What is it about secret compartments that is so fascinating? Is it that they conceal something or is it the object that they hide? Probably a combination of both.

As a kid, I even thought tool belts and Swiss army knives were outstanding. Compact and handy, they could hold any tool you needed to get the job done. Maybe it was from watching the old television show, Batman. He could do just about anything with his utility belt.

Back when they were legal, switchblades seemed to be the coolest item a young lad could have. Without showing the blade, you knew the handle contained something deadly. A simple push of the button and 'Snick!', look out.

Another retro TV. series worth mentioning is Get Smart. The movie has brought it back into vogue. Don Adams had his shoe phone, of course, but also all kinds of neat gadgets ala James Bond which he could injure himself with.

How about books that had a secret compartment? They are a staple in television shows and movies. Someone pulls a volume off the shelf and 'Whoops!' there's a treasure or a miniature tape recorder or the secret plans for a new weapon inside. Very cool to look at, but tough to make in reality. I tried once as a youngster and the glue curled the pages so it was pretty obvious there was something fishy going on inside.

Now, my favorite compartment of all was in a cartoon called Underdog. One of my favorite cartoons, actually. He wasn't just a super hero, he was a kind of ordinary super hero, one who made plenty of mistakes but managed to save the day.

Underdog's powers came from his Energy Vitamin Pill. The pill was kept in a secret compartment of his Underdog ring. Simple and effective concealment. What I wouldn't have given for a secret ring like that.