1950s
Sparky’s Magic Baton
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 31, 2025 -
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Category: Music, Fantasy, 1950s
Two-Way Records
What could this image possible convey? Using two styli at the same time on the same record? No, that was only fanciful and metaphorical.Let's let this website explain:
When stereo was introduced, Design tried to claim that their records were compatible mono/stereo, and could be played on either mono or stereo players. The public soon found out that mono players would damage these records just as easily as other stereo records, so after reissuing or simultaneously issuing about 50 of their albums on a new series (the DCF-1000 Series), they abandoned the compatible stereo series in favor of the normal mono and stereo issues. The good part was, that for folks with stereo players, these records worked fine and were in true stereo, as far as we have heard. The bad side is that by the time the series was winding down, about 1960, the quality of the vinyl had deteriorated to the extent that right out of the wrapper the records were noisy.
So: another technology too good to be true, for which early adopters paid the price.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 29, 2025 -
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Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Inventions, Music, Technology, Vinyl Albums and Other Media Recordings, 1950s, 1960s
Tightrope Wedding in France
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 28, 2025 -
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Category: Human Marvels, Weddings and Marriage, 1950s, Europe
Miss Giftware of 1952
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 20, 2025 -
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Gifts, Presents, Tributes, and Other Honoraria, 1950s
Turtle Racing Track
With many kooky patents, the drawing provides a lot of visual humor. In this case, not so much. That task falls to the text.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 18, 2025 -
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Category: Animals, Inventions, Chindogu, Patents, 1950s
Orange-Pimiento Drink
Yum! I don't think that adulterating your OJ with mashed pimiento is too large a price to pay for shelf stability. It's a lot of work to keep taking your container of OJ in and out of the fridge every time you want a drink!Original patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 16, 2025 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inventions, Patents, Crossovers and Mashups, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1950s
Clarinet made from bones
When Signor Ubaldo Ubaldi, an Italian criminal, died in 1950, he left £12 in his will so that his bones could be polished and made into clarinet mouthpieces.At least, that was widely reported at the time. I have doubts about the veracity of the story, though I can't disprove it either. I can't find any report that Ubaldi's last wishes were carried out.
Sydney Sun - Oct 19, 1950
Adelaide News - Nov 1, 1950
click to enlarge
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 06, 2025 -
Comments (4)
Category: Death, Inheritance and Wills, Music, 1950s
Can the beauty queen make a batter pudding?
1950: E.W. Wyer, a councillor in Hunstanton (Norfolk), proposed that beauty contests should focus on brains as well as beauty. He suggested:
London Daily Mirror - Oct 18, 1950
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 03, 2025 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Intelligence, Gender, 1950s
Funny Money
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 31, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Money, Husbands, Wives, 1950s
Korla Pandit
His Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 29, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Music, Space-age Bachelor Pad & Exotic, Television, 1950s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |