Spoon bending is the act of bending any relatively sturdy strip of metal, such as a key or a spoon, without physical touch. The public and even parapsychologists have struggled to prove it as anything more than a magic trick, and physical explanations such as pre-bending the spoon manually are often more likely. Still, some believe it can be used as a true measure of psychic ability.
This kit appears to have been provided to the collection by Walter Uphoff, a parapsychologist from the mid to late 20th century who investigated several paranormal phenomena during his lifetime. It is a small box with a printed photograph of six spoons taped onto its lid and a handwritten label.
Despite the picture on its lid, the box does not contain any spoons. However, it does contain other objects that could be used instead, including strips of metal that have already been bent, washers, and keys. There are also a few objects that don’t seem to be related to spoon bending, namely the loose roll of filming tape and the plastic vial of what appears to be blue ink.
Click on the image of the spoon bending kit for more information
Spoon Bending Kit, Box 9, Eileen J. Garrett Parapsychology Foundation Collection, Collection 331, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).