Horse Feathers

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 94048

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Quick question: What do you think Ollivander is measuring if he isn't
> "taking the measure" of the students to see what kind of wand would
> suit them? Why have the magic tape measure at all if it serves no purpose?
> 

Quick answer: There's no indication that it measures anything except
lengths. It seems compulsive about it too. It carries on measuring even
when Ollivander has enough. And I  really can't see how shoulder to
finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor etc evaluates any magical
parameters at all. The need for a method of matching a wand-buyer 
to a wand by means of a magical device seems to be purely fan-driven.
Ollivander gives no hint that he uses one.

The measuring is possibly a JKR joke - equivalent to us buying custom-
made sporting equipment. Pop into Purdeys the Gunsmiths in St James
and order a shotgun (if you've got a few thousands to spare). You won't
believe the number of measurements they take. And they keep them on
file, together with details of physical changes, alterations necessary to
make sure that the gun fits the new physical profile, the lot. Ollivander
might be a parody of just this sort of thing.

Kneasy