn.] it causes rips in the wing fabric with its nose and arm spikes –

"Various Gremlins" among them the "sword nosed gremlins" from "The gremlins of Lieutenant Oggins" [1943]

[Art Sticker & Writing by samkalensky (Yo, that's me!) part of my gremlinology series of stickers   Follow and Support for many more!]